Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-15

rang, Mrs. Vernon contented hersel1 WIN
! ordering the servant to say that miss
Gertrude was engaged"
This proceeding occasioned no slight dis
appointment and surprise to both Mi.
Williams and the lady of his love, who,
with beating heart and blushing face, had
from an upper window witnessed his ap-
proach. She had glanced in the glass to
ascertain just how pretty she was looking,
and then stood awaiting momentarlly a
sum mons down. But she was deceived.
The. hall door closed, and the servant Re
related again to her quarters.
No message, book OF note-what could it
mean
Mamma - she exclaimed, after waiting
an impatient half-hour for Mrs. Lindsey's
exit, ssMr. Williams called here this after
noon. and was not admitted does it
mean ?''
Z s'Do not speak of him, my dear;'' re-
turned her mother with vehemence'
"Wretch that he ISL
'sWhy, what is the matter ?' answered
her astonished auditor, q slight tremor in
her voice alone betraying her agitation, for
the darkened room concealed the pallid
cheek, and wild, startled expression in the
soft blue eye. Mrs. Vernon repeated the
conversation which had just taken place,
filling her daughters mind with the same
mysterious, underlined suspicious which
o41 oov,a1111o6 w
handing her not TO glance at, talk or think
anything more of Mr.. Frank Williams.
Mr.. Frank Williams, the victim Of these
Vaccinations, was one of those universally
popular and happily constituted characters
who take everywhere, with young and old
grave and gay. His peculiarly fascinating
exterior had, of course, something to do
with this, but, more than all, a never end
ing flow Of good spirits and amiability, or
suavitiveness, as phrenologists would term
it, which possesses an irresistible attrac-
ton. This much Wanted quality made
him play, romp and make himself as IL
diculous as they could desire with children,
Just as he could listen with the most defe-
rental attention to the long, dull ha-
rangues of their papas and mammas.
His bow to his lady love, Miss Gertrude
Vernon, was the perfection of courtesy and
grace, so it was to poor old MI. Anderson,
who sold books and pamphlets at the little
shop on the corner of the street. The very
attendants at the large house where he
boarded had wings when he was served.
Yes, Mr.. Frank Williams was, or rather
had been, universal favorite. But, 10 a
wondrous change. The pleasurable autter,
agitation and smiles, which were wont to
mark his approach at parties, all had dis
appeared, and in their place he beheld a
sulIen and ominous gravity and shrinking.
Young ladies instead of being "most
happy" were engaged" or "fatigued,"
or lust going home" when he asked them
to dance Miss Cornelia Wendall no long
er declared she could not think of singing
without all ACCOMPANYING MT, and glanced a
pair of most coquettishly beautiful eyes,
as she spoke. No! she did
not accept them when he rendered his
services. The pretty widow, Mrs. Har-
court, no longer seized his arm and carried
him off captive, 1olens vole9as, by way OF
shielding herself, as she protested, from the
attacks of that insufferable bore, her seXs-
genarian adoref, Mr.. Mills. A mamma
came up one evening and absolutely took
her daughter off without preface or apo
logy, who was hesitating, blushing and
ssbelieving that her father was going home
with her," when Mr.. Williams requested
that honor. There were no more little
suppers and dinners for him at Mrs. Lind
seys, and little Maggie not only refused in
the most dignifed manner to be caressed
and played with, but dashed over to the
other side of the street whenever she saw
him coming, in evident perturbation and
alarm. The gay, merry, dattering world
had changed amazingly for Mr.. Frank
Williams; mods and becks, and ''wreathed
SMILES" all vanished; he began to doubt
whether he was himself. To complete his
desperation, the lady of his love had waned
from timid delight to chill Indifference.
and from chill Indifference to cold con-
tempt, proposing in the full luxuriance of
which last he received a most emphatic
and indignant s'NoV' for his trouble. Mr..
Williams confided some of his distressing
sensations to his friend, Mr.. Lindsey, who
cenfided' them to his wife, and wondered
what the deuce had got into the people.
particularly that silly little girl, Gertrude
Vernon, for treating a fine, gentlemanly
fellow like Williams in such scandalous
manner.
Mrs. Lindsey said nothing, but thought
a great deal; her woman's heart failed
within her for fear, and over her pillow
that night fitted visions of suits for SLAM
der and defamation, courts and costs,
mingled with those of a justly Infatuated
husband, and the new cashiers handsome
person extended at full length with his
brains blown out. On considering the
matter the next day, however, there was
done the mischief, and without betraying
herself she determined to proceed, in the
most diplomatic matter possible, to the
discovery of this fact At small party
where MI. Frank Williams was not, she
seated herself by Mrs. Maxwell, a charm
ing young married lady and friend of his,
who had remained cordially true and kind
amidst the volley of cold looks and icy
greetings by which the unfortunate youth
had been assailed.
"What can. be the reason" exclaimed
Mrs. Lindsey, with a wonderfully ignor-
ant and sympathizing all, ''why that
agreeable young man, Mr.. Williams, is not
here tonight"
''He was not invited" replied her au-
ditor, coldly, with most suspicious brevity.
"Not invited?" echoed Mrs. Lindsey, as
if. she really could not credit the full hor-
rors of the fact, of which, by -the-way, she
was aware before. Her companion made