Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-08-02

her after that event ended as we have seer
The days passed away slowly after John
with his bright face and ringing voice, wa
banished, and Miss Barbara, half-regrettin
her harshness, was often tempted to send 70
him again, but her obstinacy or ''pride, a
she called it, prevented her, and so she fret
ted and worried until Jane was almost drig
en- distracted By her irritability and unrea
sonableness. She was so cross, so hard tt
suit, and so lawfully savage as Johl
would have said, that Jane became at las
entirely worn out, and one day when he
duties had been more than usually hard
she surprised her mistress by packing VI
her movable property and departing from
the house. Then Miss Barbara was wretch
ed for three days she sat in solitary state
and then, sending for her lawyer, directed
him to insert an advertisement in the lead
ing papers to the effect that she wanted {
"young. neat and ladylike person for 8
companion"
''No more old women for me-" she said
savagely, in response to the lawyers look
of surprise, "after the behavior of Jane,
who has been with me for thirty years and
then authorizing him to examine applicants,
she sent him away.
Two days after the lawyer returned, &C.
companied by tall, slender young woman,
who had come to see if Miss Barbara would
engage her. After looking at her keenly
for some time and inquiring sharply into
her antecedents, references and the like,
Miss Barbara pronounced herself satisfied,
and Alice Worthington, as the lawyer call
ed her, was duly installed in the office of
companion" and charming companion
she proved to be.
Miss Barbara was at first disposed to be
bit critical and captious, but the young
girl was SO anxious to please, so sweet-tem-
pered and amiable, so quiet and self.forget-
full, that Miss Barbara's severity melted
away by degrees, and at last she begun to
love her gentle attendant, and to try in va
rious little ways to make her cheerful and
contented in her new home.
"Alice," she said one day, as the girl sat
opposite her at the fire, chow old are
you?"
"Not quite Nineteen" was the shy an
swer.
And Miss Barbara looked at her in sur
prise. "Not quite Nineteen" and yet so
quiet, dignifed and womanly it was almost
incredible. Miss Barbara looked at her
again, and with new appreciation in her
face. She saw how pure and sweet the fair
face looked, with the shy brown eyes half
hidden by the white lids, she saw how plain
ly and smoothly the brown hair was fasten.
ed back, how neat and trim was the dark
dress, how snowy were the cuffs and the mar
row collar, and her heart was filled with
wonder. A girl in this nineteenth century
without rufle, puff, crimp, an over.
skirt, sash, or a suspicion of panier
about her! Truly wonders would never
cease; and, as she gazed on this rara avis,
her heart was filled with pity for John who
had thrown himself away.
''Shes just the wife for him." she
thought, eff be had only waited a lttle-he
would have liked her, I am sure" And
then she dismissed the thought with sigh,
and turned to Alice for consolation.
AS the days went by Miss Barbara's heart
began to yearn for her nephew She loved
Alice dearly, but even she did not take the
place of the absent one. His handsome face
haunted her day and night, and often as she
heard sudden noise in the hall or at the
door she would look up eagerly, half ex-
pecting to see him as she used to do.
81 am getting old,' she said, sadly, to
herself. "Perhaps I was little hard with
him-'my boy'-rll ask Alice"
And SO one night she called Alice to her,
and as she sat at her feet in the freight, as
John had done so often, she told her all
about-how much she loved him, and how
she longed to see him again.
II am getting old Alice" she said. II
may die soon, and I want to see my boy
Perhaps l was wrong about his wife. It
would do no harm to see them just once,
Alice"
And Alice answered gently that perhaps
it would be better for them all to do so
but she avoided her kind friends eyes, and
there was scarlet flush on her face that was
unusual.
The next day Alice, under Miss Barbara's
direction, wrote little note to John Bar
ton. "Tell him to come soon," said she
and as Alice wrote this, Miss Barbara sat
and thought intently for some time, with her
face resting on her hands. 'sTell him." she
said again, che may. bring his wife if he
likes can at least see her to please
him"
And SO the note was written and the mes.
senger dispatched.
After this decisive step was taken Miss
Barbara was in futter Of nervousness all
the time. She donned her richest dress,
her most costly cap, and then sat expectant
until she heard Johns step on the stair and
John himself came in as Of DID, Of course
there were few minutes during which
both talked at once. and then, when the first
excitement was over, Miss Barbara sudden
ly grew grave.
"Where's your wife she said, in her old
grim way, and John rose and rang the
bell.
'She's down stairs. I told her tc stay
until L sent for her ?" And then, as the
servant made his appearance, he told him to
60 down and show his wife up.
Miss Barbara waited quietly.
'You will love her little for my sake? ?"
pleaded John, as light foot-step was heard
at the door, and then, greatly to Miss Bar
bara's surprise, Alice Worthington came
in.
'My nephew, Mr.. Barton, Miss Worth.
lngton," she said, and then turning to Alice,
IL am engaged now, and you may be ex-
cused."
To her surprise, John, with the old mis-.
chief in his eyes, coolly put his arm around
his new acquaintance, led her across the
room and said
'sAlice Worthington Barton, Aunt Bar