Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-07-10
FLORENCE'S PROMISE

On Saturday morning, about the mid
die of last December, might have been
seen getting into a second-class carriage:
at Oxford, man with a rug, a gun-case
and bull-terrier. That was myself.
At school I, Claude Henniker, was a
| thorough failure-that is in the eyes OF my
| head masters and those whose business it
| was to assume the functions OF my dead
parents. One of my guardians was my I'M
Gle, Guy Henniker, my fathers Younger
and only brother, who had inherited all
the family property, to the exclusion OF
my father. My uncle Guy always used to
say to nae when [ came to pay him my
yearly visit at Christmas 'Claude, you're
lazy dag; the only things you take any
trouble about are shooting and rowing
Why don't you work, and do something to
make man Of yourself ?"
1t was quite true. Irowed stroke of my
boat at school and wasted my time.
NV uncle Guy was childless and during
the four years and half 1 had been at Ok
ford he had continually written to me, ask
ing me aboutmy progress and adding each
time that if I did well should never re-
greet it. A fortnight before went for my
last examination, had the following la
comic epistle from the old man:S
ssMy Dear Boy Write and tell me
when YOU can come to me. House nearly
full have kept some presents for you.
Mrs. Betterton and her daughters are here.
Don't forget to do well in your eXamlna-
tion to please YOUR old UNCLE.
Delight at getting away from examlna-
ton rooms and examiners, SORROW at leav-
ing Oxford, were mingled with anxious
thoughts of Flo Betterton and surmises
as to the terms on which we should meet.
During my first long vacation had met
Florence Betterton down in Devonshire,
at a lovely seaside place near the Chase,
where Uncle Guy lived. The Betterton
family had since that time struck up an &C
quaintance with my uncle, and now they
were living with him. Florence and.I had
gone through all the stages ola vigorous fir
tation in that happy month at the seaside
when I came down avoWedly to study Thu
cydides, but reallyto read Tennyson aloud
| to my golden-haired beauty. When we part
edit, here was clear understanding between
us that we were all in all to each other,
backed by distinct promise OF mutual
constancy. Six months afterwards l re-
ceiyed a verbal message through a mutual
friend that she had ceased to care. for me
So much for the cause of my troubled looks
when I stepped into the train at Oxford.
At Exeter l got out. 1 strolled to the
| refreshment saloon. Hardly had entered
| the room when my attention was attract
| ed by two strangers. one Of whom was
| telling the other that he knew the way
1 from Broadbeach to the Chase quite well
Hearing the man speaking OF going to my
uncle's place, ventured to ask him it hi
knew my relative. He said that he did
and Immediately introduced himself to me
as Clarence Winning. His companion was
a brother officer, Charles Dawkins.
During the journey l had establishe &c
myself on a tolerably intimate footing
| with my new acquaintance. Winning
told me that there were to be dances ant
dinners, shooting parties and other gaitie'
at the Chase, and that ne intended to EN-
| 10Y himself immensely, especially as those
divine girls, the Bettertons, are going tt
be in the house, No sooner had the trail
stopped at the station at Broadbeach thai
we saw my uncle on the platform with Mrs
Betterton and all the girls-Florence, Ma
~ and Milly. Mary was the oldest-a fine
handsome woman Of twenty-five. She al
ways had been my great friend in the Ole
DAYS when I had been infatuated abou
Flo. Next came Milly; she was sweet
tempered, pretty little thing, and as unlike
her handsome elder sister as possible. Las
but not least was my Florence. l use(
to think her perfect in those days-an(
young mems impressions often last till Ole
age-golden hair, dark eye-lashes, and
divine figure.
| Sunday was an uneventful day. Florenc
kept in her room all day, and Mary stale
with her. Monday was the day for com
mencing the serious work. of the days 90
ings. We-that is the men-were golnE
to shoot. After dinner we were all u
90 to dance given by a Mrs. Hughes Il
honor of our party. l shot badly all Tn
morning We compared, and each con
fessed being little down in the mouth
We frightened up about lunch time, Whel
the girls were expected to come. Then ]
flashed across me for the first time-f1ol
ence threw ME over for Winning. lie Gel
tainly looked pleased when the girls arrlV
ed.
He walked home with the ladies. Agal
I failed to get an opportunity OF speakln
to Mary or Florence by themselves. VII
ming took off the latter, and / had to wal
with Mary and Milly.
In the evening, however, was dete
mined that would speak and find out frol
Mary, or even Florence herself, the myst
~ of her sudden change of mind towal
me. How lovely the three sisters look'
as they came into the room But Floren'
despite an air of sadness which mad hard