Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-10-02

the world. who
dearly loved pleasure, but who had far
too hard head To ever allow the IN
ruly jade 20 run away with him. His
wife had died in giving birth 10 his
only son, Frank, and he was certainly
one OF the gayest widowers Wakefield
had ever seen
He hunted. he kept liberal table.
and he made love with a reckless
liberality that not little scandalized
some Of the good people OF his native
town. At the period of our story he
was fifty years of age. upright as a
dart, tall, slim, with "A young, fresh
colored. hairless face His appear
ance had not altered since he was
thirty years Of age, and il appeared
probable that another twenty years
might pass over him without produc-
ing any material change.
One day his son, who. without TAX
ing the trouble 10 notify his father.
was about 10 marry the lady of his
heart, received letter from his father
ordering him TO go 10 Wakefield upon
business of the utmost importance.
When he reached his home he was sur
prised TO learn that Mr.. Gilmour had
been called suddenly away 20 the
North. He had, however, left a mes
sage 10 the effect that his son was to
remain in Wakefield until his return.
he stayed in the pleasant. sleepy
little town for some ten days. at the
end of which period the post brought
him two remarkable letters.
One was from lady love 1t con
tanned three words:
'Goodby for ever. -
The other was signed by n Mrs.
Chambers, under whose roof Frank
had first met the woman of his choice
1t implored him 20 return a. once t.
Paisley. Some villain, she said. Ma
stolen Rosa's heart from him, and the
poor. bewitched girl had run away
with her new love.
Frank read these letters with
amazement At first he refused 70
belive that Rosa, whom he had loved
with such unselfsh devotion, had
tricked and Tilted him. He had such
faith In her truth and purity that il
seemed impossible for him TO associate
her with aught that was dishonest and
cruel. During his tedious journey to
Paisley he promised himself that Mrs.
Chambers had been mistaken. and that
when he came to thoroughly sift the
matter he would find that his darling
Rosa had been wonderfully misiudged.
But when he entered the little house
his heart fell within him and nearly
all his hope fled. The good old lady
had So changed that'he scarcely knew
her Her eyes were red with weep-
ing and deep purple rings surrounded
them. The kindly face was worn and
haggard and was sadly thin.
He took both her trembling hands
aud pressed them gently in silence.
Then be led her TO = chair and said:
Tell me everything. Do not spare
me one detail. / can bear the truth
better than doubt"
Ire she could speak Mrs. Chambers's
tears flowed fast.
hy tale lisa short one" she said ut
last. Dear, dear, IL all seems like a
nasty dream. Sometimes / sit here
ana fancy that her bright face will ap-
pear before me as ii used, and that all
that troubles me Is but the wandering
of an idle, foolish brain. am sorry
for you. Mr.. Gilmour; indeed, indeed
L am"
Come, come" he said; compose
yourself, and let me know the whole
miserable truth. ="
Soon after you went away" said
the fearful woman, II noticed a great
change In Rosa's manner. She be-
came absent-minded. dull, and more
than once L saw that she had been
weeping. l pressed her to tell me
the cause of her sorrow, bnt she al.
ways maintained that she was very
happy and she had nothing to grieve
her She went out more frequently
than she had been in the habit of do
ing. and often at announcement hours.
L did not care to chide her, but con-
fess that her frequent absence from
home perplexed me. Perhaps / ought
to have inquired more strictly into her
movements. aud God forgive me il