Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-11-19
ALWAYS TOO LATE.
A LOVE STORY.


had been necessary to name her after her
dead and great grand-aunt; was growing
up into a fine young woman. She was
sixteen, and tall at that.
Her cousin, Tomlinson Perrybrook, then
fve-and- twenty, made mp his mind to
marry her. if he could get her, since, in his
estimate N. she was the prettiest, best,
and sweetest little darling living. But she
was only sixteen. He would say nothing
yet. He would wait until she was seven
teen, and then speak.
Then Tomlinson Perrybrook, having
made up his mind, quietly went back to
his occupation, which was What he called
improving his place."
He laid out new paths, planted new
trees, improved the garden, and gave the
parlor fine frescoed wall and ceiling, a
new Persian carpet, and velvet furniture.
Meanwhile ne said nothing to Priscilla,
having not the slightest doubt that she
liked him, and would Say Yes when
ever he said s'Will you?''
Priscilla did like him. She was secretly
in love with him, and very much hurt that
he did not make love to her. Every one
in the house knew this. except Tomlinson
himself. He was waiting for the seven
teenth birthday. Before that time Pris-
ella went to London to pay visit. There,
at the house of a fashionable relative, she
met fascinating young man, who fell
desperately in love with her.
In her heart, Priscilla wished that her
Cousin Tomliason had been in his place;
but as far as she knew, her cousin Tomlin-
son had nothing more than cousinly aff~c-
ton for her. Consequently, feeling that
her youth was waning with the approach
of her seventeenth birthday, she accepted
her first offer, and came home and told
her father and mother what she mad done.
They, in turn, told cousin Tomlinson,
who, having contriyed to hide his emo
ton, escaped from item as soon as pos
sible. and went home to shut himself in
unconscious Priscilla, and cry like a girl.
Life seemed at al end with the young
man now this horrible thing had happened
to him, and he wished he had asked the
girl to decide his fate for him before she
left her peaceful country home for the
temptations of the city. Even then, how
ever, he could not have done this, since he
had resolved to wait until the seventeenth
birthday had passsd.
There was nothing for it now but to get
l.; bo o,I h.
congratulated his cousin in very pretty
choice Of words, and went away to dis
tract his mind by travel. He resolved not
to return until the end of November. This
was May. In June his aunt, Priscilla s
mother, wrote to him. One of the para J.
graphs of her letter contain a tremen-
dous piece of news. 1t was this:
81 am sorry to tell you, dear nephew,
that Priscilla has quarrelled with the
gentleman she was to marry, and that the
affair is quite broken off, so that she has
even given him back his ring. OF course
such events ale unpleasant, though we are
glad to keep our girl little longer. Mr..
Dinwiddie was silly enough to be Jealous
without reason.''
Priscilla was free again. Cousin Tom
linson's spirit arose. The frescoed parlor
arose before his imagination, with Priscilla
on one side of the CRATE and he upon the
other in twin arm chairs. He saw her
driving the little pony phaeton he intend
ed to buy for her, down the broad path
which leads from the house to the gate,
and he was Just three days. distance from
home, and woman whose heart has just
been hurt is always ready to accept salye
for it in the shape Of new lover, as we
all know.
1t would be well for him to ret urn home
and exhibit himself as Priscilla's adorer in
this moment Of maidealy humiliation. But
this young man liked to carry out the
plans he had formed for himself. He said
| that he would travel until November, aud
| it set med proper to do so; consequently,
he proceeded on his journey.
Nov, Priscilla, who had not loved her
| lover, but oply been pleased by his love fol-
her, had thought a good deal about Tom
| linson, whose woe begone face had given
nof nOClOu VI tilo IIuIll tllo udy lie called
! to bid her adieu, before he set off upon his
journey, and she had purposely made hel
lover quarrel with her, and broke off her
match. ON his account.
TELL my cousin, mamma" she had said
and mamma had written. But when Tom
Iinspn made no response, Priscilla grew
angry; when be did not return, OF even
write to her, angrier vet,