Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-08-04

was lett alone In the world
wlthont money, Without friends,
without a home, and, In fact, with
nothing but one faithful slave.
With that ln0orn Southern Diide
In me l could not beg. could not
sell that faithful slave who had
ever made my every wish his law.
So What was | to doY At last In
my extremity the postman brought
me letter. | looked at the seal.
| recognized it. Twas from an
old friend OF my father. With the
nervousness of eager anticipation
| broke the seal. Oh! the Joy that
| felt. for | was to be adopted in
that family as the companion of
his only daughter, au helress. Her
mother had long since been dead,
| gave Jack his freedom and went
10 the home OF my fathers friend
and my beuelactOr. l became a
mem Der of that family, companion
of Gertrude Weldon, the daughter
of JLmeS Welden. the millionaire
cotton king.
Shortly alter my arrival in that
home Mr.. Weldon told his daughter
that ae intended tuat she should
marry L land Field, a young man
of old ancesry aud broad acres.
Though James Weldon loved his
daughter dearly, yet when he said
that she should wed Leland Field
he meant it, aud che well knew
that his will WAS a VeTitable Gl'
brsltar and that she might as well
think of stormlug that stronghold
slnple-handed and alone AS to think
that she could change ber fathers
decree. But it we're strange indeed
had she not inherited some of thar
same willpOwer.
al Will not, cannot" she cried,
- V faith has been pilghted to one
love. Bus yesterday promised
R,chHd Bayne 10 he his wife"
"Silence," demanded her father,
"tou hall not my daughter, while
l live, briDg disgrace to your honor
rd mothers name aud to mlHe bJ
marry ing a poor meuial fellow like
Richard Bayne. Your hand has
been promised to LELAND Field,
aud you shall be bis wife,
The ia her then went out AMI left
tue daughter to her thoughts
When | entered the room she was
sheddirg bitter tears OF mental az
ony. 5 dGenly the expression on
her handsome face changed TO on,
Of defiance, and she bitterly ex
claimed:
Does my father mean to sci
my bappi ness for goldl Would M
sell me into a lite of misery Tor The
sake of "a name9 Will he force his
daughter, his only daughter, to
soIrowing grave simply TO see e
welded to bis ia, orlte! | VIII not
| cannot do it. | loye Richar'
Bdyne. Though he is honest, AM
he loved me, l have promised L
make him happy, aud by ever
thought that's just aud hight
shall"
All! twas II chard B'yne sb'
lovedY Envy filed my bosom, TO
!. too, loved him. And there, Will
, Gerlrudt's head on my shOulde
and bitter tears rolling down he
cheeks, L made a solml vow. "The.
shall never be married. How L
prevent Il was "A problem which N.
envlous brain soon solved.
From that time OH was the III
tie bird that carried the message
of love between the Two, for Ricl
ard Bsyue was long sluce fJrbidde
hy GertIude's stem father to sc
his daughter. | perfected ali th
q arrangements tor their elOpemen
a But In the mean time | had pra'
? ticed until ] could counterfeit ht
o handwriting perfectly.
Y The appointed evening came
T helped Gertrude dress lor a wet
# ding Which l knew never woni
d occur. All was readS-but whei
{. was RlchardY Que hour has passe'
v Still the poor girl peered out lot
r the darkness in vain. Oh, whel
o was h,?
II Her suspense was relieved 10y ii
rs falling CT "A heavy body. Twas u
d Geath her window. A hight reves
Al ed the presence of her lover; b
u ne was iung on the ground al
p, his face turned heayenward. u
n sprang oct of the open caseme|
md flung herself upoL her Knees
NJ "RIchar,l Richard. WHAT IA
d, Ou donel What has happenedf U
'e 10 speak to mel'
- Bdt bis OILY Iesponse was a Tan