Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-02-12
IMMEDIATELY"

Yes, 1t certainly was the dOOr-bell.
"Deliverance p said Miss Phrygia ,'sand
I'vejust taken the comb out of my back
hair!"
In emergencies Of this kind Miss Phry-
gia had way of drawing back the tidy
chintz curtain just far enough to peer
through and see whether it would do to
run down ''just as she was.' If it would
do, down she ran, and if it wouldn't, she
called softly through her window Gimme
diately - and then flashed through her
preparations with speed, truly miracu-
leus, for Miss Phrygia had love of promp-
titude that covered the whole superficial
stratum Of her nature, and Immediately
was so faYorite an expression of this quail
ty, that if she had been asked graciously
to set time for her own execution, those
who knew her best would have expected
it as the natural and unhesitating re-
ply.
But this time, as the chintz curtain re-
vealed pony phaeton at the gate, and on
the doorstep slight, maidenly figure, a
sweet young face, and mist of golden
hair, she only said, ''Dear heart ~ and lay
ing the comb on the dressing table, she
glided down stairs, her own locks falling
into an undulation of chestnut rings that
might well have been the envy of a god
dess in her own namesake land.
80 glad you are at home,'' said voice
from under the golden mist. ssI've just
brought youmy little book. I've kept the
last page for you, you have everything so
nice. Any trife, light as air, you know,
will do.''
1t was one Of those blessed old towns,
rare to see in these times, where the lofty
and the lowly knew and respected, loved
and took an interest in each other, and
Miss Phrygia instead of waiting for the
book, which the maidens Of the place,
when about to assume the duties of wife
and housekeeper, had fashion of circula-
ting among their friends for collections of
choice receipts, reached forth and took
both the slender, gauntleted hands in her
own. AS she did so hersright thumb press
ed diamond on the left forefnger Of her
visitor, and her face, so beaming as she
ran down stairs, suddenly melted into
different expression, as she gazed into the
hazel eyes confronting her with yearning
tenderness pitiful to see.
s'Poor thing!" she said softly, ssPoor lit
tie thing ~
'EWhy, what's the matter, Miss Pnrygia,
know you don't like engagement rings,
but you can't understand that [ am, and
am going to be the happiest little woman
in the world 20
"Poor little thing P'was all Miss P. said
again, much as you would coo over an I'M
fedged doveling that will fall out of the
nest.
And then, with caressing squeeze from
the slender hands, II am not going far,
you know-only step-you can see the
chimneys right up there through the trees.
You'll come and see me often won't
you?''
"That's what they say when people die,
but a pretty long step, call it" said Miss
Phrygia, .still its always a comfort to
visit their graves, and I IL come with pleas
ure."
ooh, Miss Phrygia Well, only wish
you did understand. I wish you'd get
married yourselfl You'd be a hundred
times better off didn't you ever feel so in
your secret heart ?"
eyes," said Miss Phrygia, quietly, "a
great many times"
sDon't you think it would be pleasanter
than living there all alone ?''
'Yes,'' said Miss Phrygia.
'sThen why haven't you tried it ?n
"1here's been always just one difficulty
with every opportunity I've had, ''said Miss
Phrygia, dropping her eyes thoughtfully-
"You can't seem to find any way Of doing
it but by marrying some man, and that.
with little shiyer running over her Shout.
ders ''puts it so out of the question ~
A ripping laugh, that made the golden
mist seem like moonlight on the lake, an
swered Miss Phrygia.
'Then if you could come across an angel
you think you would venture ?''
':Imme!dliately p said Miss Phrygia.
swell, Pm sorry Pm so fond Of the only
one in the world that can't give him nm
to you, but it does seem as if YOU might
find something" and with another little
squeeze, the dainty hands left a marble
covered book in Miss Phrygia's took up the
pony reins, and drove away.
| Miss Phrvuia went sJow1v nm +ho 4.