Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-08-27
One day, when thus employed, we
caught a glimpse of a man in regimen
tails riding swiftly through the woods.
"Who can it be ?" said Stephen.


"Who can it be ?" said Stephen.
ooh ~ said I, in delight, ''perhaps
is my lover knight coming from th
wars to find me. Let me watch unit
he comes around the bend in the road
If it is he, he will take off his plume
hat and wave it for me. Then he wi
carry me to his moated CASTLE"
ga nice girl you are for a knight t
run off with, amt you? A handsom
lady-love you would make, with you
black face and flying hair, like a vii
Indians, and mouth all stained wit
| berries Ho! ho! Wouldn't you Loo
grand flying, and your shoes falling o1
because they are big! I'd just like t
see you."
My cloud-Iand was destroyed forev
er. From that moment / knew that
was ugly, uncouth and unattractive
and my hero-lover would never come.
ceased to expect him.
grew older; 1 was plain and awk
wardly shy, and Stunned what society
was attainable to me.
When I was eighteen years old 7 re
ceiyed an invitation from an aunt wht
lived in Boston to visit. her. I had nev
er seen her, and she knew me only by
report. She wished me TO come ant
spend the winter with her. NY grand
mother was willing should go, but W,
were very poor, and it required grea
deal of economy and management tt
furnish me with a wardrobe fit to visi
the city with.
The family of my aunt Caroline con-
sisted of herself, her daughter Julia
and the orphan children of deceased
son. Julia was just my age and very
pretty. 1t is a very hard thing to say
but / honestly think that my aunt, to
whom my personalappearance had been
described, wanted me to associate with
Julia, as a foil to her beauty, and to re-
side in the family that might assist in
taking care of the children. At,",any
rate, as soon as came the single serv-
ant was dismissed.
The family lived elegantly, but soon
found that it was done by the strictest
economy. My aunt worked hard and
managed we'll, and no one outside the
house dreamed that their income was as
painfully small as it was.
Julia had lover. Mr.. Marshall was
very handsome and mighty fine, and
do not wonder that he appeared very
much like @ god to me then. He was
but recently acquainted with Julia when
L went there, but he appeared very
much in love with her. I used to help
her upon the evenings on which he
came, and after she had gone down
looking like an angel, I used to shed a
few tears of sorrow and loneliness, as [
stood and listened to their happy chat
and gay laughter ringing from the room
below. And l was very sure that
never could be pretty, and ! thought
nobody would ever love me.
One day Mr.. Marshall came to dine.
Extra attention was given to the house
and dinner. My aunt had been very
wealthy for short time when first mar
ried, and from her husbands failure she
had saved a few things which gave the
house an air of means and style-some
articles of fine table silver and some
handsome oil paintings, [ remember.
With my assistance she served the
dinner herself, and managed SO as to be
richly dressed to appear at the table,
She was cool and stately; but /, who
had fingered until the last moment in
the kitchen, making gravies and serv-
ing up vegetables, was so tired that I
could hardly speak. l never did talk
much. though, it was not noticed, ap-
Mr. Marshall conversed Of
books, pictures and music, all of which
Julia was acquainted with, and it was
agreeable to listen to them. I was sorry
when the meal was finished
Mr.. Marshall turned to look at the
picture on the wall when ne arose, and
after few moments my aunt COM
menced clearing the table. The dishes
were put through q slide in the cup
board in the kitcnen. I helped her to
do this.
When the table was cleared of the
dishes my aunt went out. I sat down
and took my sewing, thinking that my
aunt would be back in moment to finish
clearing the table, and that [ should be
allowed, during the afternoon. the place
of a guest. Mr.. Marshall spoke to me
and asked me to play backgammon. Tt
was the only game of pleasure that
knew, and I was delighted at the
thought. put down my sewing, and
he brought the board and arranged the
game. Julia sat in corner of the sofa
with some embroidery. just as we
were ready to play, 1 looked up and
saw that the table still stood spread with
its linen cloth, and the crumb- cloth had
not been taken up. Julia glanced at it
the same moment, and then turned Sc g,
renely back to her embroidery. I put
down the box timidiy.
took off the cover and carried it into
the kitchen, and then came back, pulled
down the leaves of the old-fashioned ta-
BILE, and was going to put it up at the
side of the room alone, when Mr.. Mar
shall arose and did it for me.
Then took up the erumb- Cloth, and
carried it out and shook it, and put it
in its place In the hall closet. and all the
time he stood and watched me as if in
surprise. When I was ready to sit
down again he played very badly. He
seemed to be absent-minded. 81
He came to the house two or three
times after shat; but not to spend an
evening alone with Julia. Pretty soon
he did not come at all, and Julia used
to cry out and be so cross that she made
the whole family uncomfortable. .
One day he drove up to the door in a
splendid sleigh, for it was winter time,
and the sleighing was very good. Julia
was sitting at the dining-room fire.
There" she said, jumping up, he's
come 10 take me to drive. Now, 1 won't
go step unless he asks my pardon for
staying away so long"
Her mother showed him into the par
lor, and he asked for me. L went in
wonder. He asked me to go and ride as
coolly as if I had been in the habit OF
driving with him all the days of my life
and there was something in his manner
that would not let me refuse. / went
and he asked me to marry him. ]
waited three years for him, for he
was not settled in business then; then
we were married. and I have been hap
py every day of my life since.
One day he told me why he had MOI
married Julia. I was pleased with her
he said, but when saw you, guest
leave your employment with a gentle
man to do her mothers work, while sht
sat doing nothing but embroidery,
knew she was indolent and selfish, ant
she never looked pretty to me after tha
moment. IF it had not been for tina
crumb- cloth, Mamie, should probably
have married her and been as wretche(
as I am now satisfied"
A Boy DETEcTIvE.-Ch Chicago has pro
duoed a boy detective, Master Georg,
S. Dixon, aged sixteen, who havin,
studied up the theory went into busines
one bright day on his own account, ant
captured two piekpockets. The bo,
L L IL IL