Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-16

OC dS cuCOCoclNl WILL uCl do IC uuA OGC0 III
many Of his other rustic amours-at least if
John was removed from the scene Of action,
which accordingly he resolved to take the
earliest opportunity Of bringing about.
It was not, however, BY his brothers
means that Johns hopes were blasted in
the bud, and the full measure Of his delin-
quency made known to the Baronet; for be-
fore he could mature his plans, more sub
tie spirit had been at work. in the person Of
a lean, sour old maid, distant connection
of the family, who happening one evening
to ovcrhear conversation between the low
ers, of decidedly matrimonial turn, has
tened to acquaint the old man with the full
particulars Of her discovery-how his son
had formed clandestine attachment to q
girl far beneath him in rank: how she re-
turned It; and how, unless he promptly in
terfered. nuptial catastrophe would take
place. and the blood of the Trevanions be
for ever dishonored.
Though rough and clustering in manner,
the result Of his long established authority
over the district, the Baronet was anything
but irascible; but this was precisely one Of
those communications calculated to call up
all the devil within him. IF there was one
thing beyond another of which he was proud
II except, Of course, his hounds and hor-
ses-it was the antiquity Of his family. An
Emblazoned genealogy hung up in his hall,
and as he cast hurried glance at this, on
his way to the library where, his son, when
at home, was usually to be found, his face
crimsoned with passion, he reproaohed John
in the bitterest terms for what he qeiled bis
ingratitude in prcsuming to talk Of marriage
without first asking his permission; contrast
ed his conduct with that Of his brother, who
would never have dreamed Of such heresy +;
reminded him Of his ancestors, not one of
whom but had mated with their equals in
rank; and concluded by insisting on his
giving up all thoughts Of the s'insolent bag
gage" as he styled Mary.
Never" said John, boldly, when the
Baronet had concluded the longest speech
he had ever been known to make: IF
owe respect to you, sir, owe it also to
myself, and presume to think that in this
instance
"Think! What right have you to think,
when you have got me to think for you p
But this comes Of the book learning that
your poor mother was always examining
your head with. But TIL burn every book
in the house such rubbish is only fit for
wadding. There's your brother has never
read line in bis life, Til warrant; no more
have /, for that matter; and your great an
cestor, Sir Hugh, who died IN his stirrups
at Bosworth FELT, could not write his own
name. And yet you, forsooth, must pre-
sumo to be wiser than all Of US! Bnt I'll
tell you what it is, young sir-either give
up this wench or give up me-
SAT least allow me some time for refcc-
ton, sir"
"Timep' shouted the indignant Baronet;
mot day-not an hour-you've had time,
enough and to spare, already. Yes, yes,
pretty time you've had Of it, I'll be bound,
yadding about with that artful hussey, and
making yourself the laughing-stock of the
1eigbborhood, when you should have been
your duties as son and broth
,r.'
II am not aware, sir, that I have been
'emiss in either capacity"
ooh, I dare say not. You never thought
yourself too good company for my friends
you never looked down on your brother Ed
ward, because he had not as much book
earning as yourself. though he shall ride,
,r hunt or shoot with any man in Devon
shire"
Father, father" replied John, with
leep feeling, you are unjust, ungenerous
8 it my fault that my habits are not those
# my neighbors, and that cannot, strive
IS may, enter into their convivial enjoy
nents? AS respects Edward, it is he that
ooks down on me not on him."
"And well he may, seeing the disgrace
1ou were about to entail on your family. ~
However to cut this matter short-either
consent to give up all thoughts Of this girl,
n prepare to leave the hall within the week.
am lord and master here, and no child of
nine shall dare to fly into the face Of my
authority"
But John respectfully, though firmly,
persisted in his refusal to resign Mary, upon
which the Baronet, after consulting with
MS eldest son, of whose sagacity he had a
high opinion, applied to Mary's father, who
was his own tenant, and so worked upon his
apprehensions- he was quiet timid
man-that Mr.. Mordaunt, whose eyes were
now for the first time opened to the nature
IF the intimacy between the young couple,
and who had no idea Of forcing himself into
m alliance with family that despised him,
that very night exacted promise from
Mary whose pride was deeply wounded by
aer fathers communication, that she would
not see John again.
.Trevanion mean time, having no notion
If the efforts made by Mr.. Mordaunt to
Keep his daughter from his sight, wandered
about the neighborhood day and night, hop
ng to get glimpse Of Mary: but finding
his to be impossible, and that Whenever he
called at the cottage its inmates were sure
% be absent, be became quite disheartened,
attributing that to caprice on Mary's part
which was the result Of bitter necessity.
But perseverance does wonders, and as a
ast reoouree the young man had recourse
10 writing. With considerable difficulty h9
managed to get letter conveyed to Mary,
wherein he implored her to grant him one
last interview, stating that at daybreak,
near the Al hey, he should be anxiously
waiting her arrival, and that if she failed
to come the disappointment would be fatal
10 him. The letter was penned in such
distracted style that the poor girl was alarm
cd by it into acquiescence. ''lt is the last