Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-08-21
HOW THE MATTER WAS SETTLED.
BY MARIE FLAACKE.

s'Don't Hail." interrupted pretty Nellie
Ashton, with a languid motion OF her
hand. ''I've given you an answer once,
isn't that enough We've always been
good friends, and Hike you very much, but
as for marrying you-why, I never thought
of such a thing!'
''No, l suppose not" responded Hal;
''but perhaps you'll be kind enough to tell
me why you object to becoming Mrs. Hal
DAYTON =? You must have a reason for do
ing so, you know"
Nellie opened her eyes in perfect aston
ishment, for, to tell the truth, the little
coquette had determined to make her dis
carded lover feel as miserable as possible,
and her surprise at his taking his dismissal
SO coolly, was only equaled by feeling of
pique.
"Well," she answered, pettishly, ''if
you supposed not why did you ask me J
You might have spared me the trouble of
refusing YOU"
$50 l might; [. didn't think of that
But you haven't told me why you refuse
me. 1 can guess, though, for heard you
say once that you would marry a hero, OF
not marry at all, and fear if that's the
case, you'll live and die an old maid, Miss
Nellie, as heroic mortals are wonderful
rarities nowadays. What constitutes a
hero in your opinion, Nellie? Tell me,
and perhaps if l follow your ideas, 1 can
model myself into a first-class article"
elbow provoking you are, Hal Dayton.
I wish you would stop teasing me-"
"But," persisted Hal, II want to know,
really and truly, what you consider heroic
qualities. You know [ value your good
opinion very highly, and it is only natural
| for me to wish to increase it, I'll do any
thing you say-anything to proclaim my
self a genuine hero. The field of action is
rather small, must confess. Let's see ::
There's Mrs. Mulrooney down in Raglane,
who has drunken husband. might gall
lantly interfere some day when he is exhib
ting his husbandly affection by beating
her with poker, and at the risk of life
and limb, rescue the fair Bridget. She'd
thank me in the Irish fashion, NJ Doubt
Or else might"
sLeaye the house!'' ordered Nellie,
with an imperious stamp Of the foot
ssHenry Dayton, you're teo mean for any
thing, I hate you. don't see why you
followed me here, anyway. l don't care II
you are my fathers favorite, that's no rea-
son why you should annoy me with your
tiresome attentions. | wish you had stay
ed at home, for l don't want you here, if
any one else does.''
Poor Hal That was rather an ungra-
cious return for his constant attendance
upon Miss Nellie, For six weeks he had
obeyed her slightest whims and caprices.
submitted to an unlimited amount OF snub-
hing, and. in fact, to use his own express
sion. had made perfect fool of himself
And why? Well, he thought, perhaps, as
the parents favored his suit, the daughter
wonld also, and then he cared more for the
little lady than he had confessed even to
himself. But she was such a tantaliZing.
nerverse little coquette, that he had never
heen able to decide whether she liked him
or was only amusing herself with slight
Irritation, Still, he could discover by ask
mo. and after consoling himself with the
reflection that, after all, she could only say
no. he had summoned courage enough tt
ask the all-important question.
Deep in her silly little heart Nellie ha(
enshrined the image Of her hero, and tina
hero bore a strong resemblance to Ha
DAYTON. Had he known that, he Woulc
not have felt so discouraged at her refusal
Perhaps if he had begged and entfeatet
her to consider the question, she Woul'
have relented, but he was too proud to d
that, though he had been her devote
slave.