Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-09-16

artless girl was coy, indeed and when a
length he cornered her, it was to his discom
future. She suddenly turned and forced he
way past him, without even one of he
downcast chances. On the contrary he
eyes were fixed fully on his face, and plainl
said, Sir, we are strangers =
| Next he tried title headed Lambert, an
Eshe ratified on quite as usual but Watso
soon discovered th4t the rattle was not 70
him.
I Strangely enough, the proud and exclu
sive Mis- Percy unbcnt somewhat from he
lofty carriage and gave him welcome bu
over it all was shadow fear, apparent
ly, which made Miss Percy shy, rather thai
naughty and Watson began to catcl
glimpses of character beneath all tina
conventional veil, which he had not expected
to find.
Of course the wealthy Miss Oromane
would scorn his further friendly relations
Her rooms we've near his own second foo
apartments she daily, all the season, hat
encountered him in his walks through th
long corridor, and must have been one o
the first to learn of his fallen fortunrs In
deed, he half surmised that her dressing
maid had made special inquiry into his case
seeing her in confidential confab with TIL
floor stewardess and room girls. So Watson
with reserve or pride not entertained will
others, kept apart from Miss Oromanes
On that third evening of his changed for.
tunes, when the Sappho of the Cascades an.
initiated him, greatly to the plesure of the
young 'bloods' around her, Watson wander.
ed away at length upon the piazza then
up through the long, deserted halls, restless,
thoughtful, digesting the notes which he had
been taking of human nature, and trying to
fix the relative value of a man without mo-
ney. 1t was the crystalline truth he was
learning-not the truth in mere solution
sometimes clear, sometimes Opaque, but al
ways thin, but the precipitated, hard angu-
lar, clear cut crystals Of experience mined
in unexpected places. Had he remained
upon the second floor, never would he have
obtained the gems the mere solution only
would have repaid his keenest search But
that migration to the upper spaces had given
him wondrous lens his horizon was so
immeasurably extended. that barring the
fact that his bill was unpaid, he was the
happier, because wiser, for the upward re-
verse.
Suddenly. in his solitary promenade, he
confronted the heiress She was walking
arm in arm with young Evans, Of her set,
in confidential communication, it would APP
pear, else why should they have been in
that long hall alone asked Watson, as,
with glance, he took in the situation. The
meeting was surprise to both parties, and
the inclination of both men Was to pass
without recognition, Evans, indeed, frown-
ed Watson flushed in anger, and, with
head erect, bore down and passed his enc
mics, like suspended or cashicrcd officer of
the line, conscious Of his soldierly qualities,
but equally conscious of his altered circum-
stances Too high he held bis head, in
fact, for be caught no soft glance from the
lady's eye, and trod so firmly upon the trail
Of her elegant evening dress as to cause a
perceptible cracking Of seams at the skirt
'Dclt:" he hissed
Watson passed on, staying to make no
apology, but heard the lady say:
'Fie, it is nothing ; and he was conscious,
too, that she was looking at him wondering
ly.
An hour later Watson was down on the
piazza again, evidently in quest of some one,
and he found his man ere long. Evans
was the gentleman he wanted. Going up
to MIN, Watson said:
Mr.. Evans, what was the word you used
at the time [ trod on the trail of Miss Gro
names dress 2
I said dozt, sir 4! and I say it again. We
have hitherto supposed you to be a gentle
man, and now learn that you cannot pay
your bills > and he laughed, half in scorn
and half in humor of the fact so OPPORTUNITY
given him to crush another
The hot blood flew to Watson's face bis
hands were cenched as if to strike but by
strong effort he mastered his passion.
Evans, no gentleman ever would have
uttered that sentences. Only a coward
would fling another's poverty in his face
Miss Oromanes, educated as she has been
to give virtue to wealth, might find in my
inability to pay my hotel bill a justification
for dropping my acquaintance; but doub
if ever she would have countenanced iucivil
ity. owe her an apology for my seeming
rudeness, and will give it to her, but you
hold in too supreme contempt even to ex
change more words with you. Hereafter
do not speak to me, for if you do 7 will slal
YOU in the face, even in the presence Of tn
ladies' And the speaker went his way tt
his attic room.
This scene, overheard by several gentle
men and ladies, was soon the talk of tn
rooms. Evans, being recognized leade
of very aristosratic circle; soon convene
others Of the set and Major Snow was, er
long summoned to be informed that he mus
clear out Watson offering to pa
the delinauent's bill.
And the news few throughout the parlor
and promenades that Major Snow was t
give Mr.. Robert Watson, of Baltimore
bis walking papers in the morning.
An observer of the scene between the tw
gentlemen on the piazza was Miss Oromanes
Having at once retired to her room to repai
the accident to her skirt, the lady dome
!, another dress, and. to enjoy half an hou
undisturbcd, stole out upon the pleasan
open weather promenade. She thus was
witness Of what TRANSFERRED. She, too, re
. tired in evident excitement, to her rooms
and when her maid, half an hour late
brought the house news that the Major wa
to clear Watson out in the morning, tn
heiress, with perfect deliberation, but Wit
frightened color in her cheeks, and c'ea
sparkle in her beautiful eyes, sat down t
her desk and indicted the following note;
"Major Snow will please take no actio
in the matter of the difference between MI
Watson aud Mr. Evans overheard ever
word that passed between the gentlemen
and I fully justify Mr.. Watson. Were
not an insult IN him 7 vould offarto bocom