Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-03-27
LITTLE CHING FO.
A CHARMING STORY.

Just as the shadows began to grow
long beside Laughing Brook, two people
stepped aside from the road and sat down
upon the green bank, apart from each
other, as two people might who have
quarrelled, as indeed they had.
One was a pretty dark girl with great
dark eyes, wealth of ebOn hair, and
the sauciest red mouth in the world.
The other, tall, fair young man,
wearing single breasted black coat, and
with young Clergyman written all over
him in an unmistakable manner. He
was the Rev. Reuben Eden, and the girl
at his side was Ada Romer to whom he
was engaged. He seated himself stif1y,
and with as much dignity as one can
assume upon the grass.
She flounced herself down with o
pout, and pulling off her hat, began to
pluck at the strings in nervous sort of
way.
If you are going to tyrannize over me
already, give you fair warning that
will not bear it," she said. 1--WE done as
pleased, and always shall"
when | asked you to be my wife,
began Reuben Eden
You were glad enough to get me-
interrupted Ada.
"Let me finish if you please, said the
young clergyman. "When asked you
to be my wife, I thought you quite un-
derstood that the husband is the head OF
the house. How will it be with US when
you cannot be taught that it must be SO ?
We are not married yet, but you should
yield to my wishes. 1t is your duty.
disapprove of dancing; ] highly disap-
prove of that dissipated and worldly
vfNs IN MOI vxyif h he l.
flirting. You have. of course, not for
gotten that you will one day promise to
obey me How can you do that when
you refuse to regard my wishes now ?u
"If your wishes are absurdAif your
commands should be ridiculous-I shall
always refuse regard and obedience,' y
said the girl.
''Then as l shall be master of my own
house, our home shall be very uncom
Portable one," said the young man.
$50 decidedly uncomfortable that be-
lieve it best that everything should be at
an end between as" said the girl, flush
ing hotly.
'That at least, is sensible remark !"
said the clergyman.
Then she, growing white as death,
took from her finger tiny diamond en-
gagement ring and held it towards him
and he, whittier than she, took it from
her and quietly tossed it into Laughing
Brook. The hands of thousand little
water-sprites seemed to catch it as the
tiny rapids swept it away over the glis-
tening rocks beneath. Over each brown
head it sparkled and flashed, and then
was gone. Then a dignified young
clergyman slowly walked one way, and
a very pretty young lady. with her round
hat very much over her eyes, took the
other, without the ceremony oe leave
taking.
But O, the rage and pain in her heart
and o, the rage and pain in his.
She loved him dearly, though she wal
an innocent little flirt, and ked dancing
too much, and he loved her as men only
can love once, though he was conceited
and intolerant, as very young clergy.
man often is.
The girl had done no harm. If she
had she was frank enough to have own
ed it and begged forgiveness.
And though tinge of jealously had
caused her lover to make mountains
of mole hills, his rule would have beer
gentle when the little soul who had be-
gun to dread it was his own.
But there beside Laughing Brook theil
ways diverged. They saw each other nc
more for many days to come. The vii
lage gossips knew to a woman that the
affair was off.
But though months went by, ther,
were no symptoms that 1.-THE minister
was looking elsewhere for wife, no.
did Ada bestow any peculiar favor on
any of the village beaux
| A year passed-two. The clergyman
still lived alone in his parsonage, anG
Ada Romer kept house for her grand
father in the old mansion at the end 0
the village. Now and then she wOult
go down to the margin of Laughing
Brook, and sit watching the water tina
had swept away her ring with a very
grave face.
But he took long detours to avoid tn
spot; and when the wind, setting tina
way, brought the voice of Laughing
Brook to the parsonage study, he woult
rise and shut the windows, and shut j
out. He had done this the very da.
when, waking suddenly in the middl
of the night, he was aware of strang
Pickering vermillion glow across hi
ceiling, and, jumping out. of his bed, say
from bis window that the Romer man
sion on the hill beyond was one grea
sheet of flame, and only he seemed to b
aware of the fact.
All the village slumbered, and abou
the house itself no figure moved The.
were being burnt in their beds or smoth
cred. They? Nay! She, his Ada. q
he called her at that moment utterlD
her name for the first time in two year,
Hastily clothing himself, he rushe
out Of the house and over the bill, cry
ing Fire !" as he ran. Windows oper
ed at the cry. He heard voices utterIn
screams of amazement. The alarm wa
given. But was it now of any avall9-
He stood before the house, and saw ever