Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-04-27


waist, and her face heightened by color
that shamed the carnations which fasten-
ed the abundant lace scarf about her throat,
the dear old lady looked at her with adof-
ing eyes, for Madge was her aunty $ IDOL
But the girl did not come at once for hel
daily kiss: she smiled, and then she walk
ed the room to the other window, and be-
gan to NEEDLE with the mignonebte ana
pinch the rose geraniums. Aunt Phemy
waited-she was a woman who could Walt
and presently Madge fitted suddenly
across the floor, and dropped softly, as a
little bird folds up into its nest, on to the
brioche beside her aunt's chair. and lad
her head. on it's arm.
II could not come up before, Aunty Fee.
Mr.. Schenck was down stairs.'
Miss Roper said nothing, but laid her
hand tenderly on the rich folds OF hair,
and looked at that beautiful head like a
benevolent old fairy. She knew when
Madge called her ssAunty Fec that it was
propltiatory: something had been done OF
said that this hayward young woman was
not quite at ease about.
"And-aunty," Madge went on, slowly,
picking carnation to pieces as she spoke,
"I-refused him." ).
81 thought you had done that long ago,
Madge," said the old lady, with certain
trouble in her kind eyes.
$50 | haye, over and over, but he would
not stay refused. I think he will now"
Here her voice rose and rang, and her
eyes flashed. The Indignation returned.
II meyer will marry him, Aunt Pheny-
never! And think he understands it at
last!''
Miss Roper's eyes sparkled now; she was
old and wise.
Don't be troubled about it, Madge,
dear; nobody car harass you on the mat
ter If you don't love man don't marry
him, If he be king or kaiser. Jacob Schenck
is a good man and a gentleman, but think
he is far too old for rosebud like you"
Oh, Aunt Euphemla you too had been
a girl, and remembered it. A little spark
entered Madge's cool eye.
Hes not SO very old, aunty; fifty isn't
really old for man.
mo, it's not decrepit, but it something
more than nineteen; besides, Mr.. Schenck
is only forty-five. However, we can afford
to drop him now, since Miss Positive 'nev-
er will marry him."
Madge laughed. but there was an uncer-
tain ring about her laughter, and Miss
Phemy went on:
'!Are you going to Boston, dear p
ST don't quite know, aunty. rather hate
Boston but love Polly"
'sThen you'll have to take your choice
between the love and hate, mademoiselle,
and that directly, for you know Polly is
clamorous for an answer
81 believe I will go; perhaps Boston
may be nicer than I think. 1t is awfully
slow, am sure"
" I MGalsh 6 help it,, aunty; I don't know
what else to call it. Shall say triste?"
ssForeign affectation is quite as bad as
slang, and not half as natural"
''Oh, aunty, what twoedged sword
YOU are! I must go to Boston. to purify
my English. l see."
.sHello, Madge!'' aud small boy burst
into the room with bounce that is native
to snail boys. ooh, Miss Roper, such a
lark IF you had heard Madge give it to
him! She was stunning, [ tell you, - and
wicked Master Jack began his lit of
s'Highland Nora" again.
'sYou horrid little wretch! Come away
directly,'' shrieked Madge, coloring to the
TIPS of her ears. you'll kill aunty's poor
head"
ooh, indeed!'' feebly squeaked poor
Jack, as he was hustled smartly out OF the
room, while Miss Euphemia laughed till
the tears stood in her eyes, and said, softly:
sChildren and fools speak truth, truly"
Jack went home the next day; he was
only school-boy cousin come for the hol-
idays, and the luckless child had abridged
his own pleasure unawares; but the rare
delight Of tormenting his beautiful cousin
was temptation too .enticing to resist.
And Madge was leased; she hated the
sight of the boy, and made her journey to
Boston the excuse for his radiance. But
the thorn he had left behind was we'll plan
ted; the piquant ballad haunted Madge,
and flushed her face many time when its
lifting measures returned to mock her.
So to Boston she went, to her dear friend
Polly, and found that proper and lntellec-
tual city nightly agreeable. Beaux she
had by the dozen, but there were none like
Mr. Schenck none so devoted, so elegant,
so noble looking. She missed the daily
bunch of fragrant violets on her dressing
table she missed the selection of new
books that showed always how he OWNED
her tastes, the fore-stalling of her faintest
caprices, the devotion that was too delicate
to obtrude itself, the homage that was sin
cere yet courtly.
elbow young all your gentlemen friends
are, Polly p she said to her friend one day
after an evening at which at least dozen
sets of English whiskers had vibrated
about her and been pulled before her, as if
latest goddess.
"That's fault they will mend of,
Madge,'' laughed Polly. Gwen in dear
old Boston we have to grow up, and be lat-
erati to boot"
sBut do so hate boys!'' sighed Madge.
"And boys do so adore you'll" Knocked
Polly.
Madge blushed, and sighed. Why did
she think of Mr.. .Schencks
In the meantime, there in New York
Aunt Phemy had visitor now and then.
Mr.. Schenck knew his friends, and never
neglected them; he was least of all likely
to set aside Miss Roper; but she never al
luded to him in her letters to Madge, and
that young lady had already decided in her
own mind that her sutton had taken him