Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-08-02
SELECTED STORY
JOHNS WIFE.
BY ANNIE T. FORCELLE.

Miss Barbara Snyder sat in her straight
backed chair before the fire, her feet on thl
fender, her head dropping, her eyes CLOSED
to tell the truth, although she would hav'
Indignantly denied it, Miss Barbara Snyde,
was asleep. Her maid, hard featured ano
middle aged woman, was moving about The
room, putting it in order, as she did fifty
times a day, at her mistress command. and
watching her furtively to see that she didn'
fall into the fire.
"Jane," said Miss Barbara, suddenly
waking and sitting bolt upright with un
blinking eyes, ''if he comes-and I am sure
he will-don't let him in
''No. ma'am," answered Jane, submits.
sively.
'Tel him he has seen me for the last
time-the hypocrite ito pretend always to
be SO fond of me, and then 60 and marry
some little empty. headed doll baby. Be
sure and send him away, Jane"
eyes, ma'am."
A sudden commotion in the lower hall in
terrupted them; few bars of popular
air, wbistled in a mastery manner, rapid
clatter Of boot heels on the stairs, and then
a young gentleman, who might have sat as
a model of Hercules rushed in, and falling
over the ottoman, upsetting chair and
making confusion worse COMPOUNDED" in
the quiet room, dashed at Miss Barbara and
took her by storm.
Congratulate me!' he cried, after i'm >
printing a halle dozen kisses on her withered
cheek. ''Aunt Barby she is the dear
est,
"You may 60, Jane"
Miss Barbara had recovered from the
shock little, and as Jane retired she fold
ed her mittened hands tightly together and
turned upon him:
Nephew John %
There was a comical expression Of despair
on the young face at this unpropitious be-
ginning, but he said nothing.
''Nephew John, [ am disappointed in
you! L am not angry, but I am deeply
grieved-"
"Why, Aunt Barby!'
The blue eyes Of her listener opened
wide, but she sienced him by stately ges-
ture.
"Please be quiet-I wish to speak.
have done my duty by you, john" (there
was little tremble in her voice as she said
this, but she went on grimly) 'tand now
that you were just coming to manhood,
(John was twenty-six) and I had begun to
trust you little, you desert me for a. a
doll-baby."
'She is not doll baby!" said the young
husband Indignantly. eff you only knew
her you would love her dearly"
Nonsense! All the girls are fools now
a-days-but no matter you have chosen be-
tween us. My will is made, and I shall not
change it, but you will never again be to
me as you were BEFORE"
There was real distress in John Bar
toms heart as he rose and stood before her.
eff you will only let Inc bring her to
see you,' be pleaded II am sorry you
are displeased. Aunt Barby don't let this
part u.s."
"You have chosen"
The Sphinx could not have looked more
unmoved.
Il ordered them not to admit you-you
need not come again.
eff you will only hear me"
"But I won't-good afternoon
And so John Barton left her with her
face turned away from him and her hands
still claspsd before her.
Miss Barbara was wealthy, proud and
fond of her own way, but she was still a
woman and in her heart Of hearts she loved
John Barton dearly. His mother, her only
| sister, had died when he was little child,
and his father dying soon after, Miss Bar.
bara had in fashion adopted him. She had
INDUCED him from the first day of his en-
trance into her house; she had watched over
him and made him her one object in life
He had been the one CLEAN of sunshine in
her lonely life, and to his honor be it said,
he had never been unworthy of the love
and confidence which she gave to him.
"Aunt Barby" was to him the only person
in the world, and although people marvelled
at the affection Of the bright-faced young
fellow for his grim old aunt, it was genu-
inc and true. He had gone through COL
lege in thoroughly satisfactorily manner
and afterwards had settled down into as
steady and trustworthy young business
man as there was in the city, and for three
years had behaved entirely according to his
aunt's wish in every respect.
One day, however, the peace and har'
mony Of Miss Barbara's household was bro
ken up by a whisper which came to her ears
John, her John, was 1''paying attention
to somebody! She was first incredulous'
but as the days went by she was forced te
believe it; for one night, John sitting at
her feet with his yellow hair shining in the
freight, told her with much confusion and
embarrassment, that he was going to be mar
ried.
Miss Barbara was a good woman but she
was very whimsical, little selfish, and
above all, very jealous Of her own dignity
and the knowledge that John had asserted
his independence and actually planned gu
his future life without consulting her be
forehand, was very hard thing for her e
bear. She was not patient nor forglylng
and the result Of Johns confidence was i
very unpleasant scene; she who had neyel
spoken to him harshly before, overwhelmet
him with hard, bitter words, and then, Whel