Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-10-26
MAUDE'S MISTAKE.

MAUUhS MISTAKE.
s'Marry Justin St. John? Mop
'But why mo so emphatically, Maude :?
I know you love him.
The pink on Maude's face gloWed to a
guilty crimson, as gentle Lucy Mordaunt
looked up, quiet searching inquiry in her
calm, truthful eyes.
You are accustomed to drawing very
unwarranted conclusions, my dear Lucy
perhaps this is one of them.'
Miss Campbell's voice had hard metal
lie ring in its clear tones as she thus light.
ly answered, and she laughed loudly, but it
was constrained merriment.
s'Look at me, Maude, dear.''
Lucy went from her chair over to the
scarlet lounge, wherein Maude, in her
floating white dress, looked like a lily
among roses. She took both Miss. Camp
bells hands in her own.
Listen, my dear. Six weeks ago who
was your lover p
A vivid glow leaped suddenly to Maude's
at the query.
s'No, you must confess to me, Maude
Tell me who, on the last picnic at the Pine
Grove, was to you 'fairSst among ten thou.
sand'-who carried you captive by his ele-
gance, his refinement. his intelligence, his
chivalry ?''
''Oh, you allude, presume, to Justin
st. John, but then-''
"Exactly: it was Justin st. John, and
the noblest fellow ever saw. True, then,
you had not met Mr.. Jameson
'Lucy, you are cross. Haven't a per-
feet right to marry John Jameson if I see
fit 90
Mot unless you love him, Maude. You
know you do not care straw for him
You do not need me to tell you how truly
you love Justin st. John, for your own
heart whispers it. Maude, be true to your
own womanhood. Give up all thoughts
Of the old man, because he has half a mil
lion, and betroth yourself to the lover who
cannot offer you a fortune but in his own
priceless love-
Lucy's cheeks glowed as she spoke, ear.
nestlysand enthusiastically.
cts all very we'll, Lucy Mordaunt, fol-
you, with fortune at your command, to
talk about love in a cottage and all that
sort of romance. But II am poor.'
''And you will then marry a man old
enough to be your grandfather, because
you will be rich?"
And Maude Campbell's eyes flashed as
she returned the quick, impulslve answer,
81 will.''
X < x X
It was splendidepartment. The plate
glass windows were shaded by orange and
white satin curtains that lay piled in
cleaning golden beauty upon the carpet.
the deep pile of which received Maude
Campbell's light football and gave no re-
turning echo.
With an impatient gesture she threw
herself in the embrace of a capacious arm
chair, and, her eyes lighted with anger
her cheeks flushed, her lips daintily apart,
disclosing the pearls within, she gazed at
the luxury around her.
There were old paintings so valuable
that the gold coins one might have covered
their surfaces with, could not have bought
them. There were magnificent statues
resting on marble pedestals; and one, a
iry-proportioned figure, that held the
crystal and silver light that threw moon
| like radiance over the scene, seemed peer
ing at her with human eyes. Costly vases,
filled with rare flowers; volumes heavy in
their golden azure and scarlet dresses
books whose leaves were picture to be-
| hold.
F]owering laces, rustling satins, droop-
ing silks, clinging velvets, diamonds, cal
riages, servants, plate, dinners, admira-
ltion, envy-all these were the pictures
that crowded through Maude Campbell's
restless brain as she lay, half in dreams
A sudden spasm of intense pain tkrobbed
over her face; then she sprang to her feet
holding her hands tightly over her heart
s'Lucy is right. l am bartering all that
is dear to NEAL 1 hold sacred-aIl that
love-for money, money!'
She went to the mirror-a tall, gold
framed glass, whose apex, surrounded by
winged serpent, with eyes of satanic al
lurement, reached the ceiling; whose base
rested on marble stand, which two Cupids
held on their dimpled shoulders. A flush
of pardonable pride met her gaze as she
viewed her reflection, and a glorious re-
Election it was. Peerless her lovers called
her, and truly it was truth.
Maude Campbell was tall-taller than
the Venus de Medici. Her shoulders were
broad, but sloping and straight, her bosom
a perfect curve of grace, her hands large
but, on, so wondrously beautiful and wo
! manly, with their long, slender fingers, the
delicate, flbert-shaped nails, the warm
pink palm! Her head was noble, and she
carried it with the air Of duchess. Hel
hair was of midnight blackness. with g
slight wave ripping over it's fossy dark
ness. Her mouth small, and her lips dain.
ty, ripe, and naughty.
But her eyes-Maude CampbelI's eyes
| Not dark blue, not brown, not hazel, Ger