Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-08-04
SELECTED STORY
oO~0o-O~O~l~o-O4~- =
. THE TWO SISTERS. .....
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

II don't mean to be unkind, Waller
said Deacon Dean, composedly brushing the
stray specks Of dust off the sleeve of his trim
blue coat, with hand that did not culver
one hairs breadth ".but don you see how
very impracticable this engagement would
be?' aan55 sgia 81 ='s- la sa ,.~s TO-
Walter Rochefort stood leaning against
the open window, with his eyes humid and
dim, his cheeks blanched. The truth was,
Walter Rochefort had for months been
building bright-pinacled castle in the air
"a castle full Of hopes and dreams and
shadowy aspirators. And, with the dryly
spoken words of sensibly worldly wise pill
osophy, Deacon Dean had just smitten down
it's foundations, and RACED its glittering tow
ers into the dust So
"You see,' said the Deacon, with slow,
good humored emphasis, you're young,
and SOS she. And you haven't cent ahead
| in the world, and she's been used to an easy
life, and ant noways fitted to be poor
| mans wife. So I guess it isn't worth while
to discuss the subject just at present. +"
He paused an instant, and then, perhaps
melted thereto by the anguish SO plainly
written on the young mans mute face, he
added, more indulgently: aiA3A p
sPerhaps one O. these days, when you've
made little more Roadway in the world,
we'll think it over again but, Walter
Rochefort, don't want my girl fettered by
an enga cement just now. There's plenty
O. time, plenty O. time.'
So spoke worthy Deacon Dean, putting
out huge clouds Of smoke from his amber.
mouthed pipe, and poor Walter Rochefort
went home planning within himself how to
get rich within the shortest possible period
of time. a...iq :. o
Went home-that is, went to the village
hotel, where he lived while finishing the task
of surveying, that had brought him down
into the little county nook where be had LOST
his heart so summarily.
How the dreary. melancholy evening
passed he had no idea, but as the clock
Struck ten, he started from his sad reverie
to hear two or three men talking on the
piazza, few PAGES off. .....,
"Its paying place." said one indiffer.
emily, fitting his chair backward, "and 8
place where smart man would make mon
ey, to say nothing Of fair prospects OF pro
motion. But then what man worth anything
would care to bury himself alive in Contra
China? :"
81 would" spoke up quick, hoars'
voice.
The man laughed. zA e
II don't think you know just what sort o
dismal, God-forsaken place it is, MIR
Rochefort." is os t-2!-.1I -
81 don't care If it were the Black Hole Q
| Calcutta" said Walter, impetuously. 81
! it's place where one can grow rich, II
your man = d s.&B
"Then suppose we talk it over together,
. said the others moving his chair llttl
closer to the window just within which Wa
ter Rochefort sat. .
Just week afterward, Deacon Dean II
cidentally heard that Mr.. Rochefort had lei
the village.
"Well, Pm not sorry" said the Deaco
to himself. s.Not but that he's nice youn
, fellow; but think my pretty Melissa :
do considerable better than Walter Rcch'
: fort"
Melissa Dean looked sentimentally regre
ful when her father told her Of the youn
engineers abrupt departure, but poor Sylvl,
the younger and palmer sister, bursted I'M
tears. tt
ooh, Melissa, I wonder how you ca
take it so calmly y
"Where's the use of taking it any 9TH
way ?" demanded Melissa, trying the efte
=. Of new blue ribbon against the waxy pm
Of her lovely .round cheek. walter Rooh
fort was very pleasant, but there are plen
more young men in the world"
Poor Sylvia brushed away her tears, al
felt as if she we're bold and unmaidenly, b
!, the sore spot yet ranked in her heart.
: ssMr. Roohefort p
"Sylvia Dean is it possible this is you
81 The fifteen years Of his absence seem
= : like dream. Was it not singular coin
= dence that upon the very day Of his retu
from China, Walter Rochefort should me
d Miss Dean? -2 -a eaef