Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-03-24


could not even offer these.
"Day after day | learned to We
her, until / begrudged every houi
spent out of her presence, though
these we're necessarily many, - O."
basking IN the sunshine of her
smiles the few.
sometimes l faucied her 9, es
frightened at my comiug,Or sad.
dened when left her; but no con.
fession of my love escaped my
lips. knew too well It's hopeless
ness. | grew jealous of her every
smile, morbid ID NY lonely mus
ings, and recalled, with apathetic
wonder, the ambitions which once
had stirred me, and my belief in
their becoming reality.
ut was at this juncture that l
received letter from an old school
friend, stating his intention Of
coming to join me, exchanging his
c pital for mS experience.
"Once more my ambitions and
NY hopes revived. With money l
could bring many a plan 10 sue
cessful execution, and perhaps, ere
long, lie able TO provide a nest fer
the bird l would capture.
GA few weeks later, returning
from long walk, l found my
friend awaiting me, and our hands
met in that cordial hand-clasp
which means so much. Midnight
still found us clOseted together,
eagerly discussing our future, aI d
when at last, We babe each other
goodnight, it was with silent re.
newal of all the old ties of brother.
hood between us.
"With his coming, the tide OF
affairs appeared to change, aDd
the sun to peep forth once
again from beneath the clouds OF
adversely; yet, as week iOllower
week, l shrank with a strange
presentiment from presenting hlm
to the woman fondll hoped to OF e
day make my wife.
"A ccideDt finally made It longer
impossible, and forced an lntrOduc
lion. / saw his ewes rest admiriug-
~ on her face; watched the color
creep gently into the beau ifn'
cheeks, ae she, too, mar ked bis
gate; ard in tha moment, a fierce,
unreasOulng jealousy tool posses
sion of me, which StrOve in voin
to overcome,
"My business pr sperlty n longe'
gave int pleasure. Roger wondered
at the change III me, sometime
operlS, oitener silently. AT Suc'
moments l could read it in bis
ewes; and even Meta's seemed TO
question me. But | would not
heed hem.
"At last, days would 60 by and
l wonld not soak her presence,
sitting alone, gloomy aud wretch
ed. But one day came little not'
from her, begglu g me to come tC
her that evening-petItiOn | tOInd
myself unable to resist.
"As the hour drew neaT, ny
mood softeued, and | determed tC
put an end to the suspense whicl
? was consuming me-to discover
D whether my jealousy was, indeed
D but the fruit of an idle In aglnation
f "Wlth my heart beating higl
s and every pulse throObing, l ap
: preached her fathers door. l
4 stood invitingIy open. The sOun(
z Of voices in the parlor seemed al
Q invitation TO enter.
o "For one moment | stood uDOb
Z, served on the threshold. Meta aD'
!. r ger sat side by side. He va
talking, his handsome head ben
q low, the words full Of earnes
passion, she listening with husht'
!. cheeks and dOwncast eyes.
r /" 1t is love and only love whic'
a has prompted t.; love which ha
1 been rendered silent through d.:
n trust; love-
n 81 waited to hear no more. Wit
/. brain afre ] FASTENED home. d.
d termined to put an end to so nil
q. erable life before the day. dawI
O Taking out my pistols, care
e fully polished them, and saw tha
t. they we're fully loaded, determine
g. that if one barrel failed moth,
should do the work. Then taklu
Oh pen, ink and paper. sat down
10 pour out. in hot, hnrning word
III TO Meta, the story of my love II
o her, its hoDelessness and It's r
g. suit.
1t "Fhat finished, sealed aud a
dressed, determined to walt ,
I'd longer, aud catching one OF II
C. pistols in my hand, pressed
tx against my temple. The next NJ