Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-28
whole handful of ashes.
"Ah! ha!' sing out the children. Zulu
is to be an old maid.''

which puts an end to the fOrtune-telling
"Now," Molly Guild proposes, ''Nelly,
go down the cellar stairs backwards, and
try if you can see your sweetheart over
your shoulder
Nell demurs at first, but to please the
children at last consents. There are no
cellar stars in the house, but those de-
scending into the basement will do as
well. In the entry below there are three
doors. The one on the right hand belongs
to the kitchen, that on the left to the coal
cellar, and the one opposite the stairs,
having it's upper part of glass, leads into
the garden. They turn off the gas for the
two entries, and Nell begins to so down
stairs backwards in solemn silence, the
children crowding round the banisters at
the top, giggling and pushing each other.
She reaches the last step, and turns her
head, when pair of warm lips are pressed
to hers. With loud scream, Nell rushed
| up stairs and into the parlor, the children
flying, too, like leaves before the wind.
Nell is as much scared as they.
"Nelly! Nelly" calls familiar voice,
and Lieutenant Ned Graham put his hand
some head in at the door,
What a joyful surprise! Nell is so sur
prised, in fact, that she kisses him before
all the little girls, and Immediately feels
immensely ashamed Of having done it.
Is'How did you come there, Ned?" she
asks him.
II heard from mother that you were
having Halloween party" he answered,
sand thought would steal round by the
glass door, and see what you we're doing.
When saw you going down stairs back
wards, Nell, 1 knew whas you were at;
you know we have often talked of it. But
don't let me spoil the sport. We will have
time enough to talk over everything; I
have come home on furlough.''
| '''Nell is going to make a fat cake" here
interrupted Molly Guild,'' and I wish she
would begin now.''
| "Y es, do, Nelly said Ned, s'and will
help you eat it. How is it made?"
''You mix an egg-shell full of butter,
and one of sugar, and one of -four together"
explains Molly, land bake it over the fire.
| Nobody must laugh or say a word while it
is doing, and then you dream over a piece
| of it,"
| She looks so serious about it that Ned
laughs. Nelly set to work, and, after va
| rious failures OH the part of the children
| to keep silence, owing to Ned's mischiev-
| BUSINESS, manages to bake cake in a grid.
| die over the fire. 1t is then cut up-ai
| the girls take piece. and make wish
over it. Ned takes his piece along with
| the rest, with snch an awe struck express
/ sion that it is beyond the power of a hui
man being not to laugh.
! Supper is just over when some one rings
the bell, and all simultaneously glance at
the clock. Half-past- ten! Who would
have thought it so late? The servants ar
! rive for the children and the hustle of de-
parture takes place. The girls crowd
around Nelly to kiss her goodnight, every
one but Lulu, who is discovered, after
search, sitting in a corner, her face in her
| hands, and crying in a business-like man.
ner, truly heart-rending.
"What's the matter, dear Lulu?" asks
Nelly, carreSslngly.
"Why," sobs Lulu, "Molly Guild says
am to be an old maid sure now, and wear
spectacles, and have red hair like Miss
Simpson,
ssNonsense!" exclaims Nelly. elbow is
your hair ever going to turn red when it
is dark brown now? And, besides, you
have not dreamed ON your fate cake, yet;
perhaps that will tell you differently
Lulu listens comforted, and concludes,
after seconds deliberation, to defer. her
lamentations until she has further reveal
ings from fate.
|. ''Come and take breakfast with us to-
morrow, Lulu. and tell us your dream,'
says Nelly kindly, with the parting kiss.
"And you come too,'' nodding to Ned,
who is standing near.
Now, | will not follow all this young
couple have to say to each other, else my
story will be as long as Ned was getting to
the garden gate.
Next morning at breakfast, after the
chatter had somewhat subsidized, Nelly
turned to Lulu, who was seated at her
right hand, according to promise. "Whas
did you dream, Lulu?"
II dreamed 1 married prince" IN
swers Lulu, radiantlY, whereat they, all
laughed.
"And [ dreamed,' said Ned, ''that |
came home ON q furiough, and married
young lady before my stay Was out. What
do you think Of that for a dream, Mr., Bar
loweg
Rubbish" growled ME-. Barlowe, I'M
der his breath, and am sorry to say with
his mouth full. .
"Not rubbish, is it, Mrs. Barlowe? T.
think my dream ought to come true.1
Mrs. Barlowe smiled assent. She re-
garded this young man, the son Of her
husbands old friend, with motherly af-
lection, and the match was the darling
wish of her heart. So, between the two.
by dint of laughing appeal and cogent
reasoning, they soon induced Mr.. Barlowe
to give his consent to Ned's plan. Nell's
approval was not asked, bat she did not
appear much aggrieved thereby 49,
Only five days for prsparati on. Fancy
the hustle and confusionl For Nell de-
clared that everything must be done for
her that could be done in Sc short a time.
How the girls and the mother flew around.
worrying over the sewing girls, dress-na-
kers, confectioneIs, etc.
AT last all was finished, and the event
full evening had arrived. With it the
guests, bridesmaids, flowers, clergyman,
and, last but not least, the bridal dress
reaches home in time, in which Nelly de-
sends into the parlor, n a glory OF lace,
orange flowers, and white veil, looking her
lovliest, and knew she did, toe, the little
witchl AS for how Ned looked is a matter
tho Llis3n