Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-07-05
SELECTED STORY
LOVE IN A SNOW STORM.

II know that Pm pretty" said Glare
Wintringham, to herself. gazing composed
ly into the depths of her mirror '.but I
don't think I'm sufficiently beautiful to send
all the young men Of my acquaintance into
ecstacies over me-" .ao1 isL
It is not always very easy for girl to
Judge of her own looks; but Clare tried to
be as impartial as possible on this special oc.
casion. And what was it she saw reflected
in the glass before which she stood. criti-
cally surveying the creature whom the world
called Clare Wintringham? ha4
- = A tall, supple figure, with sloping should
ers and daintily tapered waist 4; skin as
soft as satin. and tinted like an oleander
blossom; deep blue eyes, just shaded into
violet at the iris, and little fresh mouth,
where the teeth shown at every smile like
pearls through o crimson shell. oaag
Eyes," said Clare, ,nodding her head so
that certain spirals Of golden brown hair,
which always hung over her forehead,
danced coquettishly up and down, Il am
pretty. And then that twelve hundred dol
lars year that Uncle Bruce's will secured
to me isn't altogether dissgreeable pill for
some Of my lovers to swallow. | don't
think | was made for an heiress. / like to
make and mend, patch and contriys, and
I've always had an idea that should make
splendid poor mans wife. l mean, OF
course, splendid wife for poor man."
She took from her belt withered red
rose and bunch Of faded violets, as she
spoke. and arched her pretty eyebrows over
them in a puzzled fashion.
Harvey Gallette gave me the roses" she
soliloquised 'He's very handsome. is
Harry, and I always did have weakness
for handsome people; and he's rising
young man in his profession, people say
like talented people, too. I'll keep the
rose just little while." And she laid il
away in a certain satin.lined box, where she
was wont to treasure souvenirs of thsse her
girlish days. s'And Frank Hoods violets
poor Frank Hood He's SO silent and
awkward, and yet there's something about
him that won't let you despise him. And
he certainly is not handsome, though he has
fine eyes, and face like one of those old
marble creations one sees in the Academy
of Design. Well, I won't throw away the
violets either, not just yet"
And Glare took the jeweled hairpins out
Of her shining tresses, and laid aside hel
white carleton dress and wreaths of blue
blossoms, and went composedly to bed,
For why should she lie awake and lose
the fresh roses of her complexion, and dim
the sparkle of those glorious violet eyes,
thinking about the respective claims Of the
various lovers who lowered, moth-like, about
the torchlight Of her charms There was
time enough to make up her mind-quite
time enoug h. Why, she was not yet nine.
teen, and life was so full of bloom and
freshness for her. Clare knew that the au.
tumn must come sooner or later, but she
meant to have good time first. Sensible
Clare.
So, in the middle Of the season.. when
balls, operas, masquerades and dejuae dan.
samtes were at their height. and when old
Aunt Dalmayne wrote a piteous letter to
her brother, in town, saying that she had
! the rheumatiy dreadful bad, and there wa MI
| no reliable help to be had, and she was that
lonesome that she couldn't stand it. any
longer, and wouldn't one Of her three nieces
come down and stay along with her spell,
Glare astonished the family circle by yoiun-
teering to 60.
| "My DEAR" said Mrs. Nottingham,
you don't know what you are undertaking
Il is common farm house, not even paint
ed. among the hills" II
"And Aunty Ann is as full Of whims as
an egg can be Of meat" said papa Wintring
ham, rubbing his nose. s'l3ut | suppose
she is poor and lonesome"
"Well, but" said Glare, "Miriam's busy
with her conservatory lessons and her Ter
man class. and Laura belongs to those socia
bles, and I seem to be the only one Olsen
Gagged. BESIDES, Pm getting tired OF ball!
and dances and twelve o'clock suppers.
should like to try the other extreme just to-
fun"
swell, at any rate, mean to try salt
Glare, valiantly. $50, papa, write to Aun
Dalmayne that am coming"
The scene looked indescribably beautifu
to Glare Wintripgham that frosty Decembe
night, as the jolting old lumber wagon
} with Buffalo robe spread oyer the seat
and sleepy old horse trotting in mont
turned into the valley road, and she ooul
see the ancient farm house, steep-roofed an
brown with half century of suns and rams
with the maple boughs wrestling over ne
head in the gale, and the wooden bills rls
ing up on every side, while one rqddy bear
Of light glowed from the tiny windows vi
der the caves, casting, as it might pc.
. javelin Of brightness across the road 10 iror
of tho door. :,
II guess she's expeotiu' Of you. )" said 4 =