Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-08-21

| Of the two she lost her temper, anu salu
great deal more than she really meant
She didn't hate him, as she knew very wen
and she was not sorry he had followed ne
| to the seaside But how was ne TO KNOW
the difference between her feelings an
her words +? And how could he imagine
that his love was fully returned, when she
persisted in saying that she hated MIA =
AS she finished her hasty speech, he looked
at her for moment with such sorroWlul,
panied expression in his brown eyes, Iiial
she was tempted to retract what she hfo
said
She hesitated a minute, then, before she
could speak, he said, sadly:
"Well, Miss Ashton, if my attentions
annoy you, and you hate me SO intensely
the best thing I can do will be to rld you
of my society. We can be friends, ii MOTH
ing more, and if you succeed in finding
your hero, Miss Nellie, I'll be among the
first to offer my congratulations.
Without awaiting reply he stepped OH
the piazza, and passed down the walk
Nellie waited to hear the gate close behlnd
him, then hastily sought her own room,
where, as an escape-valve for her anger,
grief and surprise she INDUCED in hearty
fit Of crying.
But it would not do to appear with red
eyes at the lunch table, so she shed few
more tears, and then prepared for further
conquest by arraying herself in beWltch-
ing costume.
Perhaps she expected to see Hal; but it
so. she was disappointed. No Hal made
his appearance that day, OF for four OF tive
days following and in the meantime,
Nellie was told by his sister that he had
returned to the city.
Now that was not consoling news; and
Miss Nell was highly indignant when she
heard it. 'sBut never mind" thought she,
'she'll be back by the end of the week, and
I think 1 have little influence over him
yet"
So the days were passed by Nellie in va
rious pleasant ways, for though she missed
Hal, she was too light-hearted to indulge
in melancholy musings, and too sure of his
love to grieve over his absence. The
thought Of his forgetting her, or Of his
paying tribute to another shrine, never
entered her head.
In the meantime where was Hal? He
had returned to the city almost immedi-
ately after leaving Nellie, hoping to forget.
OIL at least to lessen the SORROW he felt at
her impetuous dismissal, in the busy cares
OF the office. But how could he forget
bright, bewitching Nellie Ashton? He
loved her with all the intensity Of true,
loving heart; but at the same time. his
pride strongly interfered with his love-
Pondering it over one afternoon, however,
he came to the conclusion that it would be
better to make one more trial for the hoped
for reward, than to lose all by Hesitation
and delay.
ssFor she must think little of me-" he
said softly, to himself, ''and-'
By the time he reached that point in his
he had decided on one more trial,
and resolved to start for the seaside that
very afternoon.
X x X x x
'sHelen!'
Mr. Ashton never addressed his daugh-
ter by that dignifed name unless he felt
particularly annoyed OF perplexed; and
Nellie gave a swift glance at his troubled
face as she asked, quickly
''What is it, papa? Is anything the
matter ?''
"No; but should like to see you in the
sitting-room for a few moments"
every well, sir,' and she meelly follow
ed him into the house, thinking. as she did
so, over all her recent offenses in order to
see which particular one he was going to
lecture upon.
ssHelen," he asked abruptly, as he hand
ed her chair, "when Hal Dayton called
here the other day, he asked you to be his
wife, did he not ?''
'sPapa ?' stammered Nell.
ssIt is an abrupt question to ask, know,
but should like you to answer it,"
''Well, he did, sir"
ssAnd you refused him, understand
May [ know your reason for so doing ~
The rosy blood suffused Nellie's face,
and she hesitated before replying, for it
was a. difficult question to answer"
'sPerhaps, y said Mr.. Ashton, II can
give the reason myself. You refused the
love Of q good, noble man, not because you
did not reciprocate his love, but from a
spirit Of trifiing coquetry Helen, answer
me this. If Henry Dayton offered his
hand again, What would your answer be
the second time %
ssPapa,'' exclaimed Nell, ''Inever knew
you to ask such singular questions! l
don't think it very kind of you to talk SO ~
'sPerhaps not; but / don't feel very
kindly disposed toward you just at present,
and [ speak as l feel. Helen, you know
how much / thought of Hal, and how ear-
nestly | desired to see you his wife. You
know, too, that if you had disliled him
would never have forced you to accept his
attentions. Why could you not have told
him the truth, instead of playing with him
as you did He was worthy of better
woman, than you are, Helen"
mo uOupG: loIoII ou A4oloh eelu
don't see why he didn't ask some sbetter
woman to be his wife, instead Of my wick
ed self. May be he will, some day"
II think not. Did you know he intend
ed to come down this morning ?"
81 did not, Papa she added, twining
her arms around the old gentleman's
neck, 'ssyou have some unpleasant news to
tell me- see it in your face. What is it
Never mind Hal Dayton, We'll speak OF
him some othe time"
ssNellie," said Mr.. Ashton, gently re-
moving her arms from his neck, 1--WE
must speak of him, because-oh Nellie
Nellie! your foolish flirting has done ITS
work Hal is dead. The train he was on