Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-02-09
A HAsTY MARRIAGE.

A HASTY MARRIAGE.
Tilted! No gentler name could be given
to the fact. George Goodwin had been
fairly Tilted. Cool. sensible Emily had
turned him out at the eleventh hour, when
he had expected to lead her to the altar in
a few weeks, with the plea that she had
! not known her own mind, and had discov.
that she loved another. 1t wa a cruel blow
to poor George, and he took it to beart.
So sadly, indeed, that the very next day
found him at the house of a nelghbor.
The weather and crops occupied Mr..
Jones and his visitor some time, Mr.. Jones
introducing these interesting topics.
Rather abruptly, however. the visitor an
nounced that he had something particular
to say. Mrs. Jones rose with her daughter
Lavinia. but was asked to stay, so that
Lavinia was sent from the room alone as
if she had been a child. Size went and sat
down in the kitchen not a whit resentful.
George Goodwin entered at once on his
mission. He had come to ask leave Of
Lavinia's parents to make their daughter
ali offer of his hand. He did not say his
heart.
Mrs. Jones trembled lest her husband
should discourage this cool sutton. He
seemed about to do so. Instead of a ready
assent, he began to say it was very sudden,
and he did not like to part with the child !;
he ended by turning very red and blowing
his nose. Mrs. Jones had looked hard at
him. She now interposed, saying of course
it was sudden. and certainly they did not
want to lose ~I4avinia, who was a perfect
treasure; but provided that she was will
ing, and thought she would be happy, they
should not stand in her way. She must
leave them some time, and they would be
glad to see her in the keeping of so worthy
a man.
TRUE, true" murmured poor Mr..
Jones.
Then George Goodwin asked to see La~
vinia there and then, and Mr.. Jones as
| sented. His wife would have secured time
to prepare her daughters mind, but there
was no help for it. Lavinia was called in
But George was not quite so thoushtless
as to propose to the girl in the presence of
her parents. He had walked up to the win.
dow and seen a narrow strip of ground
called the garden, and into this he invited
Lavinia without p~retext. He was not a
man who used pretexts he was truth it.
| self.
cit is not worth looking at" said La.
vinia, abiding to the garden, when he had
led her out.
II did not come to look at it," he re-
piled. IL came to speak to you. Do you
! think you could like me we'll enough to
marry me ?"
She looked startled.
81 don't know" she stammered,
"You don't dislike me?" he asked.
ooh, no." she made haste to answer.
She had admifed him greatly as Emily's
lover. He had been one Of her heroes. but
his wooing and his manner of it disturbed
all her notions of heroic action.
"Then you must try and like me,n he
continued "Isthink that 1 could make YOU
happy enough" he added.
She looked wistful.
yttDo you love me?" she asked.
1t puzzled him-the simple question, the
wistful look. It almost turned him from
his purpose.
"You are very sweet,' he answered
land I am unhappy"
Here was romance at last; to bestow hel
sweetness on who was unhappy, that
would be delightful.
sob, wait a little. Papa-'d
II have asked him already, and he gave
me leave to speak to you. Shall he settle
the rest for you?"
EYES," she murmured under her breath
hardly knowing what she said, and moi
knowing i'll the least all she did in saving
that little word.
He kissed her almost iercely, with some
thing like conjunction in his heart, and
babe her good>by in the garden, leaving
her there in a state of great bewilderment
"Lavinia will be poorly provided, ]
fear," Mrs. Jones said, assuming a deli
cacy she did not feel. Il doubt if W gel
get for her even what will be absolutely
necessary on SO short a notice.
"Get whatever is necessary and proper
for the occasion, Mrs. JONES'" was the
quick and anticipated answer. st leave it
as Lavinia has left it. entirely in your
hands," SO saying, he took his leave.
X
Three years passed away. Lavinia Good
win is resting on a sofa, looking thin and
pale and very pretty in a white cashmere
dressing--gown trimmed with pink, .'ridi
culously fine for a farmers wife, as has
been often remarked of her since her mar
riage, some adding, spitefully, "she cares
for nothing but dress, and George Good
-;,o 10 q foil to 1ot bor ~r