Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-23
vOL 80.
and smiling, as she first looked down upon
- IT,. aool-o ~ J,coo ro,,o

n then spoke to JeSSam1De.
"a silver penny for your thoughts, Jes-
sic: although I am sur l can guess about
what they are. Youa are wondering what
it means-what Mr.. Horton and his moth
er have gone to the city to-day to buy with
that old wallet stuffed full of bank notes"
Her bright eyes did not betray the ea>
gerness she felt, nor did she allow her low
even tones to manifest it.
JessaInine had flushed ever 50 slightly
when Maude's voice had startled her from
her dreamy little ~reverie, and the mention
of John Horizons name had deepened it a
little; for it was of handsome John, who
WAS always so good, SO thoughtful, SO ten
der, that her girlish heart was dreaming
The practical matter of factness of
Maude's question dissipated the slight
confusion she imagined, and wrongly, that
Maude had not seen.
Her voice was very sweet-soft as
Maude's own-and with a true melody In
it. .fs
"Yes, 1 know, for auntie told me"-she
had been taught to cali Mrs. Horton aun
tie. "They are going to %refurnish the
parlor, and buy a piano, and John is to
have a chamber set of walnut, with mar
DIE tops"
Her frank blue eyes were looking inno-
Gently into the half-mocking dark ones,
whose expression matched the smile OF
Maude's lips as she replied:
"Of course [ know all that-John con-
suited me about the parlor carpet and bed
room suit. But l asked you if you knew
what it was all for 20
Jessamine looked surprised.
"All for? Why, for nothing. but to
have the house look nice and more fash
ionable. What else would it be for ?"
Maude spread her r~ustling silk skirt
over the clean steps, as she sat down.
lis it possible that you don't know any
more than that, Jessie? Why didn't you
guess there was going to be a wedding ? ,
The blue eyes opened suddenly wider.
"a wedding? Why no! Whose we'd
ding, Maude ?'
There was d slow drawing of white pain
on her face. Of which she was not concious
cut Maude saw it and was satisfied.
. You baby! Why, Johns of course!
whose would it be ?"
Her earnest, pain-stricken eyes were
looking SO searclingly in Maude's face,
and Maude blushed and turned away in a
pretty confusion Of manner, that startled
Jessamine with the truth.
"How do you suppose 1 know, Jessie,
u~nless-unl So
Jessamine stifed the pang that was tear
ing at her heart. and finished the coquet-
tishly hesita ting sentence:
UNLESS you have a right to know,
NIaude. Tell me, please. her name!"
Her heart told her who it was-she did
not need 80 have Maude's lips confirm the
truth she felt in her w soul; ard yet She
felt that il there Was the shadow Of a pos
sibility that she was mistaken, Maude's
were the lips to tell her SO. So, with an
agonlzing little prayer, away down in her
heart, that she might be mistaken, she put
the question.
And Maude laughed, and evaded it
gracefully.
II was afraid you wouldn't like it. Jes-
sic, knowing ST. well as | do that you are
in love with John yourself, and"
"M4ude Trevanien, stop!"
Jes5amlne fairly gasped the words, and
her face grew white and stoI y but Maude
went on-softly, gently. mercllessly:
81 speak in all kindness, dear. and yon
will thank me some day-wiien Johns
wife comes, and you find what have Said
is true, that you will 10 longer be welcome
in the no Ise Where you will almost be a IL
val to her. YOU will thank me for telling
you, SO hat you can get away quietly with
out any body's feelings being hurt-for OF
course the future Mrs. John Horton will
not want you here, and the old people
would hate to send you away, delicate,
weak as you are"
A hot, scarlet save rushed over Jessa-
mines face. This from the future Mrs.
John Horton" herself!
"No one snail send me! !" she exclaimed :
| p~assiunately. 81 know as well as you |
have no business here, and you can tell the
future Mrs. Horton I will never trouble
| her !"
The sweet, panied voice quivered, and
she walked hurriedly away, as il the bril-
liantly beautiful face OF Maude Trevanien
was d Medusa head; while Maude's red
lips slowly curved into q smile of triumph,
contempt and satisfaction, as she watched
the slender, willowy figure.
"iShe is dispensed with, at all events. AS
if ! hadn't read both her secret and her
pride! And with her ouf OF the sight of
John Horton, it shall not be my fault if he
does not propose to me, as that credulous
little fool thinks he has already done! We
| will see whether Or not the new furniture
is for Johns wedding and-mine!"
The round harvest moon was coming
slowly up the dark blue sky, looking like
"a great golden ball, and Jessamine, with
her eyes looking as il they had never known
a tear, SO bright and clear they were, for
al, she had been crying all the afternoon
fur all her foolish little heart was throb-
bing and pulsing with pain-Jessamine was
waiting beside the big, fragrant syringa
bush, for John Horton to come.
Il will hear it from his own lips, that he
is going TO be married to Maude Treva.
MEN. And if he is, [ will goaway to New
York. where [ will be able to earn my liv
ing in some Of the stores I've heard Maude
tell about-where [ will not be in thell
way"
And she stifed the sobs she felt were
coming, as John Horizons firm, quick foot
steps sounded nea: by, and the tall, hand
some fellow came striding alot-g in The
golden moonlight, looking grand, manly
enough to win any girls heart.