Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-02-26


old gentlemen but we can manage quietly
10 circumvent them, and have our own way,
can't we ~
perhaps you have formed some plan to
that effect :" said Philip, half amused and
half interested. r-.
.sYou shall hear" she answered. II am
told that your dear, delightful father ad-
mires 'dashing' ladies', wants a dashing
daughter in-law and mistress of his estab-
lishment. You will dine tomorrow at Elm
wood. But sure not to disappoint Mrs.
Page, who knows all about it, and takes
motherly interest in the affair. We will
see whether the old gentleman is satisfied
with his chosen daughter But, what
ever occurs, your role, remember, is to be
perfectly charmed. viii you accept your
part, Mr.. Chester 2" ...,
Half laughing, half wondering, he agreed.
And SO they rode on together through the
shadowy woodpath; Philip Chester liking
his companion far better than he had previ-t
ously thought possible Of Miss Eastwood.
PAET II,
Scene second, act first, transports us to the
drawing-room, where sat the good lady,
Mrs. Page, in all the formal dignity Of a
country dinner dress, endeavoring to enter.
tain some half a dozen guests, Of whom
Squire Chester was one. Seated near an
open window he was anxiously awaiting the
the appearance Of Miss Eastwood, with a
vague hope as to the effect which might be
thereby produced upon his undutiful SON
That self-willed young man lounged near,
cheerfully conyersing with lady, while
Lena Cameron, very pale and quiet, was
bending over bit of embroidery, with fin
gers that trembled little and eyes that
were rarely nplifted.
Suddenly the sharp notes Of a bngle pierced
the ears Of the assembled company.
"There is Joe" said Mrs. Page. 81
am glad that she has come, as now we oan
have dinner"
"Joe?' doubtfully inquired one of the
lady guests.
The squire looked from the window, as in
vited, and beheld mans hat and coat, as
he thought, and woman's skirt dashing full
speed up the avenue toward the house. with
half dozen dogs accompanying. SPRING
ing unassisted to the ground, she proceeded
to unloosen the saddle and throw it upon the
ground; then walked several timea round
the animal, evidently, examining into his
condition, and discussing the same with the
groom, who had now appeared.
IfSquire Chester regarded the unexpected
appearance of his sons chosen wife with any
emotions Of surprise or disappointment, he
at least did not express it On the contrary,
he bowed and shook hands with true-old-
school gallantry and courtsey, as that young
lady presently entered the room, follwed by
two Of the dogs aforesaid, to whom she
whistled an encouragement to enter.
"Oh, my dear, the dogs!" demonstrated
Mrs. Page, piteously: eve are not accus-
toned to having them in the drawing room. :"
Dear! not have dwags in the drawing
room! Why, I have mine with me every
where, and all over the house. Like dwags,
sir ?" she inquired, with a pretty drawl, of
her future father -in-law. ,aet
every much--in their proper place"
the old gentlemen felt restrained to say. To
which Miss Eastwood replied by a just per-
ceptible shrug Of her graceful shoulders, and
then went to dinner.
"No turkey, thank you" said she; II
never take fowl-it's only fit for invalids and
babies SO insipid. I'll take roast beef
rare, if you please---though Iprefer steak and
onions sa ss4 e}tf @ -t
And besprinkling the CORY slice with an
abundance Of cayenne sauce, Miss Eastwood
commenced her repast, while the squire turn
ed away his eyes, meeting those Of Lena
Cameron, his wife's niece, who had been re-
garding these proceedings of tho "dashing"
young lady with an expression akin to hor-
ror. Poor child she wasn't in the secret,
But the squire thought, as be looked at her,
how very delicate and refined and ladylike
she appeared.
Miss Eastwood declined sherry, but ac-
eepted little PORT instead--expresssing a
preference for French Brandy and water.
It was quite the ''style" now, she asserted
for ladies to prefer brandy. Indeed. some
even protested partiality for Bourbon,
though she herself considered it inferior to
brandy in point Of taste and real refresh
ment and Squire Chester felt provoked at
the assiduity with which his son re6lled the
young lady's glass, and listened admiringly
to all she said.
"Give us some music, Joe," said Mrs
Page, when they were again in the drawing
room. And the Squire who was devoted to
music. looked up and frightened. 1t was
one Of his favorite anticipations. of his soA's
wife playing to him, and soothing him in
his after dinner hours with the melodies he
loved. And now he came up to the piano
and stood expectant.
| Miss Eastwood played a rafting prelude,
and then suddenly broke into bravora,
which caused one old lady to vacate her seat
near the instrument. The squire. gnda4nt-
ed, kept his post until a hunters song,
with all the accompaniment of "horn, hound
and rider hallo," overcame even his courtesy,
and he too retreated.
CHOW, Lena, one Of our favorite songs,
said her aunt, quietly and the girl sat down
and in sweet, low and somewhat plaintive
veice. sang Bonnie Door," and "Annie
Laurie"
"Thats the music that I like" remarked
Squire Chester, to his hostess, seet'o 2Y'aaeeee:
'"Fhose charming old songs are worth all
the modern fol-de-rols that have ever been
written" And he looked thoughtfully at
Miss pashWood, and then at Miss Cameron.
Likewise hearkened to the discourse now
going on between the former and his son.
81 do so doat on horses" observed the