Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-06-28


father, I dare say-and, moreover, ont
whose youthful dreams are buried deel
in the sepulchre of the past. But. upor
second thought, [ remember that we live in
a busy, mischief making little world-one
that, in all these six thousand years of its
existence, has not learned the simple lesson
of minding its own business-and, therefore,
if it would not be unpleasant to you. per-
haps it would be as we'll for you to call me
uncle while you are here. That would ef-
fectually silence all gossiping tongues, aud
be doing lonely old man great favor"
Oracle was deeply touched by his delicate
kindness. She could only reply by catch
ing the withered hand and believing it with
grateful tears.
Thus their compact was made To such
neighbors and visitors as came to the house,
she was, henceforward, introduced as. "My
niece, who has come on from the East to
keep house for me.' But Oracle soon
found that it was no merely nominal ador-
ton. Presents, beautiful and costly, began
to flow in upon her !; books, music and flow
ers leading to more substantial things
There was no lack now of soft gloves and
dainty laces, and the Notifying memory of
the coarse green malachites was overshad.
owed by the pure CLEAN of lustrous pearls.
In return for this wonderful kindness,
Oracle rendered to her benefactor the care
and devotion Of daughter. No task was
too hard for her if it could add to the COM
fort or adornment Of his home. Yet, owing
her excellent management, she was called
upon to perform but little actual labor
Bridget, whose chief fault had been igno-
rance, gradually came to understand the
beauty and advantage of doing things we'll
at first, and, as the family was so small, she
was abundantly capable of doing all that
was required
AS the soft spring days came on, G acie
had more and more leisure, and almost any
morning she might have been seen out in
the garden among her bulbs and seeds,
working with the zeal aud taste of an ac-
complshed florist.
Very happy days these were to the orr
phan girl. But one thing was needed to
make her joy complete Ventnor's
presence. Yet her trust in his constancy
was as firm as ever, and though her
thoughts were often turned eastward in anxi-
GUS longing, no shadow was ever allowed
to dim her face.
During the chilly rains of April, Mr..
Brooke contracted cold, which, resulting
in rheumatic fever, gave Oracle an excellent
opportunity for showing her gratitude =
For weeks she was an attentive nurse and
sympathetic niece in one, and day by day
the old gentleman grew more thankful for
the impulse which had prompted him to
secure to himself SO faithful and loving a
friend.
One day, shortly after his recovery, when
the bright and fervid summer was painting
Gracie's gladioli and coaxing the perfume
from her stocks and lilies, he said careless.
ly, as she left the porch whittier she had ac-,
companied him: ''By the way, Oracle, I
think will have gentleman home with me
to tea I have concluded at last to take a
partner into my business. I don't feel so
spry as I did before my illness, and this
young chap can do the rough work-the
pettifogging, you know"-he had never
ceased teasing her fer that unlucky speech.
"Be sure and look your prettiest, for he's
an unmarried man."
Oracle pouted and, after her uncle had
left with merry twinkle in his eyes, she
stood half sulkily picking to pieces spray
of honeysuokle, letting the bright coral
horns fall carelessly into the pockets of her
white apron, and on the floor at her feet
'Why aoould he always persist in iguor-
ing her engagement? What was it to her
whether this man were married or not-she
for whom there was but one man in the
world2 She would hate this interloper-
she knew she would" So she exclaimed,
Indignantly, to herself; but not the less for
this, did she do her uncle's bidding. Even
as punishment for mans presumption
will woman sometimes make herself tempt
ingly beautiful.
The soft shadows of the summer evening
were falling tenderly over the fragrant gar
dens and quiet streets. when she came down
stairs, wearing trailing robe OF lustrous
gray tissue, deliberately ruf1ed, with foam.
like frill of costly lace circling her throat
and wrists, and with warm, spicy earna-
tons clustering among her ourls and upon
her bosom.
The gentlemen had arrived; she could
hear the low hum Of conversation but it
was growing so dusk within the parlor that
she failed to recognize the one who rose SO
eagerly upon her entrance. It was only
when the words, "Gracie, my darling, my
own,'' fell upon her ears, and the strong
arms Of Kane Ventnor held her in close
embrace, that she realized the loving little
plot which had been laid for her benefit, and
that the glad, bright tears Of gratitude burst
forth unchecked. 4: III
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