Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-07-15

On the contrary, I think it very nice,
retorted Mrs. Conway. beginning to lose q
fraction of her endurance
I am sorry to hear you speak SO sharply
Fanny reproved her husband; bringing the
green spectacles to bear upon his wife's
flushed face. My Sarah had the temper Of
an angcl-nothing ever disturbed her equs.
nimity. | wish, my dear, you were little
more like my first wife. Another biscuit
if you please
| Fanny extended the plate in silence; but
! Rachel saw the mental struggle implied in
her compressed lips and downcast eyes.
BY the way, Mrs. Conway resumed the
husband after momentary devotion to the
edibles, have you mended that waistcoat !?
| Not yet, Grove intended to
| 'Not-mended my aisteoat! Upon
my word, Mrs. Conway, this is a very sin
gular delay on your part. How unlike my
first wife! She never neglected my happi-
ness; she was always ready, with watchful
tenderness, to anticipate my slightest wish
If ever there was model to the sex, it was
my SARAH
| Rachel looked attentively at Mr.. Conway
when did the first Mrs. Conway die,
sir 2
| The green spectacles slowly turned round
toward Miss Benham's seat
1t is now, my dear young lady, about
six years since Sarah left me-
| Indeed and suppose you frequently
avail yourself of the melancholy pleasure af-
forded by visit to her last resting place
Where is she buried 2
| Mr.. Grove Conway looked Rachel full in
| the face, as if rather surprised at her audac-
ity in venturing to ask such question.
MY Sarah was taken from me in the ru-
raj solitudes Of village termed Park Cor
ners, Miss Benham Ahem-if you please,
we will discuss this painful subject no long
er-it can only harrow feelings that are al
ready incredibly sensitive. Could but see
Fanny little more similar to the dear van
ishcd saint, think I should have nothing
else left to live for.
Fanny said Miss Benham quietly, as
Mrs Conway was STOPPING to leave good
night kiss on her lips after escorting her
into the dainty little guest chamber with its
snowy muslin draperics, and blue and gold
cottage furniture, have listened to fair
specimen of Mr. Conway's eloquence Is
this his daily method and style of converse
ton ? And are you perpetually haunted
with the shade of the 'eainted Sarah ?
Fanny kuelt down by her friends bedside
and hid her face in the ruffled pillows, with
a gush of passionate tears.
'Oh, Rachie, it makes me perfectly
wretchedv
'Wretched, does it, my poor little hunted
dove? Would you give much to have the
phantom exercised {?
1T is impossible sighed Fanny YEARLY
If that first wife had only never existed
with her charms and her projections Fancy
his telling me, whenever he sees me 60 to
the mirror to arrange my hair or fasten my
collar that with all my devotion to dress and
appearance, [ never can equal the angelic
beauty of his lost Sarah =
Does he say that?
Often Oh, Rachie, never, never marry
man who has had first wife. Take in
sewing; 60 out washing jump into the
river drink laudanum but don't marry a
widower!
Rachel Bonham laughed, in spite Of her
afflicted friend.
Patience, patience, little Fanny there
may be deliverance is store for you yet
Never, on this side Of the grave. 1t is
habit as deeply rooted as the very springs
Of his existence, and l suppose all that is
left for me is to endure. as meekly as posi-
BILE, the enumeration of Sarah's charms and
virtues
And the long, suffering young wife glided
out Of the room with ight step to rejoin
the green specialized gentleman below, who
was already waxing impatient.
Very thoughtless of you to leave me en-
tirely alone SO long, when you knew that |
wanted mustard draughts for my feet
Sarah never would have ignored my health
and comfort in this sort of way-never
While Rachel Benham, laying her fresh
pink cheek against the cool pillow. ponder
ed deeply within herself.
'Sarah-Sarah Conway! I think had
better 90 on to Park Corners and make my
visit, before 1 contemplate any further So
journ with Fanny. Poor Fanny Aha I
may not be lawyer, nor police detective
but Pm a pretty shrewd woman, and 1 may
lind out thing or two, by keeping my eyes
well open.' 49, H.. ...
And Rachel went peacefully to sleep, and
dreamed of a portly middle-aged man in
green spectacles, whose perpetual song had
the one refrain Of Sarah
TO think Of Fanny's being so victinlized,
she unused. as she opened her eyes to the
yellow morning sunshine. 'Pll be even
with that horrid old husband of hers yet
And SO, in spite of all Fannys pretty
coaxing. and still more appealing tears,
Rachel Benham resolutcly packed her trunk
and went off to Park Corners, taking parti-
cularly good care, however, to conceal the
destination of her journey from both her
host and hostess.
You see, Rachel Benham knew perfectly
we'll what she was about.
The clear afternoon sunbeams were play
ing over the brown moss wreaths of the car
pet one day, about two weeks subsequently
to these events, as Mr.. and Mrs. Grove
Conway, returning from visit to some far
away acquaintance, crossed the threshold
But, to their surprise, the room was not
empty. Rachel Benham sat by the window
having laid aside her shawl, bonnet and
travelling wraps, and in the big armchair
in the centre of the apartment sat a tall and
bony woman of about fifty five, with red
wig, countenace dis6gured by hideous
scar acres the cheek, and watery blue eyes.
Her dress, a rusty brown bombazine, with a
crimson silk handkerchief twisted round the
neck, and cap gayly decorated with arti6-
cial flowers, was by no means fresh nor pre-
possessing, and the tall baudbox by her side
perhaps contained change Of toilette arti-
cles. Crinoline she possessed none, but the
deficiency in that branch of her attire was
more than atoned for by the abundance of
| her blue checked apron and the size of her