Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-05-05

displacing you!''
II can assure you that. Besides, shall
generally be busy when you are about the
house. must go now to help mamma
with the supper"
With little nod Of farewell, which Sey-
mour returned with a polite bow, she went
toward the house. He took her seat and
began to wonder why he had not heard
that Mrs. Mortimer had two daughters.
"Though I'd never mistake this one for
the dashing beauty. She is hardly pretty,
but, somehow, she has the nj st attractive
face I ever saw anywhere"
So ran his thoughts until the tea bell
summoned him to the dining-room. Here
he met Miss Lizzie again.
"My youngest daughter, Mr.. Bowen, y
said Mrs. Mortimer, indicating Lizzie with
an Indifferent nod.
Before Seymour could speak the young
girl said hastily, s'I met Mr.. Bowen in the
garden, mamma"
And Seymour fancied that there was
something of entreaty in her glance toward
himself. 1t certainly made him forbear
the remark he was beginning, about hay
ing surprised her In her favorite retreat.
Before many days it became Seymour's
retreat, too. But he did not meet Lizzie
there again, or anywhere else, for that mat
ter, except at the table, where nothing
more than a brief word was exchanged.
On Thursday Miss Augusta returned
from the city; and as she swept into the
room to be introduced, in a costume which
was faultless, Mr.. Bowen acknowledged
that she was royal beauty, as far as the
outside went, any way.
But he met SO many of that sort in his
circle that it was almost refreshing to turn
to the simple freshness Of Lizzie, who could
moi make the smallest pretensions to style,
or to the elegant self-possession which
would have aided Miss Augusta to meet
the President himself with entire coolness,
while Lizzie would have blushed, futtered,
and probably been unable to speak at all.
After trying to pursue the bellies &C
quaintance for few days, Mr.. Bowen de-
cided that she was hardly so well Informed
upon general subjects as even his acquaint-
ance had shown Lizzie to be. But he
readily saw that Miss Mortimer's time was
fully occupied with fashionable society and
it's amuSements, while Lizzie, who seldom
went anywhere except.to church, had time
for reading and study.
One evening, about a month after he
went to Mrs. Mortimer's, Mr.. Bowen
sought his retreat in Lizzie's arbor. Some
and when, shortly after, Lizzie herself
came into the arbor, singing a low song as
she sat at her work, he concluded not to
disturb her.
1t was rather pleasant to have her sit
ting so near, singing so softly, and Mr..
Bowen was rather enjoying it, when the
sweet voice of Augusta was heard, not
quite SO dulcet as usual. as she said
ooh, you here, Miss Lizzie Has any,
body been with you?"
"Nobody but my thoughts" answered
Lizzie.
mamma thought she saw Mr.. Bowen
come down this walk, said Miss Augusta.
"It must have been with her spiritual
eyes, then. I haven't seen him with my
bodily Ones" laughed Lizzie.
ooh, well, it's no matter, since he isn't
here. But [ warn you, Missy, won't al
low you to get up a Irritation with Mr..
Bowen"
Il shouldn't know how. You never
gave me lessons,'' returned Lizzie with
some spirit.
cit will be time enough for you after L
am settled,'' continued Augusta, not con-
descending to notice Lizzie's remark.
"And mean to get settled this time, for
MI Bowen is immensely rich, and I may
not have any more chances. l am deter
mined not to let such a fortune Slip"
II would never marry him for that if [
did not love him." said Lizzie with more
fire than usual in her.
"Well, I would ! and perhaps 1 shall !!
only mind you keep well out Of my way, -
returned Miss Augusta, loftily, and with
that walked away, leaving Lizzie quite 81
lent, and Mr.. Bowen utterly amazed at
what he could not help hearing. If it had
not been for sparing Lizzie's feelings, he
would have stepped out and confronted
Miss Augusta-he felt just like doing so.
But he was beginning to learn some things,
and he resolved to keep quiet little longer
and see how the enigma would work itself
out
Lizzie sat quiet for a while. Mr.
Bowen hoped she would not discover him,
and resolved, if she did so to be fast asleep!
But before long he heard her putting up
her work to go. AS she rose from her seat
she drew q long, deep sigh, and he heard
her say to herself:
"I'm willing Gus should have all the
money, but oh! if / only had somebody to
care for, or somebody to care very little
for me!''
'sPoor, lonely child! l wouldn't be sur
prised if somebody did care for you,'
thought Seymour, 'as her footsteps died
away on the garden walk.
After that his eyes were quicker than
common to see the true state of affairs,
but he did not pay Lizzie one single at
tention which could arouse Miss Augusta s
ire. And though he was politely attentive
,, to her, he was careful not to let tall word
OF look that she could construe into mean
ing more than politeness.
At last, however, his stay at Mrs. Morti-
mer's came to an end. Tho morning upon
which he went back to the city for good,
he asked Mrs. Mortimer for private in
teryiew of q few moments, which, of course.
was readily given.
| * have found your little circle so de-
lightful," said he, after all other arrange
ments had been settled, "that I wish to
carry part Of it away with me. May I
he so bold as to ask for what I Mant2,,