Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-01-26
A WOMAN's LOVE.

It was a bright winter morning, an(
Mr.. Segrist's two pretty nieces had jus
come down stairs fresh as Hebe. and pink
checked as the poises of fragrant hyacintf
bells in the south window, where the sun
shine had gone into such a hopeless tangls
with the ivy vines and rosebuds and feath
cry sprays of fern.
Very pretty girls they were, in a delicate
womanly fashion, although nobody would
ever have been reminded by them of the
Venus de Medici, and not an artist hac
ever thought of asking them to sit for 8
Madonna. 1t is the everyday style of beau
ty that wears best, and Lisa and Cora
sighed for nothing rarer OF more precious
$50 be has failed, has hep" said Cora to
her uncle, who had just been promulgating
the news of the day from behind his news
and agreeable"
"Failed!-Mr. Kirkwood ~ echoed Lisa
her rosy cheek losing a shade or so of its
satin bloom. "Oh, uncle, how did that
happen ?"
GAS most failures happen, my DEAR
said Mr. . Segrist, folding his paper, and
laying his spectacles On one side, prepare.
tory to the morning meal. "Too much
press Of canvas, and too little ballast.
Some people never will learn wisdom. Yes
it is a pity; he was a good young fellow
enough, and this will throw him back d
good twenty years."
Lisa sat thinking, her pansy blue eyes
fixed ~intently on the pattern Of the tables
cloth, her red lips apart until her sisters
clear, bird-like voice reused her from the
temporary abstraction.
"Upon my word, Lisa" the elder cried
merrily, 81 do believe you are in a trance.
Why didn'tyou answer my question Z"
Lisa started, both cheeks suddenly Grim
sonlng.
I'll was only thinking, Cora. What
was 1t you asked me ?"
"About our b~all-dress for tomorrow
evening. l think punches of silver barley
would be prettier to loop them up than the
commonplace roses. Everybody wears
roses.".
cob! Cora" cried downright Lisa,
chow can you talk about all-dresseswhen
when you remember who was to have
taken you there ?"
"Mr Kirkwood?" said Cora, calmly.
OF course he'll not go now, but we can
seasily send for Cousin George"
"Then you really mean to go?"
"Of course. Why shouldn't [? Surely
Lisa, you can't expect me to go into
mourning because Guy Kirdwood, has
failed He was no relative Of onrs."
81 think he loved you, Cora, - said Lisa,
in a low voice 'and you thought so too.'
"He must learn to amlove me, then,'
said the elder sister, with a musical little
laugh. 'Mr. KMkwood, the successful
merchant, was very well. but Mr.. Kirk
wood, the beggar, cannot expect to indulge
in the luxury of q wife. OF course, all
that is over, for good and ALL"
And Cora calmly poured out a second
cup of coffee for her uncle.
"But. Cora" pleaded her sister. "it isn't
as if you yourself were poor. You know
we will have a little money of our own"
every true, wise Lisa; but I mean to
keep my own to myself, and not spend it
in bolstering up the ruined fortunes of any
unlucky Speculation. No, no, child, ma
husband must bring money of his own, not
be a drain upon my slender resources"
Lisa shook her head.
THAT sounds very worldly" said she.
"Does it ? Now I think it has just the
common~sensical sound to it. People must
look at these things from a practical point
Of view"
"Uncle," cried Lisa. almost passiona te-
ly, edon't you think she ought to like him
all the better because he is in trouble and
need?"
my dear, my DEAR" said the old gen
tleman composedly. crumbling up a bit of
dry toast on his plate, II can't pretend to
Judge of these things. You girls must
manage tc settle your own affairs between
YOU"
"My mind is quite made up already
said Cora Segrist, calmly.
And when poor Guy Kirkyood's card
came up that afternoon, to the room where
the two sisters were arranging the bunch~
es of silver barley ears that Madame Fichu
the milliner. had just sent round in a man.
moth paper box, Bessie, the maid, came
curtsying demurely down into the parlor,
with
"Please. sir, Miss Cora is engaged"
Guy Kirkwood went slowly and sadly
away, without answering a single word.
If only she had remained true to him,
he believed that he could have breasted the
cold waves of all other fate; but noeo-
Well, such was the way of the world.
/ He must make up his mind to take the
bitter with the sweet, as 1t came.
But the sweet had been honey-sweet,
and the bitter was gall!
"Uncle, can I speak to you for a Minis
ute?"
Mr.. Segrist, setting away the piles Of
dusty papers in his law library, started at
the sound Of the soft, bell-like voice.