Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-03-05

Will all edf-Spl1CClng screen, anu. SdtucA
ing up his traps, Seabright, Jr., hurried
from the car.
"Carriages?" tsHaye a carriage, sir!'
Nice carriage this way!'' was the intensel.
American cry awaiting him as he forced
his way through the crowd toward Broad
way, and gnawing his moustache. he men
tally calculated:
sob, hang your carriages! Get out Of
my way, you fellows. I'm going home
and do not intend to spoil my surprise by
getting into one of your old rattleboxes.'
| Walking down Broadway-how familiar
yet strange the old river following street
looked. The very pavement beneath his
feet seemed to have welcoming ring; and
how his heart thrilled as he recognized the
old accustomed sights and sounds All!
there is the house at last. No light in the
parlor. Rather strange circumstance:
but it must be all right, because the door
is on the latch.
Noiselessly the young man stole in
through the hall to his mothers little sit
ting-room in the rear of the parlors. No
light here either; only the sullen red of a
sea-coal fire burning in the crate cast fitful
CLEANS of light 'thwart the lurking sha-
dows.
"Where can they all be?" wondered the
somewhat disappointed prodigal; then, with
distended nostrils, he soliloquized: s'Whew!
! what a smell of lime aud fresh paint
housekeeping, / suppose. What comfort
women can have in deluging everything
with soap-suds, and turning the house
topsy -turvy two or three times a year,
passes my understanding! Well, here is a
chair that seems to have escaped the gen.
eral turn over. I'll sit down and wait till
somebody appears
Five-ten minutes of expectancy passed,
then rustic Of skirts and the clicking of
high-heeled boots upon the oaken stairs
announced the approach Of the waited-for
some one. George listened with indrawn
breath.
"That is sister Gertie,'' he thought; 'no
one else dances down stairs in that fash
ion.'
With cautious haste the watcher arose
and leaned closely against the shady side
of the door casing. Nearer and nearer
came the tripping, until female form
stood dimly defined upon the threshold.
With a great heart-throb George caught
the slender figure to his breast, and in ar
instant was vigorously kissing the cap
tured face Unfortunately on the cheek,
brow and lips.
A smothered scream burst from the
frightened girl at the first pause in his
fraternal demonstrations, AMI as the tones
awoke the sleeping echoes George Sea-
bright loosened his hold upon the taper
waist as suddenly as if a triphammer had
smote his elbow, and retreated to the wall.
Oh, Lord! it was not Gertie at all. He
knew the voice too well to attempt to
dodge the fact that it was Kate Kervan-
the girl whose hand he had only dared to
touch after much fear and trembling
whom he had caught in his arms and for
chilly kissed. Duel horreur! Why had he
not a fairy godmother to turn him into
winged insect at that dire moment? His
like drops of moisture started out upon his
brow, and like second Goliah, he stood
quaking in his boots, awaiting the sling
with which he fully expected this feminine
David to Stay him.
''How dare you, sir?" she demanded,
stamping her tiny foot passionately on the
floor.
II could not help 1t, Kate,' stammered
the poor fellow; s'the room was dark, and
I thought you were Gertie. l am George
Seabright. Don't you know me?''
"You are an imposter, sir. Mr.. Sea-
bright is Abroad
Indeed he is not. am he, and have
just arrived in the city,
Walking across to the grateShe gave the
smouldering Goals an emphatic punch, and
as the flame leaping up brought his fea-
lures into strong relief against the black
marble of the maDtel, down went the gar
net merino, the white apron. brown curIs
and cherry ribbons in confused heap
brought the bashful lover to common
level. With his taWny beard sweeping in
dangerous proximity to her crimson cheeks,
and the crushed rose fragrance of her
breath Intoxicating and indaming his diff
fident spirit, George essayed to comfort
her.
Indeed could not help it, Kate.''
II don't believe you wanted to-" sobbed
she.
"Well, now, it would not be human ma
ture for fellow to be sorry for kissing
the girl he loves, but am sorry that 1
frightened YOU"
1t was astonishing how easy it all came
to him after the first awkwardl.ess was got |
over, and l never could quite understand |
how he did it, but in due time tranquility !
was restored and Kate's eyes were as
hop 10 I.,o1r e