Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-11
HOW SHE LOST HIM.

~ do believe that Aunt Hannah will
get married before me, after all, sale
James Bolton, laughing roguishly.
She stood leaning over stone wall, I
bower of silver-green clematis making {
wreath above her golden head, the tall rec
clovers and snowy daisies nodded at hel
feet-and she herself fit emblem of bloom
ing spring and freshness.
Nonsense" said Guy Martin. young
Adonis.
But it's true,'' said Janet, ''she has ac,
tually got beau. WHAT do you think of
Professor Keith?''
"What, the man who gives singing les
sons, and who lives at the tavern?"
Himself and no other"
emusic hath charms to sooth the say.
age breast!" quoted Guy Martin. "And
you and [ are to dance at her wedding,
suppose, Janet?"
''If we get an invitation,' said Janet de
murely. But happen to be in disgrace
with her just now"
''What for?''
''For ughing at the Professor"
''Oh, never mind,' said Guy, Its easy
to make peace again.
Just compare him to Beethoven OF
Mozart, or any of those immortal geniuses:
offer to embroider him a necktie, and tel
her you know Of a new pattern for we'd
ding dress, and, my word for it, it will be
ali right again.
"Aunt Hannah, under the influence Of
the tender passion! Aunt Hannah with a
beau! What is the world coming to?''
''And in the mean time,'' said Janet
with sigh, II must go back to the IRON
ing, or shall get a lecture yard long,
''And 1 must devote my energies exclus-
lively to work. said Guy Martin. eff
could only turn up pot of gold, little
Jenny,
I'D save my money and buy me a farm,
And you should be my wife,
ssWhat nonsense said Janet.
"What good sense" laughingly retorted
her lover.
And so they parted.
Hannah Bend was getting dinner when
her niece returned to the house.
She was short, stout lady, perilously
near forty, with row Of curls like min
nature beer-barrels, on both sides of her
face, a dubious nose-which sadly belied
the characteristics of it's owner, as Hannah
was strictly temperate in everything ex-
cept scolding-and small black eyes.
Certainly not a beauty. and yet not dis.
agreeable to look upon.
And when Miss Bolton came in, Han.
nah Bemis was wrathful in the highest
degree.
'That's just like you, Net Belton,' >
cried she in q voice shrilly raised. ''Gone
half the morning, and nothing done! and
my two silver spoons gone, that belonged
to my mother before she was married.
spoons as WOULDN'T ha' took five dollars
apiece for 'em y
'FWhy, Aunt, I haven't taken your sill
yer spoons!'
II didn't say you had,'' snarled the
maiden lady. sit is that plaguey organ
llHttCl ilCiC3 ioUiIIS55 IlIS CQllCI
afore the back door, and looking for al
the world AS if butter wouldn't melt in
his mouth"
And just went to get tumber oil
milk for him, as he said he preferred it te
all the strong drinks as was ever brewed-
and such an honest face as you couldn't
suspect. not if you tried-and l never to
miss 'em till went to the tray just now
and found only the Brittania ones left"
"Ah, me! what world this is !"
"But aunt, don't understand" inter
rupted her bewildered niece. "Did the
organ grinder steal away your mothers
spoons?"
"What else have been telling you all
this time?" retorted Miss Bemis. "Really
one would think you wasn't gifted with
ordinary understanding"
''Do start about your ironing, and gel
something done. And if you see another
organ grinder coming this way, set the
dog on him.
"But, Aunt, all organ grinders are moi
necessarily thieves"
"Don't argue with me, MISS" sternlly
commanded Hannah, " but do as you are
, bid.''
"Alas, that such an enrolling science
as music should have such unworthy vo'
taries."
ssShe's thinking Of the Professor,
thought Janet, with mischievously twink
ling ewes, as she pressed the wrinkles out
of dimity apron with ruffied border.
Hannah dressed herself in her best blacl
silk that afternoon, with a lavender rib
bon at her throat; and the curls touched
M with a trifle extra Of pomatum to Civ
them something of the gloss of youth.
Cosmetics in their various shapes Mis-
Bemis totally abiured-but there was nj