Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-07-27
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY. JULY 81, 1877.


happiness would always be dearer to him
than his own.
s'That's the letter of gentleman said
grandma, 'sif his father was forty times a
stone-cutter.
"Pshaw!'' said Miss Agnes, tearing it
into fragments; but, curiously enough,
gathering them together as soon as MS.
Peverill's back was turned as if they we're
as sweet to her as scattered rose leaves.
Perhaps she was thinking of the days when
Mr.. Helper was her fathers clerk, and had
taught her chess of winter evenlngs-days
when she was not so worldly-minded and
more romantic, and didn't guess the worth
of position and long descent. Perhaps she
ragretfully remembered the spring morn
ings when they pushed through the woods
for wild flowers and ferns, when he made
a quaint album. for her of pressed sea-
weeds-she had it hidden away somewhere
now.
cit would never do she said, half
aloud, answering some unspoken thought.
81 should always be hankering after family
and money. One mast give up something,
it may as well be love as anything. on
if my father had only been stone-cutter,
toop'
Grandma Peverill met Mr.. Helper in the
street later. 81 hope you don't mean to
desert u.s. said she, 'just because that
foolish chit of an Agnes doesn't know
when her bread is well buttered. Remem-
Der it's woman's privilege to change her
mind. IT you neglect US
'You shut your life from happier chance,
as the poet says. Nobody knows what
mag happen.''
.'But I hear that Miss PeveriH has en-
couraged Mr.. Bond,' said Harold, help
leSsly.
eAnd you're going to stand aloof and let
that little Miles Bond walk over you? Now
let me tell you that mean to make you
and Miles executors of my will; so I'd like
to keep on friendly terms with you-don't
you see p
"Thank you; but aren It we friends, near
or apart ~
ss'Tis said that absence conquers love, =
she laughed ''and haven't you heard OF
the virtue that resides i'll propinquity If
Agnes sees Miles every day, and you once
in six weeks, which do you think she will
be most likely to love best ?''
cit is not likely that she will ever love
me, whatever happens
"Who said she would never love you
Aren' t you worth forty Miles Bond ~
"Certainly not in Miss Peverill's re-
gard.'
s'Prithee, what do you know of her re-
gard, Sir, Faintheart 2'
EVERY little, to be sure.'
81 HE either fears his rate too much,
Or his deserts are small,
That dares not put it to the touch,
t. gain " lose it ALL.
'sHavent put my fate to the touch,
Mrs. Peverill. and haven't found that my
deserts are mserably small p
sssDear me! see that you don't know
that women blow twenty ways a morning
Who knows but she is crying her pretty
ewes out this minute, and wishing with all
her silly heart that she had it to do over
again -
miles knows" laughed Harold.
'Come and see who knows best. An
old woman's advice isn't to be sneezed at
[ refused my first lover myself, because
thought he'd come back and teaZe me into
| it, but he never did. Served me right
too.''
And Harold did as he was told. He
made himself intimate at the Peverills as
of old. He was there in season and out OF
season. He bore with the caprices of Ag-
| mes and the condescensions of his rival
! He was often left 20 the tender mercies OF
grandma Peverill, while Agnes and Miles
made the Garden Or the river echo with
their songs He came and went like a
shadow. When Agnes chose to liste1, he
let loose his enthusiasm; and when she
gave him the cold shoulder, he accepted it
without a murmUr-as if one should be
grateful for any gift of hers-and fell back
on the old la1y's unfailing kindness. One
day however, even grandma Peverill failed
| him. She walked suddenly from a doze, and
asked. els it really love.?" glancing after
the two, pelting each other with roses ii
the garden.
| ut looks like it," gasped Harold.
| Time will prove-time, that unlocks
all secrets and discloses all impostures
Miles is Of the earth, earthly. He loves
| fine society and grandfathers and coats Of
| arms. 1t is crime liz lis eyes to be born
without a.silver spoon in ones mouth.
| " But what is love made for,
If it is not the same
Through Joy and through sorrow,
Through glory and shame u"
Then she fell into q doze again. The
shadows draped themselves about her, a
star came out and leaned to look in the
window; late bird tilted on u spray neal
| by, and made sudden gush of music
through the place the murmur of laugh
ing voices came family toward them or
| the breeze. But Harold listened alone, for
grandma Peverill was already far away.
| A few weeks later Miles Bond and Mr.
Helper were engaged looking over the pri-
vate papers, as her executors. That modest
portion of her fortune which her sons
speculations had left intact she had be-
queathed to Agnes. Presently Miles rails
ed his eyes from the paper he had been in
speeding. "a rascally piece Of business,
he groaned, between his teeth. Should he
quietly light his cigar with the paper, bur
ry it's contents in oblivion, and marry Ag
mes, and go on is way rejoicing? No: per
ish the thought. A Bond. Of the Bonds
of Bondholder, who could trace their line
age to the conqueror! A thousand times
no (! He made desperate resolve anc
passed the sheet to Harold. 1t was mere