Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-06-10
sEI,ECTTn gT'0nY
Il CANNOT AFFORD IT."
BY GRACE TERRY.

Mr.. st. johns entered the fashionable
dry goods store of Lowering & Brothers, ,
to see one of the proprietors.
"He had stepped out for moment" one
Of the clerks informed him.
And, Withdrawing to all obscure corner.
he stood watching, with a half amused half
comical look upon his handsome face, the
streams Of gaily attired women that hoated
past him, gazing with envious and admiring
eyes upon the rich fabrics of every hue and
texture, that were suspended from the cell
ing and spread out upon the broad counters.
Many of them were not unknown to him,
but he was in no mood to meet the spark
ling glance and gay sallies that he knew
would be showered upon him if he uade
them aware of his presence; for Mr.. St.
Johns was rich, and bachelor, and had
been SO hattered and besieged by ambi-
tious mammas and manageable daughters
as to make him almost resolved to ALWAYS
remain one
So he stood back in the shadow, marking
with curious eye, unconcious betrayals Of
the natural dispositions, little glimp ses of
feminine human nature, and which the dear
creatures would not have had him observe
for the world.
As he stood there, the two Misses Par
kers came in, charming and brilliant girls.
in whose society he had passed many a
pleasant hour
They we're lavish in their purchases -
And, as Mr. St. Johns contrasted their
smiling eountenances with the care worn
face of their father, whom he met in the
street scarcely an hour before, hurrying
from one friend to another to borrow money
| to pay q note on the point of being protest.
ed, their lively chatter Jared harshly on his
ears.
Isn't it lovely I? exclaimed one of the
sisters. 1 suppose Pa will scold when he
sees the bill; but so he would if it were only
half as large
TO be sure he would, responded the 9TH
er. And I'm not going to let the Dayton
girls outshine me, you may be certain. Its
my belief that they give the party simply on
account of St. Johns return from Europe.
| suppose they are trying to catch him for
Georglana. Did you ever hear of anything
SO ridiculous ?
Never Such a horrid taste as that girl
has in dress, too She showed me the new
silk she is going to wear Would you be-
lieve it 1t is blue And she as dark as an
Indian!'
That is for the benefit of Mr.. St. Johns
it is his fayorite color. met him on the
street yesterday. How tall and handsome
he has grown
Yes and he is SO rich Pa says he is
worth half million. if not more.
Here the two girls passed along out O
sight and hearing, quite unconscious of the
1proxlmity of the subject of their remarks.
Good heavens was Mr. St. Johns, in
ward reflections; ARE all women so heart
less, so wrapped up in vanity and display
He was about to quit the store in disgust
when his attention was arrested by Low
and gentle voice, which aroused host o
vague but pleasant gecollectiops He turn
ed his eyes eagerly in the direction whence
, it proceeded; and as they rested upon
slender, neatly attired lady, they lighted vi
with pleasure.
A woman would have noticed that tn
f bonnet, though neat and fresh, was not O
the latest style, and the mantle of last sea
sons fashion but men rarely observe sucl
things. All that st. johns saw was tn
graceful form, the fair and gentle face of tn
, wearer
Sweet Rose Lennox ? he thought, Ssh
looks as lovely and fragrant as her name
Can her fresh and guileless nature be 81
perverted as to care for nothing but outward
show?'
In the meantime Rose made few simpl
purchases, quite unconscious of the eyes tina
were following her every look and motion
} is that all, Miss Lennox 2 said the clerk
All to-days
If you were thinking Of getting dress
| can show you something that will just sui
you
AS [ cannot purchase will not troubl
you,' was the low and quiet reply.
NO trouble at all, Miss said the clerk
l unrolling the goods and spreading it GU
upon the counter
1t was heavy, lustrous silk brown
with CLINT of gold in it, not unlike tn
color Of the soft hair that shaded her fore
head
1t caught the eye of the Parker girls, VIII
e were passing, and they gathered eagerl.
, around it.
Its just the sweetest thing ] ever saw
exclaimed the oldest, enthusiastically. Wh.
: don't you get it, Rose ? You have NOTHING
!. for the party next Thursday, and its jus
what you want
Only four dollars yard, suggested tn
clerk, gathering up the silk in heavy folds
so as to display its lustre and beauty.
There was not the slightest touch of env.
or regret in the soft blue eyes that reste'
admiringly upon it.