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

conductor as he opened the car door and
| flashed the binding glare of his bull 's-eye
lantern into the faces Of tired travellers,
from whose eyes the crimson and gold Of a
glorious sunset had just faded. Tickets,
sir !''-and the brisk official jostled the
shoulder of broad-chested, travel bronx
ed man.
"There it is in my hat, man. What in
the dickens is the use of stirring fellow
up that way every ten minutes. Isay con-
ductor, how soon do we reach Albany"
1--WE are due there in about an hour and
the last station, sir.''
On went the conductor through the car,
and George Seabright Strengthened him.
self up in his seat, gave an elephantine
yawn, and smiled as he thought of the dear
home faces he was Fastening to greet.
Conductor !" wheezed an asthmatic old
lady in poke-bonnet, skimp bombazine
gown, blue home-spun stockings and leath-
er-faced buskin-'conductor! I hope
there amt nothin' wrong about that young
man over there. He acts dreadful queer
like, an Pm an unprotected female 'ithout
nothin' to defend myself with but an UNI
briller, an the handle Of that is brokel''
Il guess he's all right, ma am" laughed
the man of tickets as he passed out of the
car, slamming the door shut after him.
The old lady bridled in righteous indig-
nation. She had not travelled all the way
from Podunk to be laughed at for asking
a civil question, and how was the blessed
old innocent to know that, instead of be-
ing an escaped lunatic, George Sea-
bright was rubbing his hands together and
INDUCING in a variety Of facial contortions
by way of demonstrating his gleeful antici-
patton of the glad surprise he was carrying
to the home nest after three years flight
in foreign lands.
His lmpaiience increased with every
mile that lessened the distance between
him and his. Speed on, o, belching mon
ster horse; pant thy way through nesting
villages where crocuses and yellow-eyed
pansies sprinkle all the gardens with May
time bloom: fly between parting grassy
banks where violets nod in modest sweet
ness. larry not where budding apple-or-
chardS fling thousand wind-borne scents
to greet you, nor where belted shades al
lure with piney odors. Pause not where
Gods acres point with white and spectra |
fingers heavenward-not where willow
fringed brooks babble coaxingly, nor where
the Hudson reflects a million stars up
from its blue, cool bosom as witching and
bright as Circean eyes.
H ow every stride of the giant Steam
spans the distance between the wanderer
and home how every throb Of the mighty
pulse stirs the not blood of impotence in
the heart But what if a broken rail ahead
what if treacherous quicksand should
await their passage, and eternity should
set its awful seal upon lips now quiveritg
with words of loving greeting, and shut
out forever the sight of longed-for faces
from eyes now quick with eagerness? Only a
quarter OF an hour distant from his native
city, yet what might not happenY We
know the heart of his mother would'shiver
and break should death strike their out
stretched hands asunder; but would Kate
wee, winsome Kate Kervan-wOuld she
mourn him How like a CLEAN of sum
shine che frightened all his thoughtsl He
could see her shy brown eyes looking at
him through dark curling lashes,. and
could imagine the deliciousness of the pref
ty mouth whose cherry sweetness had SO Of
ten tempted him to the verge of bashful
madness. Oh, that fatal bashfulnes Of his!
What hope it must have stood in the way
OF, to make big fellow like him sigh,
shake his head depreciating, and murmur
so luxuriously!
ssBy the beard Of Mohammed, it is lit
tie strange that, although have faced a
tiger in his native jungle, hunted the wild
boar single handed into the very heart of a
German forest, and fought with unhinch-
ing nerve when the enemy were pouring a
shower of lead into the hearts of those
around me, yet absolutely have not got
the courage to tell that kittenish girl l
love her. One touch of her gloved hand,
the patting of her ljttie feet upon the wall,
the straying trssses Of her perfumed hair,
all act upon my nerves like galyanic
battery, and knock my self-possession
higher than Gilderoy's kite. High-ho! I
fear never shall essay the character of
Benedict, the married man, unless Katie
should ontdo '''the woman who dared, y
and that she'll never do.
You see, DR.. Seabright thought he knew
all about it, and you shall furthermore see
that Mr.. Seabright's insight into the flu.
ture was one of those dim sights which