Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-08-31
HATES FASHIONABLE LOVER.

Kate Stanton was a very pretty girl,
and not only very pretty girl, but (
very winsome, clever, loyable girl.
What wonder that all the marriagea'
BILE young fellows for ten miles arount
adored her, or would have adored hel
on the slightest provocation. But il
was generally voted not worth while
to waste breath by signing in that quar-
ter.
Clarence Herbert had monopoly Of
favor there. Kate had. contrary to the
custom Of young ladies, preferred hel
school-boy lover and early playmate to
all Others The two were not engaged.
at least not formally; but the mutual
good understanding that existed be>
tween them was almost sure to end in
matrimony.
I Almost, but not quite, sure, FOR 'the
heart is deceitful above all things On
certain day there came down into that
part of the country most fascinating
man. His name was Sidney Dale,
which all the young ladies shought a
very romantic name, indeed; his dress
| was faultless, his manners easy. his con-
versation lively, But perhaps his
strongest point was his moustaches.
How long, and black, and fierce they
were. None such had ever been seen
thereaboats.
He appeared to be gentleman OF
leisure without visible occupation. He
! lived at the best hotel in the country
town, and had always plenty of money.
No wonder that all the glrls went quite
wild, in the feminine fashion, about
! this modern Adonis. And this being
/ the case, think it not strange that when
he began to pay Miss Stanton rather
particular attention, she did not frown
upon his suit.
On the contrary, she was so gracious
to him that the knowing ones, who had
hitherto booked her for Clarence, be-
gan to be less confident. Clarence was,
of course, not very we'll pleased with
the tuln affairs had taken, but what
could he do but wait Developments
And this he did, with as good grace
as he might. But when Mr.. Dale had
been in that locality some two months,
lumors affecting his character began to
be whispered about in certain quar-
ters.
"Finally, Clarence, without any seek
ing on his own part, became possessed
of information Of a very serious nature,
that could not be doubted. His posi-
! ton became at once very unpleasant
one. What he had learned was known
to very few. If he told Kate, he would
be liable to an intolerable suspicion
Yet he could hardly stand by and sec
her compromise herself by permitting
the addresses of scoundrel.
| He waited some time in the hope
that somebody else would make the
distasteful disclosure; but nobody did,
and SO, one day, he rode over, resolved
to say his say, and to trust to Hates
magnanimlty not to misunderstood his
motive.
He was fastening his horse, when the
sharp report OF pistol, followed by
merry laughter, greeted his ears, COM
ing from dense part of the shrubhery,
by which the house was on all sides
surrounded.
Following the sounds, Clarence pres
emily came upon Kate and Mr.. Dale,
engaged in the rather unfeminine diver
sion of shooting at mark. The young
lady had passion for pistol shooting.
and was no bad shot--a fact she had
Just been proving, Being in an excel
lent humor in consequence, she was
disposed to receive Clarence very gra'
ciously; but he, disguised with bis
errand, was not amiably inclined. He
declined 10 take part in the shooting
and seeing a copy of "Marrnion" lying
on rustic seat near by, he took it up
and stroye, not altogether in vain, te
lose himself in its familiar, but evel
welcome, pages.
Kate was rather piqued at his bear
ishness, and when the shooting wal
over Mr.. Dale was insisting on present.
| ING her the weapons used, and she moi
only accepted them, but did so with {
warmth of gratitude that was partly
promptly by malice.
When Dale had gone, rather an
iawkward pause eosued; for Clarence