Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-07-02


Ous self.
Aud it made Will Spencer
furious he could not break this icy
calm. All IN vain he brought her
costly gifts, took her to every
place of amusement where he could
coax her to go, was her openly de-
voted slave. The few wOrGs OF
thanks she spoke were dali, her
smile was on her lips only. and
her ,es did not brighten. By no
device could he call up one flash
of her old ioyousneSs. She sang FOR
hio, selecting difficult oyertures
it4t prov 5d her proficiency, dis
plaYel charming voice, nothing
more. Never did she sing he old
ballads that George Vanhorn had
loved, when she threw her heart
lnIO every line, and made her eJ es
misty with her thrilling zone.
Yet she was grateful, and spoke
often of her own regret that she so
poorly repaid all Willis tenderness.
She tried not to shrink from his
caTesSes, to give back something
of the warmth of his love. and then,
in the privacy of her own room,
wept scaldlng tears over her own
taithlesSnesS.
Mrs. Raymond was often afraid
that she would yet miss the golden
prize she had partly won, and
heartily seconded viii IN bis
preparations tor speedy wedding.
1t was Mrs. Raymond who went
with him to open the house that be
had bought TO adOrn tor his bride,
who aided BIN in the selection Of
carpets, curtaius, furniture, aud
gave him Instructions regarding
the kitchen department, of whose
needs be was as ignorant as most
young bachelors. Ii was Mrs.
RAY mOnd who received an anOuy.
nous letter containing a liberal
sum, which she quietly apprOpridi-
ed for trousseau and suitable
dress for the brides mother.
Sne was a woman OF rare tact.
Having won Helen's consent to be
VIII Spencer's wife, she never
bothered her by complaints about
her isiless indifference to her lover
or Ter future prospects. She simply
made all the arrangements for her,
without once admitting posi-.
binty of change. The betrothal
was spoken of on all occasions, the
preparation of the house, the Sc
lection of the trOusseau referred to
in matter. fact words that made
Helen feel, as it was intended she
ohouIi, that she had walked into a
net from winch there was no es-
cape.
And Will Spencer knew it all,
and wIithed under the knowledge,
being a frank, loyal man, whose
impulses were generous and honor
able, and who loved Helen with all
ipe strength of bis heart. Often
be asked himself now he could en-.
dure life, it be found his wife a
faithful slave, instead of the happy
companion he hoped to make her.
IF she never loves mev he
thought, bitterly. If all my love
fails to win hers, what will my life
beR
He did her justice. He knew
that if his love failed to win her
heart, his gold was powerless to
make her happy. He knew that if
her mother died or could not be
benefited by her marriage, she
would rather beg her bread herself
than be his wife.
While matters stood in this un-
S satisfactory state, Hrs. Raymond
made a suggestion: Il want you to
60 away for a month"; she said to
him, 'and let Helen miss the con
slant devotion that she has had
every since your betrothal.
Let her feel ths void has come
into her life, a2d how dull and
how dull and cheerless it wOold be
if she lost you. The wedding day
is set for June 10 and this is April.
Stay away until the 9th or 9th OF
June.
1t seemed to h'n good advice,
and he had business IN the West
that would fiji his time proftably.
1t gave him the first really happy
moment of his engagement, when
Helen said, gently, yet with
shudder:
Il cannot bear to think of yOn
on railway trains, Will. Write
often that l may know you are
safe.'
lIer lips met his in a ten der
pressure, such as loving sister
| N, bf haatA M hut NTH f,r mora