Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-09-23
made for :? Clear out, this minute What
are you standing thore for ? Don't you hear
,uhotT COW o,


rings she was always lamenting This time
our heroine knew better than to go to the
front steps, and made her way meekly te
the area bell.
"Strawberries, is it ?" said the little CIR
who came to the door ''I'll ask the missis p
Mrs. Dysart herself presently came to the
door, and Horatia started to see the marvel
our dissimilarity between Mrs. Dysart of So
ciety nd Mrs Dysart at home. Her skin
was sallow, wrinklod and blotched, here
and there, from the too frequent use Of
powerful cosmetics, her hair was screwed
up into little 2oapillotes secured by pins, ma
king perfect chevaun de .trise of her head
her beautiful figure was lathy and straight
like pump draped in calico
Strawberries of course not at this sea-
son of the year." said said Mrs. Dysart,
snappishly. ''Tm not made of money"
! And she slammed the door in Horatia' s
face.
''Miss Ferrars will buy them at all
events" said Horatia to herself "Lucille
Ferrars was always noble-hearted and gen
erous."
elbow much are they p said the fair Luz
ellie, coming to the head of the basement
stairs, in a disAabiUc of greasy cashmere
and soiled white apron.
"Eighteen cents a basket"
"Pshaw" said Lucille, superciliously -
GAS if was going to pay such price as
that! I'll give you ten !"
They are unusually fne," said Horatia,
timidly.
II shan't give cent over eleven !"
Horatia turned away.
81 wonder you fruit girls have the face
to ask such price,! !" said Miss Lucy Fer
rars lingering her pnrse strings. "Twelve,
there-and that's more than they're worth p
II cannot sell them under the price I
have named" persisted Horatia, shrinking
from the sharp, glittering eyes.
eco about your business then p said Lu-
ellie. "I'll see the whole tribe of you
starve, before I'll be imposed upon SO p
Horatia felt herself disenchanted. Could
it be possible that this shrewish miser was
her soft-voiccd friend, Lucille Ferrars?
"Perhnps Uncle Peleg's views of human
nature may not be so very much amiss, al
ter all, )" she said, with a balf-sigh, after she
had made some half dozen or more pilgrim
ages, and more than half Of her berries re-
NAMED unsold
Miss Parker's house was the last on her
list. Horatia had let it remain until all
the other places had been visited, she her
self could hardly have told why-perhaps
because Justus Parker had been her partner
in the German" the night before. She
liked Justus Parker-yet she somehow dis
trusted his gentle, nice and smooth manner.
II am afraid it is all put on she said to
herself. ''But Uncle Peleg was determin-
ed should go there, and I will not shrink,
now that the ordeal is SO nearly over"
The servant requested her to 60 up and see
the young lady herself-"she's in her own
room mostly
Horatia had heard of Laura Parker's lin
gering spins disease, although she never
had seen her. And her heart beat slightly
as she assembled the softly carpeted fiji ht Of
stairs, carrying her basket Of berries.
Justus was, sitting on low chair beside
his sisters sofa, at tn. further end of the
room he rose aud came forward as the
stranger entered.
: This basket is too heavy for you to car
ry," he said, taking it from her arm and
moving forward seat, with sort of IN
conscious chivalry
cit is not SO heavy as it seems" said she,
somewhat bitterly, land if it were, I am
nothing but a strawberry woman
'sBut l suppose strawberry woman has
feelings and sensations like other people"
said Justus Parker, smiling "Sit down a
moment, while my sister looks at yo,r
fruit"
"You must be very warm" said Laura
Parker, gently. Lay back your veil
Justus please ring for glass of water y
Horatia accepted the water, but refused to
unfold her veil. It was altogether too
good a medium for her to observe the quiet
tenderness with which Justus Parker treat
ed his invalid sister-the open Bible on the
table, the fresh flowers by the sofa, all mute
tokens Of thoughtful love and care.
Miss Parker bought half dozen baskets
of berries, without word of exception to
the price.
"They are the finest I have seen this
year r she said. "You must come again
when you have more"
Horatia Mere's checks were burning when
she made her escape at last, both basket and
heart considerably lightened.
"Well, uncle !" she cried, gleefully
when she at length reached home, II have
earned the 1riomphe de G,ande !'
"Haye you been to all the places %
eyes, ALL"
And she told him her adventures, will
playful humor.
mot a bad days work. said Uncle
Peleg, laughingly.
Miss Horatia Mere had the handsome s
refreshment table and the best sales of any
young lady at the fair, and Justus Parke1
was her favorlte customer.
The result Of the fair, not an uncommon
one, if all reports are true, was one wedding
if not more. Horatia Mere was married t.
Mr.. Parker but not until after tue honey
moon did he know the story how his aristo
cratic little bride had sold Strawberries
"Was it wrong of me?" she asked visit
fully.
''Under the circumstances, no." Mr.
Parker answered gravely.
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