Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-25

ocu VI IoSeS, UuG lis anger, winch was uE
to butter melts" at least, fell to zero when
he entered the pretty parlor. There sat
the Old maid. in a low rocking chair, idly
sWayng to and fro. dressed in loose flow
ing white wrapper, without ruffie or puff
with golden-hearted daisy in her hair
and another at her throat, and by her side
stood the lean, lank cat with squalling
kitten hanging from its mouth. ''Poor
Mary Ann" she was saying, ''bnt where,
oh, where are the other-"When she raised
her kind eyes and met the not at all irate
gaze of the old bachelor ssGlad to see
you again, Mr.. Guernsey" she said, in her
frank voice. rising and holding out her
hand. "Mother is much better. thank you"
in answer to some rather indistinct query
on the subject. "Run away with your kit
tie'-to the cat. 'sNot a very handsome
cat, is she, Mr.. Guernsey? Poor thing !
she came to our door one cruel cold night
| last winter, half starved. and with the
| tips other poor ears frozen off. took her
! in, warmed and fed her, and she wouldn't
go away again. To tell the truth, didn't
try very hard to make her, and [ couldn't
bear to desert her when we came here any
more than could Wait He and she, odd
as it may seem, are very fond of each other.
But one bad habit, Pm sorry to say, I
can't break her of, or haven't as yet-a re-
suit of her early vagobond life in the
streets; she steals" Then suddenly motto
ing queer expression on the face of her
IISf2npr w
she hasn't been annoying you in any way?"
Straight into those still child-like eyes
did Miles Guernsey look, and say, deliber-
ately, "Oh, no; not at all. 1 came to ask
If you-that u.s." growing little incoher-
emit your mother-of course I mean both
two and some green peas" with flush of
pride;) I'm ahead Of all the neighbors."
He meant the peas were.
"a thousand thanks,' said Miss o.
borne.
/. mime hundred and ninety-nine too
many said Miles, actually smiling at her.
'sGood-day.' And when he reappeared in
the study he had daisy in his button
hole.
Mike came out of the dining-room.
where he had been soothing the canary
with crisp lettuce leaf. "Well, surp"
said he.
"Hang the birds cage where the cat
can't reach it, lock up the chops after this,
and drown thirteen Of the Kittens" quiet
ly said Mr.. Guernsey.
'sMad. is it?" Mike soliloquized. "Hes
madden nor fifty hatters.''
'Good heavens! what man in his sober
Senses" Miles Guernsey asked himself,
would hurt frozen cared cat?"
Summer passed away, carrying with her
the fragrant roses and thousands of other
beautiful flowers; autumn, in richly tint
ed, rustling garments, gathered the gold
and brown and crimson leaves to her
bosom, and babe the earth farewell; win
ter came, and flung downy snow-fakes
upon, and hung glittering iclcles from, the
roofs OF the cottages and the naked
branches of the trees-and the neighbors
had only met dozen times. But in that
dozen times Miles Guernsey had managed
TO learn principally from the old lady, a
delicate, sweet-faced woman, from whom
the daughter had inherited her pleasant
eyes,) that the picture of the handsome
young man in the parlor was the portrait
Of Rosa's lover, who had died fifteen years
before in foreign land, where he had gone
for his health. Rosa was ell-nigh broken
hearted at first" said the old lady; ''but
time has softened her grief, and now she
can speak of him as calmly as she can of
the darling little sister who died when she
was child" From the same sourse he
learned that Rosa's father had been spec
ulator, unlucky in all his speculations, and
that when, his last great disappointment
breaking hi S heart, he departed this life.
there was very little left for his widow
and children. Robert, my only son.
said the old lady, ''helps US all he can:
but lately he has married sweet girl, who
has patiently waited for him five long
years, and now Rosa and 1 will have to
live more economically than ever, it that
be possible. But, dear me, how do run
on, and how Rosa = ould scold me If she
knew it! But you are so kind and sympa-
thetic, MI. Guernsey, that short as our
acquaintance has been, almost regard |
you as one of the family, Rosa, my dear,
should like Mr.. Guernsey to hear that
new song your brother sent you last |
week"
"And would Mr.. Guernsey like to hear
it?" Rosa asks.
"How can you ask me?" says the old
bachelor. Il am always pleased to hear
you sing" By which remark you will per-
ceive he had become entirely reconciled to
the guitar.
1t was the evening of Christmas day.
Miles Guernsey sat alone in his parlor.
thought on his brow and a pipe in his
mouth, when Mike entered with dainty,
Inexperienced, three-cornered note.
''From the ovid maid, SURF said he.
''Miss Osborne, you mean," said his
master, sternly. Don't call her old maid
again.
"Would Mr.. Guernsey the note
ran-ssgive Mrs. and Miss Osborne the
pleasure of bis company this Christmas
evening? Brother Robert and his wife
have come down from the city, and there
would be little music, little supper and
whist.''
swat, and I'll write an answer said
Mr.. Guernsey. And while Mike waited
he began to talk again: 'Shure ye heard
the news, sur?-The village is full ov it.
They say she oughtn't done it; that it's
incouragin' wickedness am"
''Wbo the dickens are you talking
about?" asked his master, turning. i'm
patiently around, pen in hand.
stTho OWld-T mean Miss Osborne s,,,, >,