The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-11-17
sTAUNTON VIRGINIA. THURSDAY NOVEMBER IT, 1870


then hesitated. He did not wish to enact the
part of listener, but he had caught the men
ton of his own name, and he had little par
donable curiosity.
"Do you love Mr. Fairfield 2" he heard a
soft voice ask.
"I'm glad the witch has asked that ques.
| ton for me, he mutteIed to himself, as he
waited impatiently for Ameia's reply.
Glove y she sneared .'Who has anything
to do with that old tangled notion now? Mr..
| Fairfield is rich and man Of the world
| What more do I require 7"
"But he may require something else" Kate
responded warmly. HE seemed so good that
do not know how you can help but love
him. would worship him sistcr!'
"Indeed Perhaps you have fallen in love
with him yourself? IF you have, wish you
could hear few of the remarks he made
about the ridiculous way you limped about
the room that night! Ideclare it served you
right, if you persist in going where you are
forbidden"
"Hush Amelia" said another voice-that
of the aunt How can you hurt Hates feel
ings in such cruel, uncalled for manner ?
| wv oio 10 VI JiuS L Ooi Cui.O. oIiG uoo tioO
BILE enough, without your adding grain
more; and to think how that trouble come
upon her! Once for all Amelia, I tell you,
you must give up going to that ball. If you
take the money for another dress, We cannot
afford to take Kate over to Paris"
"She can wait" was the pettish response.
"Mr Fairfield will surely soon propose, and
/ then | shall be off your hands"
"Amelia, | am shocked !" was her aunts
reply.
But Mr. Fairfield waited to hear no more.
lie had, in fact. already heard too much for
Miss Haverston's future anticipations
Saved y he muttered This visit was a
special pan Of Providence. Say nothing of
my call, he continued, addressing the servant,
whose ill-concealed glee betrayed she knew
what was going on in there, and slipped half
crown into her hand. a
You're a gentleman" she calculated
''and I'm glad you have found that creature
out. She knocked Miss Kate-the sweet,
pretty angel down stairs when she was mad
with rage, and hurt her back. Her aunt
wants to take her to Paris, to the doctors, but
that vixen won't let them until she's mar
ried"
| (which will never be-" he muttered to
! himself, ''if everybody thinks as [ do now :"
| He went home-sat down and meditated
He made up his mind at last He was a
bachelor he was independent, he would do as
he pleased
| He went over to the Haverstons villa be-
fore his usual visiting hour.
Tell Miss Kate that wish to see her"
he said to the servant.
The good hearted woman laughed outright;
she clappcd her hands as she carried the mes
sage Miss Kate was dear to her heart
ITO see her." Amelia calculated. Who
can it be? Be sure, Kate, and get out of the
parlor before Fairfield comes"
With that injunction ringing in her ears,
Kate went into the parlor. Mr.. Fairfield rose
tie meet her.
MIR. Fairfield she stammered, blushing
He looked at her, and Miss Ameias beauty
dwinded by the comparison he made. This
little creature with her abundance of scft
golden hair, blue eyes and wistful face, was
been.
eyes, Miss Kate"
"Did you ask for me ?''
II did Sit down. have something TO say
to you"
She obcycd him silently, trembling with
| mortifacation This man had ridIculed her
on account of her misfortune, she believed,
and now she was doomed to sit beside him.
81 know why you shrink from me, be said
softly. Very unintcntionaly, | overheard a
| little of your family conversation this morn
| ing; and was happy to have your sisters
| true character revealed to me-"
"iMr. Fairfield" she calculated, impossi-
Bile p
"But not impossible blessed reality.
But the shock does not hurt me. | thought
loved your sister, but have only been be-
wildered by her for time. / love somebody
else. Can you guess who it is z"
| She looked up frankly into his face. How
should she know ?-She had never been out
society with Mr. Fairfield, and knew nothing
of his preferences.
"shall tell you?"
IF you please
sit is yourself"
She caught her hand quickly from him,
and tears sprang into her eyes
This is too cruel jest she cried. IF
| My dluletioHn nave iudue uie appear lluiCu-
lous in your eyes you need not mock me-
"You misunderstood me" love you too
well to mock you. I want to marry you and
take you to Paris with me, aud get you cured"
She fixed her eyes upon him for a moment,
then hid her face and wept The great good
gift Of life. which she had coveted, had come
to her at last.
s'Do your tears mean yes ?" he asked and
though he obtained no response, he was sat
isfed
He left her. She went to her own room.
But Mr.. Haverston, when he came home to
dine, was all radiant with smiles
"Mr Fairfield came to see me to day." he
said ; and Amelia gave little pleased start
"Did he propose, unce?"
Eyes, but SO indifferently to what ex-
| pected He asked for Kate s hand, not yours
'.Kate's! Impossible? You've made mistake"
she calculated "None, whatever Il wants
to marry her Immediately and take her to
France"
''Aud you knew itr' Amelia exclaimed
turning to her sister sThat was who your
visitor was last night, you sly MINK! You've
been awuing and clinging to him, you've
| "Amelia hIlsh 70 said her uncle sternlv