Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-01-14

is she" questioned the colonel mas
tily.
ooh, not at ALL" answered the
young lady, with pleasant laugh;
"only she's going to be married to
Lord Littel tonight"
"Married?" said the colonel half
70 himself; then aloud: "Can you
tell me where she lives? must see
her upon Understanding very
important"
cts not very far from here. The
house in the park that you see on
the left belongs to her father. But
you must hurry. It's after $50, and
you've scarce an hour"
Colonel Pember turned and walk
ed hastily along the road. "Married
-married-then | am too late.
Perhaps not. don't understand it.
/ can't" And with every step he
took came the refrain, "Married,
married, married."
The next day Densmond was all
excitement. The daughter Of the
Hon. Crofton Burton had refused
at the last moment to marry Lord
Lorloose Littel. And then, too, the
appearance of this suspicious look
ing American. That must not be
overlooked. Surely there was some
thing in this, eff those as knew
would tell" But the Hon. Burton,
NJ. P, would tell nothing, and as
Lord Littel had left for town that
morning he could tell nothing, and
Miss Burton had declared that she
would tell nothing. So there the
matter rested, and like every other
sensation was almost forgotten ten
days after.
Almost, I say, for Colonel Penn
Der had taken lodgings at the Pot
and Kettle, and scarcely day pass
ed but he made his way to The Oaks,
the residence of Mr. Burton, who
seemed to have a great fancy for his
company.
Nor was it long in becoming COM
mon talk that the colonel had re-
turned to Miss Burton on the eve
of her intended wedding blood
stained miniature, the token Of Il
schoolgirl love that she had given
to Herbert Creston, the village ne'er
do well, and that as she saw the pie
ture, stained with his lifeblood, the
old love had returned, and she had
refused to marry any one else.
SO passed year, and again sum-
mer visited the little village, sprin-
king the lawns with yellow dande-
lions and the hedges with all man
ner of sweetness. From the many
farmyards came the sounds of cat
tie and of fowls upon the clear and
silent air, mingled with the distant
dashing of brooks. The trees, re-
splendent in their garments If
green" cast grateful shadows for
the MONDAY wanderer. And then
the gardens-roses everywhere! The
air was one mass of perfume, de-
lightful and overpowering, the first
sweet gift of summer.
During this time Miss Burton
had not been seen by the village
folk save on one or two rare Occa-
sions, and those who had viewed her
reported that she was looking pale
and sickly and that she scarcely
ever spoke. Now, however, at the
approach of summer she had
thrown off her gloomy aspect, laid
aside the "inky cloak" that she had
insisted upon wearing and had even
gone so far as to ride out into the
country and always with the colonel
as a companion.
One night they walked together
in the gardens that almost entirely
surrounded The Oaks. There was no
other light than that of the stars.
As Amelia paused the colonel placed
his arm about her and held her
hand.
''You have my answer?' he ques-
toned softly.
She raised her face slowly. Their
lips met.
at is yes? p" he asked.
And she answered, eyes"
Far away in the wilderness OF
Virginia the night winds gathered
and whispered and murmured and
muttered and with their dark PIN
ions brushed the bright cold drops
of dew that chung to the blades of
grass above the unmarked grave of
Herbert Creston.
IL