Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-04-28


1.-THE ceremony was about noon; afte
which there was dinner party, and dance
in the evening With the dinner, Ned
discomfort began He was doing the bes
te make himself useful as we'll as orpamen
tai, helping the ladies to cream ices, and Sc
on. When just handing something OF tht
kind to Miss Eleanor, some awkward fellow
knocked up against him, and threw GU
much of the contents of the saucer. En-
de- voring to save the lady's dress, Ned's
coat, or rather his friends caught it consld
erably. The owner was near by-any one
with half an eye would have known it was
his coat by his look jumping up, he
began to use napkin very assiduously, to
get of the mixture Ned felt as if every
one in the room knew all about it then. A
i few moments after he knew many of them
did, for the fellow said, in a low tone, but
loud enough to be heard by many near,
why, the thunder, Ned, must you make a
waiter of yourself? Let the servants do
that. l hope it won't stain Think it will 2
"That fellow was beside Ned, watching
the welfare of that COMPOUNDED coat all the
time Nothing more, however, occurred
| to annoy the miserable man for several hours,
and he was getting to feel a little more com
Portable, whea the dancing began.
"Thea Ned was in his glory lie could
dance we'll. AID he knew it. Forgetting all
about the borrowed coat and its very close
fit, he entered jato the dance with spirit
They were ID the midst Of the Virginia
Reel When Ned had just gone through
his part he felt touch on his shoulder, and
To- king quickly round, the coats owner said,
in an undertoue.
"'I'll swear, Ned, if you fly about in that
manner, you'll finish my coat tonight Be
little more careful. You are perfectly
welcome to it, perfectly, only be little
careful. You may want to borrow it again!'
''Ned felt then it would be relief to pull
off the dreadful coat and cast it iu the fell
lows face But he could do nothing but
bare it. Looking up, be saw Eleanor's eyes
dancing merrily, and fixed on him.
''That miserable night came to an end at
last, and Ned reached his boarding place
Quickly he drew of the coat, and swore he
never would borrow again.
1.-The next night the brother Of the bride
gave tue happy couple party. And Of
course Ned's duty was there. But the coat
question again arose. His friend apologized,
and offered it again, saying:
"'D Don't be SO foolish, Ned You are
Just as welcome as If it was your own |
wanted you to be a little careful, as would
be myself
''Bul Ned would not accept it,
Then Tom Morrow came to the relief.
"' Ned, my coat is not quite as hand
some, but | do no, think the difference will
not be noticed at night Do take it; feel and
act as if it were your own. do not care
il you do finish it tonight. [ am only too
happy. if it will suit you to accept it. I'd
think no more Of wearing your coat than
my own, if needed it,
$50, with this very cordial cfer, Ned at
length donned the coat. But his experience
of the night before made him very careful.
He was very particular in keeping out of the
way of the good things OF the supper-table
''Standing by, tanning bis ady-love,
while she daintily touched her cream, Ned's
attention was attracted by Tom, who stood
near and motioning him little aside, he
whispered, but loud enough to be heard by
mary near:
s.'Don't be fool, Ned Use that coat
as if it was your own. I don't care if you
should upset the whole contents Of the table
on it.
"Choking down the wrath, and the
wrathy words he wanted to speak Ned
looked at Eleanor Yes, again she knew
he was in borrowed clothes Her laughing
eyes told that.
Thinking to satisfy his friend, hejoined
in the dance and feeling that his acting as
if be was lothed in his own would stop the
comments of Tom, Ned again forgot his dis
comfort.
''Soon, however, he was brought back to
the reality of his situation, for Tom was
near, whispering
" That's right, Split the coat if you
choose. don't care you are perfectly
welcome to use it, abuse it, and finish it, if
you choose
determining never again to place him
self in such a situation, Tom was glad when
the hour for dispensing came
"When about waiting on Eleanor to the
carriage, Ned found it raining. Quickly
obtaining an umbrella, he was holding it
over her, thoroughly protecting her from
the rain, he thought, when again that terri
BILE fellow sang out
"'Ned, hold that umbrella over the lady,
Never mind the coat, ii it gets soaked /
don't care fig
e'Oh, that was the last stroke-the feath-
! er that broke the camel's back As Flea
nor stepped in the carriage, Ned tore off the
coat, threw it at, and himself upon, the
owner and before any one could interfere,
gave him pretty good pommelling and
boxing !"
"Ha .ha Well, I must admit your
friend has good cause to be down on borrow
ing. Well, how did it end ? A duel, or a
hight in the lookup? %
"Oh, no nothing of the kind. Those
fellows had been worrying me, they admit
ted, a little beyond endu'ane And Tom
got up and acknowledged served him
right.
"You Oh now l understand your feel
ing on the subject"
"And, you must know, that last feather
ard it's effect won Charley his wife. saw
he had the right spirit. began to fear he
was not the man for me, % said Nellie.
why. Mrs. Cameron! You admire
fighting men, 81 e."
"Indeed I do ! For know the man that
can take care of himself, can take care of
his wife, and his blends too"
"Well, after all, Charley said his
friend II do not think you need BE- so very
hard on the borrowing subject ; for I'm
sure, whether your friends Were Joking Or in
earnest. that borrowed coat secured you the