Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-02-26
SELECTED STORY!
FATHER AND SON.
A COMEDY. IN TWO ACTS.


"And, SO, sir, this is your decision p
Honor, father, forbids any other" r.
t.Do you mean to say that you are engag-
ed to the girl :" ss.d. t. ea.
tsNot exactly I wait her decision.
.'Then you have proposed ?"
II have, Sill" ',.'',' ". a. ~
f. s.And you've resolved to marry Miss
Cameron and not Miss Eastwood p
7 eff Miss Cameron will accept me-" rs!
% EVERY well, sir, very well! This is your
lgratitude-this your .flial duty ! you self
SWilled, ungrateful dog, in return for the
trouble Pve had with you, the efforts made
to secure for you the best match IN the
country. Here is fine, dashing, handsome
Young woman, rich, and belonging to one
Of the first families of the country, whom
,you,throw aside for the sake Of pale-faeed
chit Of clergyman's daughter"
"Fatherw 4 Ii.
.Don't father me, sir-don't interrupt
me-don't speak to me again Get out OF
my sight but remember the day on which
you marry Lena Cameron you will cease to
be son Of mine. I'll disown, I'll disinher-
it you, sir, and leave all have to the new
Orphan Asylum"
Such was tie scene enacted in Squire
Chester's parlor-a scene frequently presea-
ted upon the stage Of sympathizing and de-
lighted crowds-an irate father, red-faced
and loud-voiced with hands beneath coat
tails, a la Pickwick, and eyes glazing wrath
fully through goldrimmed spectacles, upon
handsome and undutiful son, bent upon
wedding the object of his souls idolatry
against his fathers wishes. Yet in this in
stance it was no mere acting, but on the
part of each serious and resolute earnest.
To add to the dramatic effect, at the mo-
ment in which the squire's last words were
spoken, fair, delicate looking girl who was
about entering the room, catching the sound
OF the angry voice, paused an instant with
her hand on the door knob, as if hesitating
whethor to enter. And thus it happened
that she heard her own name coupled with
the threat already mentioned.
She turned then, and glided swiftly up
the stairs to her room. Locking the door
she threw herself on couch, and burying
her face in the pillows, remained long time
quite motionless. She did not weep, but
when she at length arose, her face was very,
very pale, and her sweet blue eyes had a
haggard look Of suffering painful to witness
in one SO young.
Seating herself at the table, she drew to-
wards her writing desk, and wrote as fol-
lows: A4 .t'
DEAR Cousin PHILIP Since our inter-
view of yesterday, I have thought the mat
ter over, and come to the conclusion that 1t
will be the best that we should not marry.
Do not blame me-do not question me ever.
have reasons which I cannot explain, but
act as think will be best for us both.
.-.. LENA
"Where is Miss Cameron" questioned
Philip of the servant who handed him this
note.
s.sGone over to Elmwood, sir, to her aunt,
Mrs. Page heard her say she would stay
there until her return to the city in few
days." -. :.
An hour later, Philip Chester was on
his way to Elmwood. The path was lonely,
leading through sequestered wood, and he
was consequently surprised when. at an alb
rupt turning, he came suddenly face to face
with a young lady, very tall, very hand.
some. and attired in rich riding habit and
floating plume. Philip lifted his hat res
pectfully, and would have passed on, but the
lady passed full in the path before him.
Excuse me-you are Mr.. Philip Ches'
teri" at7'
He bowed.
"And I am Josephine Eastwood.
In his surprise he hardly knew what to
saw. II did not know-I was not aware
of Miss Dashwood's being in the neighbor-
hood"
II dare say not. You were expecting
perhaps, you and your honored father, to
behold me for the first time at the residence
of my respected uncle and guardian, Simon
Walker, ESQ. But you see Twas too anxl-
GUS to wait, so l concluded to run down foI
a day or two to Elmwood on the strength OF
Mrs. Page being an old friend Of my moth
er. Iwapted to see you, Mr., Chester"
"You do me honor" said Philip puzzled
in what manner to treat this frank avowal'
The young lady meanwhile played with the
horses name. j.,
~ am glad of this accidental meeting,
she resumed, '.for I was just thinking, no"
it would be possible to obtain private IN
terview."
Philip started. ,,..
Il believe" continued she coolly, 'tha'
there has been some arrangement made
concerning us by these two old NEAR
your much honored father and my highly
respectable uncle-a little matrlm9nla
scheme, if I am not mistaken: Very klne
of them, doubtless, though it might nave ~
been kinder to have left us to choose iol
ourselves and be happy in our own way.