Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-10-14

stepped farther out into the garden, to (
81 near the gate when he passed, bent over
y rose-trec carelessly, as if unaware of his az
y proach, than raised her eyes as if uncor
D scious of his proximity, and bowed when h
d passed, as if be had been the most value
a of her::acquaintance She then turned quietl
g toward her companions and looked at them
y Matte was enjoying it; but Major Rollin
:, was simply astounded. He was looking at
II ter the retiring figure. with eyes opene'
e considerably wider than usual one han'
: rested on his hip, while the other twirle,
g his mustache with great deal of expression
9 At last he said, turning to Ida with sati
rical smile:
''Miss Ida, must say I admire bare
footed cavaliers exceedingly, and also ad
9 mire your taste in selecting such an one.
see the fashion of this semi bar barous regior
: is to dispense with all unnecessary articles
Of clothing and you ladies are no doub
delighted with TIE very novelty of the
thing"
r These remarks were just about what Ida
) had expected frem him, and she had re-
solved to resent anything of the kind he
| might say So, looking up at him with a
) great deal of dignity, she said:
tMr. Russell is a gentleman. I have
had the opportunity to test him, and respect
him."
The Majors reply to this very emphatic
declaration was raising Of the eyebrows,
a shrug of the shoulders. slight bow, and
a graceful wave Of the hand all done at
once. They expressed surprise, satire, and
a graceful yield to her opinion, with dis
inclination to quarrel with it,
A week or two passed, and during that
time all Ida's friends had been informed of
her barefooed beau some of them had
actually been gratiGed with look at him
She was mercilessly joked and teased about
him on all sides but strange to say, she
adhered all the more strongly to his defence
Major Rollins made himself particularly OBJ
noxious to her until one day matters came
to climax.
She went to drive with him one after
noon, and on their way home through she
village, he concluded he would stop and
get some cigars. He drew up in front of
small hotel or tavern, with the intention of
getting them there. Ida objected but he
said he would only be gone minute. So
she was forced to submit, with as good
grace as possible, to be be left in the car
riage alone before the door.
1t was about dusk, and a large crowd of
( village idlers, men and boys, were collect
ing on the steps of the tavern, and starred
at the handsome young lady in the carriage
in manner which was highly offensive to
her. She impatiently waited for the Major
to make his appearance, but in vain. Every
moment matters were getting more unplea-
SAINT; the group on the steps we're getting
more boisterous and they accompanied
their jokes and outbursts of merriment with
bold glances at her, which left her no room
to doubt that they were making her the
subject of them.
Ida could have cried. She felt hurt
beyond expression, to think any gentleman
could so carelessly expose her to such NOR
tifcation.
The time she had been sitting there
seemed an eternity, and she was just begin
ming to entertain the wild idea of getting
cut, and walking home, when suddenly
some Que anne and leaned over into the
carriage 1t was not the Major she knew,
for be came to the opposite side from the
the tavern but in turning quickly to look,
she caught sight of familiar torn coat, and
her heart gave bound. Never did she sup
pose that such coat as that, and the wear
err, would ever be such dear and welcome
sight.
"Mr. Russell !" she cried joyfully. bend
ing forward and extending her hand eagerly;
and in her eagerness to question him as to
how he happened there just then, perhaps
did not withdraw it quite as soon as she
might have done
From the moment Charley had approach
ed, and she had greeted him, the merriment
on the stoop had ceased and some Of the
crowd, thinking there was an end to fun,
walked off.
II saw those fellows were not behaving
very we'll, and didn't know but you might
feel frightened said Charley. His tone
was almost apologize
sNobody was ever more welcome to me
in my life than you are at this moment, y
said Ida
Charley looked away. and was silent.
Ida noticed that he came to the further
side of the carriage so that in turning
toward him, she would turn away from the
company on the steps She knew that he
had done it intentionally, and she almost
loved him for it.
Now that she was very Indifferent whether
her escort came or not, he made his appear
ance It was just light enough, as he step.
ped out of the door, for him to see Charley,
who, perceiving that he was no longer
needed, without a word of parting, quietly
raised his hat to Ida and vanished. Major
Rollins stood for moment and glared after
him then, turnidg to Ida, said
What was that ragamuffin doing here?
and without waiting for reply, continued, as
! he stepped in beside her: "Young lady, when
you are alone, you are at liberty to exercise
your good taste as you choose in the selection
} of cavaliers but when you are out with
me, be pleased to remember that one is
| sufficient"
Ida was astonished and indignant at this
unmerited outburst, and with quiet, though
undisguised contempt she replied
, cit seems, in this case, you we're no
quito sufficient. IF you had been, Mr.
t Russell would have been the last person to
r ntrude upon upon your rights. AS it was
he came to shield me by his presence from
r insults to which you had exposed me ane
e [ am inclined to doubt whether you will
3 ever have the opportunity, under any cir
y cumstances, to repeat your neglect"
y Her tone, though subdued. was so decided
< and earnest, that be was surprised by it >
0 but from mingled feelings, the strongest 0
j which was anger, he did not trust himsel
e to speak so they finished their drive il
g; silence
: When they drew up at Mrs. Stowep
i gate, and he had assisted her to alight, she