Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-06-21
SELECTED STORY
THE WAY 1T HAPPENED.
BY J. HARVEY SMITH


liere, when she entered the room-perfectly
unannounced at that.
looked up and saw an angel in white
Marseilles. founced jaunty blue hat, about
the size of saucer, tipped to one side in a
most bewitchingly beart-breaking manner
and she wore cream~colored kids. and car
ried white pongee-t taking all in all, a
fairy
She smiled at me ard held out hand.
[ took it mechanically. What did this
mean?
/. She pouted-a h those cherry lips i
and stamped her little No. impatieptly on
the floor. as
Imurmured that I was delighted en-
tranced So was-such visions were not
of everyday occurrence to ne.
WE'LL said she gleefully. that's com
fort Now, they told me that you wouldn't
receive me-that I would be turned out of
DOORS au s.
'Reptilesv said I.
Angry
[ could say no more.
Then she walked up and down the room
How do you like my dress 2 she asked,
revolving before me on pivot.
| murmured something about angelic
superbness =
I did intend she said, half doubtfully,
'to get dress of gray satinteen. with the
under skirt cut as usual, and trimmed with
deep plaiting-the spaces to be filed in with
bias folds above the plaitings in band of
velvet silk-the over-skirt quite in front,
and square-the side cores rounded up four
inches longer, and looped mp into jounier.
That, with pretty little sacque with open
sleeves, trimmed to match the under dress,
would be nice, wouldn't it ?
| murmured an unqualified assent-not
that | understood what she was talking
about, for she uttered the full description in
one breath but then didn't know what I
was saying.
But said she, I bought this Marseilles
because like it. Don't you 2
L admire your taste,' said family for
I was fast losing my senses, through won.
derment as to who and what she was
You're dear, good fellow!' said she
rapturoously; and I know we'll get on fa-
mously together
So! she intended to stay here was
getting into very deep water.
Now, them she continued, 'to show me
some place to put my things, and then you
and I will have talk
= I mechanically pointed cut small room
opening out Of the library. She hurried in.
I sat like a statue carved from adamant.-
Deep water. 4, t
Presently she returned, Invested Of little
hat, pongee and kids. Dainty and jaunty
as the little hat was, it never could be such
head-dress as that curly black head Of
hair; and the bare hand was certainly pref
tier and its dimples showed better than
when gloved [ could not speak, only
looked
She cast searching glance around the
library. 'saas9| -
'Horrid dirty!' she said disdainfully.-
when has it been cleaned 2
About year ago. said ,neekly.
She gave vent to pretty little scream
"A year? Shocking! Oh, I couldn't sill
down in room that hasn't been cleaned for
year! This must be put to rights
She said this in very determined, tone
and then set to work. She converted, my
linen coat into an apron. tied cunning lit
tie handkerchief over that pretty head, ane
snatched up the fly duster, busted away
va!iantly-raising cloud Of dust in which
I sat gazing on the vision. What did al
this mean I consulted Moliere. my stand
and authority. but Moliere could give nj
explanation. Could she be an angel, sen
to cast ray of light over my dismal patti
Of life Perhaps! but did angels wear whit
Marseilles, and talk about satinteens an
journiers? Impossible! 1t must be
dream.
She suddenly paused and came to m
through the cloud, and held out her arm
and said:
Roll up my sleeves, please. can wor
better with them up
did roll the white sleeves up, and the
Immediately secuted the idea Of its beng
dream. Could dream Of such arms, wit
such beautiful dimple in each elbowf .
Certainly not! They were real ! di
not think that sculptor would have bee
proud to have them for model, because
was morally certain that any sculptor woul
have been distracted at the sight, and nav
. dropped his chisel, despairing OF ever dom
them justice. 7.---
And then she busted, and while she dus
ed she sang. WHAT a voice Don't me-
ton Nilson-I won't hear it