Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-07-02
JOHN AND I.

OOAN ANIL L.
sCome, John,'' said 1, cheerfully, ri
really is time to go; if you stay any longel
1 shall be afraid to come down and loci
the door after you.''
My visitor arose-a proceeding that al
ways reminded me of the genii emerging
from the copper vessel, as he measured si1
feet three-and stood looking reproach
fully down upon me.
"You are in great hurry to get rid Of
me" he replied.
Now, didn't agree with him, for hi
had made his usual call of two hours ani
a half; having, in country phrase, take1
to sssitting up'' with me so literally that
was frequently at my wits end to suppress
the yawn that knew would bring a trool
rushing after it.
He was fine, manly looking fellow, this
John Crawford, old for his age-which was
the rather boyish period of twenty two
and every way worthy of being loved. But
didn't love him. was seven years hi
senior; and when instead of letting the
worm Of concealment prey on his damasl
cheek, he ventured to tell his love for my
mature self, remorseless1y seized an En-
glish prayer-book and pointed sternly tC
the cause, "a man may not marry his
grandmother" That was three years ago
and added. encouragingly, "Beside, John.
you are child, and don't know your own
mind.'
eff a man of nineteen doesn't know his
own mind" demonstrated my lover, 81
would like to know who should. But ]
will wait for you seven years, if you, say
so-fourteen. as Jacob did for Rachel"
"You forget,'' 1 replied, laughing at his
way of mending matters, shat woman
does not, like wine, improve with age.
But seriously, John, this is absurd; you
are a nice boy, and like you-but my
feelings towards you are more those of a
mother than wife"
The boys eyes flashed Indignantly; and
before could divine his intention, he had
lifted me from the spot where stood, and
the other end of the room.
II could almost find it in my heart to
make you'll" he muttered. as he sat me
down with emphasis.
This was rather like the courtship OF
William of Normandy, and matters prom.
ised to be quite exciting.
"Don't do that again. said I, with dig
nifty, when had recovered my breath.
Twill you marry me?' asked John
somewhat threateningly.
''Not just at present." replied.
"The great, handsome fellow, !" thought
as he paced the floor restlessly; why could
not he fall in love with some girl Of fit.
teen, instead.of setting his affections on al
old maid like me? 1 don't want the boy
on my hands, and won't have him''
GAS to you being twenty-six, p pursued
John, in answer to my thought; ''you say
it's down in the family Bible, and 1 sup
pose it must be so; but I don't care il
you're forty. You look like girl of six
teen, and you are the only woman I shall
ever love-"
Oh, John, John! at least five millions o.
men have said the same thing before il
every known language. Nevertheless
when you fairly break down and cry, L re
lent-for am disgracefully soft-hearted-
and weakly promise then and there that
will either keep my own name or tax,
yours. For love is very dog in the man
ger, and John looked radiant at this con
cession. It was a comfort to know that
he could not gather the flower himself, n,
one else would.
A sort of family shipwreck had waite,
John to my threshold. Our own house
hold was sadly broken up, and found my
self comparatively young in years with
half-invalid father, a large house, and
| very little money. What more natura
than to take boarders? And among tn
first were Mr.. Crawford land his son, an,
sister, who had just been wrecked then,
selves by the death of the wife and mothe
in foreign land-one Of those sudden, I'LL
expected deaths that leave the survivors il
! a dazed condition, because it is so Difficult
to imagine the gay wording who had bee
called hence to another state of being.
Mr.. Crawford was one of my admiration
from the first. Tall, pale, with dark hal
and eyes, he reminded me of Dante, onl
he was handsomer; and he had such ger
eral air of knowing, without the least pee
antry, however, that was quite afraid c
him. He was evidently wrapped up i
John, and patient with his sister-whic
was asking quite enough of Christia
charity under the sun, for Mrs. Shellgroy
was an unmitigated nuisance. Such
talker! babbling Of her own and he
brothers. affairs with equal indiscretio1
and treating the father as though he wa
an incapable infant.
They stayed with us three years. an
during that time was fairly persecute
about John. Mrs. Shellgrove wrote me
letter on the subject, in which she inform
ed me that the whole family were ready
receive me with open arms-a prospec
that I did not find at all alluring. The
seemed to have set their hearts upon m