Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-06-14
SELECTED STORY
THE MOCK MARRIAGE.
BY CAROLINE PRESTON.
"The best laid plans of mice and men,
Will often gang aglee."

sons-namely, Mrs. Parkhurst and her
daughter Susan. Susan had not yet OBJ
tanned the right to write Mrs. before her
name. although it must be confessed that
this was not her fault, nor indeed that of
her mother. The latter, by way Of keep
ing up the idea Of her daughters juvenility,
used to speak to her as child; but if the
truth be spoken, her age would place her
about as near her second childhood as her first.
It was matter Of surprise, certainly that a
young lady Of Susan's personal appearance
(Which consisted principally of a pair of lack
a-daisical eyes, ard about dozen Of straw
colored ringlets) should not have welded
before. But without wasting time in such
reflections, We must take things as we find
them.
At last Mrs. Parkhurst conceived bril-
liant idea.
What it was will be developed in due
time s Et
Her first step was to put an advertise
ment of the following purport in the daily
paper:
"RARE OpPoRTuN1TY,-A young man
who can present unquestioned reference will
be admitted to the advantages of compan-
ionship in refined and cultivated family,
who are Influenced in admitting boarder
only by the desire of obtaining the presence
and protection of gentleman inmate !, APP
plication may be made to Mrs Parkhurst,
Honeysuckle Cottage"
[ may as we'll say that the title Honey
suckle Cottage was happy thought, and
was entirely to be attributed to the brilliant
imagination of the authoress Of the adver-
tisement, the fact being that there was not
a honyesuckle within half mile of the cot
tage.
About week after the Insertion of the
advertisement, it attracted the attention of
a young artist who was DESTROYS of passing
the summer in the country.
ga family of refinement and cultivation y
he soliloquized. "Certainly that will be
much pleasanter than one ill-educated and
coarse think that will be just the place
for me. am only afraid that somebody
has got the start Of me. However, there is.
no harm in presenting my claims. will
write on the instant"
He according " sat down and penned a
note to Mrs. Parkhurst. The widow showed
it to her daughter as soon as received.
"Shall we take him, Susie ?" she said.
II wish [ knew whether he was Young
and handsome" said Susan.
'sHe must be the artist that have heard
the Hendricks speak Of" said her mother.
"He was down here for day last summer.
If it is he, he is both young and handsome
At any rate We may not get another appli-
cation, and I think we had better say yes,
unless indeed we ask for personal inter-
view first"
"No, mother" said Susan, hastily, s'for
then he might not care to come. Perhaps
he might rot find things exactly as be ex-
poets"
"You are right my child,' said her moth.
er, who was so much in the habit of calling
her child in company that the habit clung
to her when they were alone. "You are
right 1t will be decidedly the most polite
thing to write note Of unconditional accep-
tance."
La pursuance of these wise plans Charles
Hammond was gratifed by an assent to biz
proposal, and at once took measures to
| nave his traps forwarded to Honeysuckle
Cottage.
When the young man arrived at the two
story house, without a tree Or shrub neal
it, which was dignifed by that appellatlo1
may, when he was introduced to the port
ly Mrs. Parkhurst and ''the child" he
looked little disappointed, although o
course, he did not see fit to express any such
feeling. However, after a few days resi-
dence, finding that although his hostess anc
her daughter were not all be desired, ye
that the village was pretty and we'll adapted
to his purpose, and contained number O.
| agreeable people, he concluded that after al
he should enjoy the summer very well.
!, Certainly, Mrs. Parkburst and Susar
were very attentiye to him, indeed some
times too attentive, as when Susan youl'
volunteer to accompany him in bis walk
and chat and shipper in very girlish style
F not little to his disgust
Prabably Susan might have felt indlg
nant if she had known the secret oplnlol
which the young artist formed Of her as
silly and weak-minded old maid. How
; ever she knew nothing of this, and thong b
she was fast securing the young mans fs
vor, although, beyond the common polite
ness which he would show to any acqualr
lance, be could not be said to have ma
tured.
So week after week passed without al
parently bringing the young man any neare
to declaration, although Susan had' o
various occasions, given him an opportunlt
!. to declare bis sentiments.
AT length it only wanted two weeks
the first of October, the time at VINO
Charles Hammond had announced his II
: & hoax 10 tho CITY In tn