Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-03-26
SELECTED STORY!
' CONSTANCE EVELYN.
BY NELLIE LEE.

Rain, rain, rama hopeless day. with an
easterly wind and a sky Of lead The streets
were dirty and sloppy, and muddy and mis-
cradle. Women hurried along with dragged
skirts; men plunged through the slippery
mud with umbrellas and sulky face. A
dark, dreary, miserable day and all of its
gloom was reflected in Miss Evelyns face,
as she stood looking out of her boudoir win
dow ss go -i5sr
She was tall and stately, and beautifully
dressed, too, this Miss Evelyn; and young
that is to say, twenty five, so she need
hardly have worn that YEARLY miserable
look, one would think, if the weather was
bad, Besides, one would have thought it
fine thing to be Miss Constance Evelyn,
with fortune Of hundred thousand dol
lars, and such pretty room to nestle in on
wet days.
Miss Evelyn dropped the curtains as the
little ormolu clock strnck eleven, and be-
gan walking up and down, up and down.
with the shadow in her face deepening and
darkening every moment.
| Presently she stopped before great mir
ror that reflected her form from top to toe,
and gazed long and fxedly at the pale,
proud face, black, glossy hair, and blue eyes
that gazed back.
cam l handsome % thought Miss Eve
Ign, or is it only the wretched fattery that
| is poured into the ear of every rich woman
that I know? What does he think, [ wen
der?"
All that little tell-tale pronoun The
proudest of these proud women are humble
enough when ''he'' is in the question.
"And am growing DID, thought Miss
Evelyn. II never fancied so until last
night The idea OF an unmarried woman
of five-and-twenty presuming to think her.
self young passed him talking to a young
lady-a gushing thing Just out, I passed,
but they did not see me. Miss Evelyn
handsome p exclaimed Missy, in answer to
something he said, %, yes. Of course but
frightfully old, isn't she? Why she was 60
ing to be married to Mr.. Lawrence ever so
long ago; and was engaged to cousin ages
before that!' That was quite enough [
walked away, and danced with the first gen
tleman who asked me, and comprehended
that my life was gone, and I was an old
maid"
She began walking up and down again,
her thoughts wandering gloonlily into the
past.
''And what useless life it has been
What deceit society is Whata shallow,
vapid, empty mockery! | am WEAKNESS to
myself, and useless thing to my fellow
creatures. IF we are all born with a destiny
to accomplish, and work to do, it is about
time I-found mine out, and began it. What
is an old maids mission any way? To talk
scandal, drink tea, and be snubbed Come
| in p
There had been modest rap at the door.
Mary, the housemaid, appeared
eff you please, miss, Mr.. Underhill is in
the drawing ROOM '''-
Miss Evelyn started.
ssMr. Underhill Such morning Well
20 down, Mary, and tell him I'll be there in
a moment.
She shook out her flowing morning robes,
smoothed her glossy braids, and slowly de-
seconded. Mr.. Underhill, Miss Evelyn's
lawyer, sober, elderly man, rose up at hel
entrance.
''Good morning, Miss Evelyn. dreary
day, isn't? You didn't expect a visitor such
weather ?"
Hardly" Miss Evenlyn answered, Ian
guidly. ''But you are very welcome, Mr..
Underhill"
"Thank you, Miss Evelyn. I wish ]
brought more welcome news
| A. 1,J,
noticed the trouble i'll his face and voice.
''What is it?'' she asked quietly, ''trou-
BILE for me!''
eyes, Miss Evelyn"
'About money matters, Of course"
eyes"
"You seem rather reluctant to tell it, Mr.
Underhill. I beg you will think better o.
me. Whatever it is, shall be glad to heal
it at once"
II have cause to hesitate in telling it,
dear young lady for it is very unpleasant
very, indeed. You remember the con-
ditions of your late guardians will ?"
"Perfectly, sir"
'Will you have the goodness to repeat
them to me, Miss Evelyn?''
wi LILO NhoiO IVA oohS w.
hundred thousand dollars, and this house az
it stands, became mine Internationally
provided his nephew, supposed to be dead IN
California, never reappeared. Should nc
ever reappear-something highly improba,
ble-the fortune passed from me to him al
once"
Precisely, Miss Evelyn. And there
my bad news begins"
s'You mean this nephew is alive, atte'
all ?"
II dow
She drew Auttering breath-turned
little pale-that was all.
els he herein the city p
II regret for your sake, to say he Is.
There was pause. She sat very still
pale and cold-her hands folded in her Lap
'You have seen him, of course, Mr.. Tn
derhill % -
eyes, Miss Evelyn. Mr. George Thorn'
came to my Office yesterday, and proved nj
;dantitv hnuond the shadow of doubt. Bu