Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-01-19

| RScoASA~
emergency, the house pursued, a legitimate
course, and its wealth was constantly in
creasing. ~
I Is it wonder that Mrs Lanark's heart
Auttered when the prospect dawned upon
her that the young banker might possibly
seek one Of her daughters for wife? She
cared not whether he chose Isabel or Bertha.
They were both accomplished, and either
would make worthy mate for him.
| And we do not do the Judge injustice
when we say that even he allowed himself
to hope that the son Of his old classmate might
find it in his heart to love one of the girls
He had studied the youths character we'll,
and he believed it to be of the purest and
best. ~
| And Isabel and Bertha, OF course there
were rivalry between them; but they agreed
that they would abide the issue. If Isabel
were selected to preside over the home Of
the youthful millionaire, Bertha would not
complain and should Bertha prove to be
the fortunate one, Isabel was prepared to
yield.
On thing happened very unfortunately,
On the very day Of Archworth's arrival the
cook had been taken sick What was to be
done
'Neyer mind" said Kate, with smile
II will take the reins until the cook gets
WE'LL"
''But, for mercy's sake" inplored Isabel,
''don't let Mr.. Archworth know it He be-
longs to sphere which would be shocked
by such gross improperly. He would
look upon us as belonging to the camaiHe.."
But there was no present help for il, and
Kate went into Il, the n ii i3at a1arfer
"SNill you have some of this cake, Mr.
Archworth p asked Mrs. Lanark, lifting
the silver basket of frosted niceties
NO. replied the visitor, with smile.
s IF you will allow me to exercise my own
swhin ayeu Will please me- Fhis plain bread
is luxury such as I do not aften meet
1t takes me back to hoyhood's days. have
not eaten such since | eat the bread which
my own mother made. Ifever keep house
for myself I think shall ask you to send to
me your cooK."
For the life OF tbem they could not help
the betrayal of emotion. Poor Kate, who
set exactly opposite the speaker, blushed
until it seemed as though all the blood in
her body we're rushing into her face /; whilc
Isabel and Bertha trembled as they might
have trembled had they found themselves
unexpectedly upon the verge of a trightful
precipice. The Judge laughed outright.
''You get our cook into your house, and
you'd find you'd got Tartar, my boy,' be
said. And then to turn the subject he ad
ed
II remember your mother very we'll,
Roland; and have eaten her bread"
And thus the conversation softened down
into the poetry of other days.
Touching Roland's associations with la
marks daughters, be seemed to enjoy the so.
ciety of them ALL II he seemed more eager
to talk with one than with another it was
with Kate, not, perhaps, because he had
found her more attractive, but because she
kept herself hidden away from him so much
During the brief interviews which had been
permitted him he had found her not only
highly accomplished, but he thought he had
detected an undercurrent Of plain, practical
common sense which had not appeared in
the others. And, again, once when he
had been speaking Of his mother, be had no
ticed Kate's eyes grow moist with sympa-
thetic light, while her sisters had only smiled
in their sweet, pleasant way. He fancied
that through the gathering moisture Of those
deep blue eyes he had looked down into a
warm and tender heart-a heart true and
reliable.
One bright morning Roland Archworth
arose with the sun, and walked out into the
garden. By and by be came around by the
porch, and entered the kitchen to ask for a
drink Of milk ,-for he had seen the garden
er just bringing trimming pail from the
stable. He went in, and he saw Kate Ian.
ark at the moulding board, her white arms
bare to the shoulders, kneading a snowy
pile Of dough. She did not see him at first,
and he had moment for thought, and in
that moment the truth flashed upon him.
Here was the cook whom he had praised
the cook whom he had declared he would
have in his own house if he could get her
And he could now understand the blushing
Of the maiden, and the laughing rejoinder
Of the Judge. And he remembered now Of
having overheard Mrs. LAnark speaking
with member Of her family about the sick
ness of her cook.-how unfortunate it
was, and so on. With clear sense, and
qniok comprehension, aided by keen pow
ers Of analysis and reason, Roland read the
whole story. He had come too far to re-
treat, and he pushed boldly on.
"Ah,-good- morning, Miss Lanark.-
Pardon my intrusion; but | saw the milk
pail come in, and I could not resist the
temptation. O! the old, old days shall
never forget their joys, aud I trust ]
may never outlive them. It was my boy
hoods delight to take from my mothers
hand the cup warm from the new milking
This is the first opportunity that has pre-
sented itself for long, long years. I could
not let it slip. You will pardon ne,
know"
At first Kate had been startled terribly
but when she met the suppliants warn
and radiant look, and the music of the ole
home love fell upon her ear, and when sEt
saw, as by instinct that the whole scene wa.
pleasant to him, she felt her heart boune
with gleeful assurance and brushing tht
! fakes of dough from her arms, she went ana