The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-01-01
HOW IT HAPPENED.
From the DanJary Meas.

] have thought sometimes that perhaps !
ought to tell how II happe ned. Not alto
gether for my own sake, though Thompson and
Barton do look at me SO oddly when meet
them, as if they had misgiviog as to my
sanity. Everybody that knows me looks
sharp at me, as if they were trying to make
out something. And yet I have tried to
bold my head up and carry the thing OF
Ikea man. I have thought that after q
while they would think it was all right, or
that it was none Of their business, anyhow.
But some body else might get into the
same fix. It seems TO me one Of the easiest
things in the world now I never used to
have any idea Of the number Of deaf I'M
married women there are. But [ hear of
them all around US, and always with sigh,
and shudder Of foreboding and sympathy
for somebody. I suppose they all mean Dot
10 miss proposal, whatever else they fai. to
hear, just as
But anticipate.
could not possibly make up my mind to
sit down and tell the boys about it, know
they would laugh 10 my face, which would
be worse yet. And I don't think there is
any danger that Henrietta will get hold of it
in the newspaper Whatever peculiarities
she may have, III say that for her, that she
is rot one Of those kind of womenthat spend
their time reading papers, magazines and
novels. She attends to her clothes and her
back hair most Of the time, and gets herself
up pretty we'll, too, considering that SIZE is
But I wander again.
I don't know how It happened that j
called at Browns that day. dd't think
about going 10, but was going right to the
door, aud remembered how pleasantly the
old gentleman and his daughter had spoken
| to me at partya few nights before, aud
| asked me why did not come in as used to
| and invited me to call often in the future,
Besides [ knew that pretty Fanny Stuart,
Brown ward, and the daug liter of his steps
son, had graduated at school, and would be
coming home TO stay in a week or two, sni
it would be we'll enough to 80 in once before
pshaw! What am l talking about? I went
to Browns that day because it was my fate
| N o man can resist fate. go
| sent up my name and Henrietta came
into the paror looking exceedingly pleasant,
and was very soc;able. had never noticed
much about her when [ used to cal there,
but had general idea that she was nice
kind Of an old girl on the whole, though
rather dressy and fussy, and youugish action
for her age IThompson, who knew every
body's age, and said she was past forty and
thought it was well enough to have her
like me pretty we'll, in case | needed friend
| in future emergencies. N 9&
| Well, [ acted glad to see her, quite glad
And she seemed pleased with it. Il knew
she was rather hard Of bearing, but I spoke
up loud and plain, and she seemed to under
stand what said about the weather, and
the new park, and how full it was at Long
Branch last summer, and SO on. Pretty
soon she said something about how long it
was since Twas there last.
| said, eyes it was a good while, though
not SO long as it seemed, either. But hoped
she didn't think I'd forget my friends, if !
did stay away"
Tried to forget? And why, Mr. Parker?
1t certainly does seem long time" she
murmured. looking down.
81 haven't much time to call my own,' ]
said trying again, and overlooking her mis-.
take. Il have to make the best of it, and
cannot go as aften as I would like to seq
people"
She looked down again. and hesitated, and
| thought she blushed. Pretty soon she
said, rather archly, "sAre you sure it wa.
making the best of it to stay away and try
to forget me? How was | to know 20,
wanted to call me your own.
| tried again, beginning to feel sorry fo
her. "None Of my friends like it," sad
s'that / ails SO devoted and attentive to bust
ness, and see them SO little at their owr
houses. am sorry to offend them, blu.
| feel it necessary to see to ny affairs prett.
closely just now" l'' 8