Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-10-11
SELECTED STORY
DISSOLVING THE OLD FIRM.

SELECTED STORY
DISSOLVING THE OLD FIRM.
There goes fine catch for girl.
wonder he has remained widower 80 long
1t is over three years since his wife's death
Dear me I should think his must be
very lonesome life"
I "Now, Jane Austin, it is not bit Of us
for you to sit at that window and waite
Captain Arden as he passes. He will neve
marry you or any other woman. His life
devoted to his daughter And as for bein,
lonesome, I expect for the little time be
on shore he'll find enough to employ hi
mind and time. So you need not feel bi
uneasy about that returned a sister spin
ster. who at one time had spent man,
hours watching the handsome captain, blu
long since had adopted the prevailing opin
ion that Captain Arden would never MARI,
again, he never have been known to spent
an hour in woman's society since his wife
death.
A few moments after the above converse
ton, Capt Arden entered the reception
room of young ladies' seminary. Scarce
~ bad he seated himself when his neck wal
encircled by fond, clinging arms, and {
sweet childish face pressed close to his AT
ter returning his darling's caresses, Capt
Arden looked earnestly for moment into
her beautiful eyes, then asked with great
anxiety
"What is the matter, my love? Some
thing is troubling you, I see. Why are
your eyes not dancing as usual. and why is
the music all gone from your voice Come
tell papa what is the reason"
'Oh, papa, you love me better than any
body else in til world. do you not?' the
! child sobhed.
"Indeed do my own"
"Oh, papa, papa, will you always dc
SO ?"
"Why. Flory, little girl, what do you
mean p her father asked, amazed by her
agitation.
"Oh, you do not say you always will
And is it true what the girls all tell me ?
You will find somebody else to love- Oh,
you cruel papa! you will marry somebody
some Of these days; then your poor little
Flory will only have little mite of your
heart"
"You silly little love to let these girls
tease you SO. Come, we will make SOL
elnn compact, Flory Now give me your
hand, and look right into my eyes, prom
Use never to wed any woman, or to seek to
win the love Of any, as long as my daughter
remains true to her father. While you are
with me, giving me your entire love, I ask
for nothing more. We will live for each
other, Flory What say you? Will you
promise this too p
"Gladly. gladly papa" Flory answered,
with another fond embrace.
Then with doubtful look she-asked !.
"But papa, you only mean that l must
not care for any man save you? That is it.
is it not p a bright flush mounting her fair
brow because papa, | do love Ada Foster
dearly. She was one Of my schoolmates
last year; now she is one Of our teachers.
I love her very much, particularly now that
her father is dead. That is why she stays
here to teach. She is an orphan, papa, and
SO sweet; and she is so good and wise, she is
older than by nearly five years-and- ~
every we'll, Flory, you can love your
friend Ada as much as you choose; but do
not let me hear of any other love. And
this voyage 1 shall make to sea will be the
last, my child. By the time I get back,
two years hence. you will be old enough to
preside over our home; then we will be sep.
arated no more. So you must learn all you
can, little one, against that happy time
Now rest easy about your fathers heart. I,
will never wander from his darling"
Flory was very beautiful, and numberless
brothers and cousins Of her companions cas-,
admiriug eyes, and sought to win some sign
of favor from her. But all to DO avail. So
when the two years had passed by and Capt
Arden returned to bis child, both, after an
inquiring glance into each others eyes, were
| fully satisfied that no other love had entered
the heart Of either.
A year passed by and nothing happened
to mar Capt. Arden's or Flory's happiness
At the end Of that time young man camt
bringing letter of introduction from bis
father, one of CAPT. Arden's dearest friends
This young man was not only welcomed
with great cordiality. but Capt. Arden in
sisted that during his stay in the town he
should become his guest
Thus it was that Fred Fulton was thrown
into the constant society Of Flory, who had
all her life passion for black eyes and ra
ven locks
And there was Fred, just such hero Al
[ all blonde girls are sure to dream about
Then he had such touching, taking sad
ness with him then went right straight t.
Flory' s kind sympathizing little heart. Blu
to do her justice, it must be be told that sh'
fought bravely against the spirit that CAM
stealing over her, and really either woul'
have kept herself away from him or sen
Fred off home had net the duties of hostes
prevented.
The next best thing was to get some on
else to come and help to entertain her guest
Ada Foster had few weeks previous t
Capt. Arden's taking his daug hter iron
school, been sent for by an aged relative t
come and live with her. Thus the friend
had been separated.
Often Flory wished that Ada could b
with her, saying:
"Then I should not think SO much of thl
dark-eyed stranger"
just then Ada's aunt died, leaving th
orphan girl in possession of quite larg
} fortune.
J How Flory rejoiced, not only in he
friends good luck, but more in her freedom
How she could come to her, be again be
dailu adviser and cnnfdank. So she WrOl