Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-01-26
SELECTED STORY
A WOMAN'S TRIUMPH.
BY e. BEN E. RExFoRD.

| A. the door l stopped to brush back re-
fractory curl from my face, and heard my
name spoken within.
lis Miss Crawford at home p asked a
voice. st
Brent Wayne's voice, I knew, the mo-
ment heard it. was conscious Of glad
thrill in listening to it. Why, l could not
have told you. l knew but little of him.
I had seen him but few times, but in those
few times we had got to be quite good
friends, and friends were the scarcest of any
thing in my life. He had been away for
some weeks from the city. He belonged to
the best society, and was of an old and aris-
tocratic family. For those reasons Aunt
Dumont and my cousin Lucia were very
glad to have him call upon them and make
himself at home in their parlor. They were
anxious to get into the best society, and Lu-
cia was anxious to get a rich husband
They always kept me in the background
when they conveniently could, consequently
I was not surprised, when Mr.. Wayne ask.
ed if [ was at home, to hear Aunt Dumont
say, in Ter smooth, oily tones.
Il believe she went out short time ago,
dldn she Lucia &!
To which Lucia dutifully responded she
thought I did.
And which proved to the contrary to
the facts of the case by opening the parlor
door and making my appearance among
them.
GOOD morning, Miss Crawford" said
Mr.. Wayne, smiling and coming toward me
with an outstretched hand. Il was just in
curing for you as you came in. am glad
to see you
"Thank you" l sat down. despite Lu
cia's black looks, and commenced to talk to
Mr.. Wayne about this and that and the 9TH
err I fancy I kept him pretty we'll engag-
ed through the remainder of his call. I
tried my best, at least, and think I did
not fail knew l was getting myself ready
for good scolding from Aunt Dumont, and
| could see that Lucia was angry with me,
but feared te show it before Mr.. Wayne. -
The moment he was gone I might expect a
good lecture on my conduct l suppose
was wrong, but l did take delight in provo
king them, and knew that to monopolize
Mr.. Wayne's attention would be the surest
way in the world to bring about the desired
end.
The door had hardly closed upon him
when the storm began. Lucia threw the
| first bombshell.
Gone would really think you had an idea
that Mr.. Wayne called on purpose to see
YOU and no one else, judging from your
monopoly of him. You didn't give him a
chance to speak to any one else after you
came in. | could see that he was terribly
bored" r
81 thought he looked SO when I came in
but did't know but I might be mistaken.
[ answered, as coolly as you please.
Lucia elevated her nose to greater alti
tude than usual, and relapsed into contempt.
ucus silence.
II really think YOU might have some re
gard for u.s. began Aunt Dumont. "A'
members of the lest society, we have GER
tain dignity to maintain. Mr. Wayne
"Maintain-
Mr.. Wayne-that's poetry" said |, in 1
tone intended to be very sweet. l nevel
knew that you made poetry before, Aun
Dumont."
Aunt Dumont was speeches. for SOM
time at my audacity. The idea that wo
man of her dignity should stoop to making
rhymes.
Bertha, must say that I am astonish
ed at you. If you have no regard for ou
station in society, you might have littl'
personal regard for me-"
II don't see what have done to interfere
with your dignity and station in society,"
answered.
eft was all right for you to intrude your
self upon Mr.. Wayne, to-day, l suppose,
sneered Lucia.
'Mr. Wayne asked for me-" ] said
blushing holly.
$50 be did," answered Aunt Dumont. -
"Of course. knowing that you were rela
tive of the family, he was obliged to d'
that"
"You mean, suppose" l said, bitterly
''that he asked after me merely out OF pc
likeness, and that he did not come to SCI
me; and because I, Bertha Crawford.
poor relative, came in and talked to him
few minutes. compromised your standing
in society and your dignity !? Is that it :"
The shot told. Aunt Dumont said NJ
more, and Lucia fell to reading her novel
When my father died, be left his proper
: ty, small, it is true, but still enough to liv
on quite comfortably, in Aunt pumont'
care. She was to keep me. and give me al
education The education she had give
me, as it was just as cheap to keep me
boarding school as at home, and there wa
out of the way. But after my education
was considered finished, I was given to uu
derstand that my property was used up