Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-10-14
The road they took was much more beau

/
htiful and easy than the one they left, al
was also more lovely, and was shaded (
large overhanging trees. On this love
summer night, as the moon shone throug
the dense foliage, and hecked the shade
road with its cold silver light, with not
sound audible but the far off boot of tt
owl, and not light visible denoting an
habitation in all the broad expanse Of cour
try which stretched away on one side
them, it was lovely and novel experiene
for Ida, especially with this solitary CON
panion by her side; and perhaps the sam
for Charley AT all events, they rode alon
for some time in silence:
Ida being impressed with the beauty an
solitude of the scene around her, and think
ing what transformation it was from tire
nights ago.
y Then she was in her city home, surround
| ed by gay and stylish ladies, and dainty
perfuncd gentleman Yes, she just remem
bered she entertained the elegant Majo
Rollins that evening, and he hung over he
for two whole hours, as she sat in the recess
Of the window, murmuring in the lowest
most seductive tones, an uninterruptet
strain as highly colored and meaningless
compliments And she had allowed hin
too she had laughed at him, it is true, bu
she wondered now that she had not pushet
him away.
She then compared Major Rollins will
the man at her side; and thought never, il
all the time she had known him, had he sa
down and conversed with her in a frank
manly manner, as Mr.. Russell had done
about things that one man would talk te
another about. And then she thought how
much Mr.. Russell gained by the contrast.
Then she tried to fancy Mr.. Russell il
Major Rollins place, a man Of the world
and of fashion. Would he lose that manli-
ness which was such charm to her, and
become mere conventional automaton
and smirk and grin, and talk insipid moth
ings to her, in place of the things that in
terested him
Her mind did not answer the question,
for just at that moment they came upon a
roughness in the road The carriage gave
a sudden lurch, and having very low back
to the seat. there was no support, and Ida
was jerked suddenly backward. In all in
slant Mr. RussePs arm was thrown around
her; not so as to touch her, but still around
her close enough to check any further back
ward movement on her part The manner
in which it was done was SO innately deli
cate, and SO almost reverential, that it
awoke strange feeling in her, feeling she
oo,,ld JoHoo opl, Oh n 1r,oxr - WADE bor
regret when the drive was ended.
Il wenderss'' she thought to herself,
'sfrom what branch of the family this man
inherited his refinement. A vulgar man in
his place, in order to have kept her from fall
ing, would have thrown his arm closely
around her and held her tightly; or bash
full one would not have offered assistance at
ALL"
Well, the drive came to an end, as all
good things must, and never was ended
pleasure more keenly regretted than this
was by Ida. Her baggage was set down
on the piazza. She had thanked Charley
who was driving away, and Mrs. Stowel was
christening the door for her.
She found on entering the house that ii
was after midnight, and Mrs. Stowel bad
sat up for her Ida thanked her for her
kindness, babe her good night, and was
soon sound asleep.
Monday came, and with it came Miss Mat.
tie Leigh from New York, particular
friend Of Idas. Matte had whole bulge
of news to unfold.
"You know, Ida" she said, ''all The
family are going to spend a couple of weeks
with Mrs Mathews, at B, which il
just two miles from here. Well. you know
| wanted to be with you so much that
came up before them, and am going to stay
with you till they come up. Isn't it delight
full? And only think, Major Rollins il
coming up. He says he wants to see wha
kind of heathendom you have come to. =
He was so displeased because you did moi
60 to Lake George with the Rogerses."
II cannot make him understand" sale
Ida, ''that I came here for rest and quiet
as my physician commanded, which | coulc
not have at crowded, fashionable place o
resort"
OF course Matte heard all about the drive
and Mr.. Russell and Of course, as natura
consequence, was wild to see him. Sh(
was grat6ed. for he passed down the roat
few minutes afterward.
"There goes Charley" said Mrs Stowel
and they Immediately rushed to the door tx
look after him.
els that he" exclaimed Matte, in undis
guised astonishment; and Ida was forced tt
acknowledge that it was though, to hel
great discontinue, he wore coat which de
tracted considerably FROM his personal ap
pearance.
The skirt hung in complicated mass o
tatters, and the sleeves were widely separa
ted from the body of the coat, having ample
spaces for his white underlinen to g lean
through. Els back was toward them, ane
they had the advantage Of seeing all this a
one glace. 1t was the coat, no doubt tina
brought the exclamation of astonishmen
from Matte.
81 never saw him look so BEFORE" sail
Ida dolofully: she had only seen him one
before. II think his sisters ought to meme
his coat. He has sisters; Mrs Stowe
pointed one Of them out to me this morning
on the road /; she was dressed very nicely
[ would not let brother Of mine wear suc
a coat as that y and here her modification
was lost in sympathy for him, Matte, too
caught her spirit, and they both thought
was a shame that he was not taken bette
care of.
The following Wednesday brought Majo
Rollins. And after the first greetings wer
over, Matte, who had passion for teasin
and mischief, seized the first opportunit
for telling him all about Ida's new countr
beau-not emitting description of the BAG
view Of his coat. Mrs. Stowel entered int
tbs joke and all Mattie's exaggerations, an
promised to call their attention the first tim
She saw Charley pass. She kept her word
for that very afternoon, as they were stand
ING chatting in the garden. Mrs. Stowe