Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-04
half-famliarity, half-sh yness of the Ian
guage delighted him.

PCihoPot L Gull VI oCl III INllSCl VII >
myself from one who has been so kind. II
you really wish to see me and are willing to
run the risk of disappointment when you
tind | am not at all the ideal woman You
paint me, | will be at the small summer
house opposite the West End at 10 this
evening. Ii by any possibility others should
be Iii the vicinity, which [ hope the b, ps
will preclude, you will know me by a white
toilet and a tulle veil on my head and face
and around my neck.
Now it was 8, and from his room Harry
heard the monotonous tuning of the band.
stShe could not have chosen a more aus
picious time. There are hops at the United
States. Howland's, and here at the Ocean.
Everybody is sure to be at on or the other,
and will have delightful walk with her
on the sands then there will come a few
days of rides, and walks, and dances, and
enjoyment generally, ana then-the end OF
it all and home to Flo and the babies, and
the Office
A sigh-his better nature s tribute to the
wife he loved and yet was acting SO I'M
worthily towards--and then he went to
the brilliant scenes around the ballroom
and the clerk Office to wait for the wished
for hour Of 10.
At twenty minutes of it his patience was
exhausted and he started forth down
Ocean avenue, now quite deserted, save
parties fastening in full dress to the great
lighted ballroom.
Down past the pavilion, the Central
Jdush's, he hurried, yet knowing perfectly
well he would be toe soon. Then the big.
gloomy walls of the West End doomed up,
and the row Of the far-between summer
houses on the cliff ended in the one Mrs.
Rye had designated, just this side Of the
curve OH the avenue.
NO one was near the vicinity, although
Harry saw several ladies promenadillg the
croquet lawn. Then ten, fifteen minutes he
waited in impatient eagerness, and then
his faith was rewarded Icy seeing her COM
ing down the tagging from the West End
and cross the avenue opposite the summer
slender, sylph-like in her trail
ing white dress and misty tulle veil, wound
so gracefully, so artistically over her head
and face and around her alabaster throat.
She paused slightly on the threshold.
Harry sprang to meet her.
''Mrs. RYve?''
She Lowed, a little nervously, and en-
tered.
sBut can ever sufficiently thank you
for acceding to my request? If you knew
now impatient I had been-how 1 have
longed for this hour-you would then know
how happy you have made mel"
She did not make any reply, and Harry
then saw how agitated she seemed.
In his heart he admired her all the more
FOR It,
II am so anxious to hear your voice, to
see your face, that [ know must be match
essly fair, to look in your eyes Mrs.
Ryve, will you allow me the great hap
piness?''
He touched her gossamer veil. as if to
unwind it. She murmured faint assent
and, elated with all the exquisite novelty
and romance of the situation. Harry ten
ierly removed the mask
CHOW, face to face, most charming
Good heavens ~
He dropped the tulle scarf as if an asp
had been lurking among the filmy folds.
A low, sweet laugh, that was suspicious
" favored with not far distant tears.
1T is really 1, Harry did so want to
know the terrible business that kept you SO
much from home. Harry. / think I'll join
the frm.''
ElOranaa 10nl1o6 ctno6i1u of
half contemptuously.
Harry stood like petrifed stone for a
minute, then a remarkable sheepish ex-
preston crossed bis countenance.
So you are Mrs. Ryve, are you?"
He tried to be magnificent, but failed
perfectly; and then the tears came leaping
from Florence's eyes in the silver cascades.
sob, Harry to think you never cared
Tor me any more than-th an-to-''
There was his opportunity to get out of
5his scrape, and he fitted himself most ad-
nirably therein.
There, dear, don't Cry. Of course, it
was all joke, that Mrs. Rye business. AS
# | didn't know you the moment saw
you the day came! Did you think I was
IN earnest, you little goose? Am I not
aven with you for coming to see what was
about? DON'T cry, Florence. You know
do love you dearly We will go home
tomorrow and be ever so nice and cozy-
won WEI"
And she believed him. The sweet, trust
ing, heart-sore little woman actually let him
comfort her and took all the blame of the
whole affair.
But, mind you, while Mr.. Harry Merle
himself on his cute getting
out Of it he has vowed any number vows
never to do it again.
AMERICAN SOCIAL LIFE.-The foe of
American social life is in the tendency to
luxury and effeminacy among the well-to-
10 young women of our American cities
and large towns. They do not realize how
this dreadful mania for expensive pleas
urts and q life of alternate 1dleness and
is destroying their health,
true marriage, feeding the
flame of gross sensuality and intemperance
among young men, and saddening the
hopes of the best parents of the.land.
Some of them never will know it ID this !
world Rut most of thou l,aua No rool