Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-01

ScllotUlO Iva tl0o'
''Lovers are not proverbial for their
common sense"
II certainly do object to your sharing
your heart with any one." interposed
Claude, stiffly. 'sChoose between Fred and
me-"
SO, Claude! you don't mean surely you
don't know how much love you; twenty
Freds should not come between us p
whispered Bessie, tenderly.
.sNo? Then, of course l may read this
note?" was Allerton's reply, as he drew
Fred's note from his pocket.
To his grief and surprise, Bessie blushed
as she stammered out:
s'Oh, no!-at least 1 mean-that is
there might be something in it,"
$50 supposed! Take your choice. Miss
Hembrow; either permit me to read this
before you do, or all must be at an end be-
tween u.s."
If Allerton was unreasonably Jealous,
Bessie was very high-sp1rited. and would
brook no dictation.
''Give me my letter!'' she exclaimed, i'm
petuo usly. II will not have my CORES
pondence inspected. If you care so little
for me, can trust me so imperfectly, it is
better that all should be at an end between
u.s."
s'Be it sol Here is your dear Fred's
letter.
''Take back your ring! Your other
gifts, and your letters, I will return to-
morrow"
"Then you really will not give up
Fred"
mo! Not to please anyone in this
world. SIR
$50 all was at an end between them.
The next day Bessie half repented of
her stubbornness. Had Allerton called
on her think she would have consented
to give up every friend she possessed for
the sake of regaining his love.
Instead of visit, however, she received
a few cold lines from him saying that he
was about to visit his parents in New
York, and that if she had any communica-
ton to make, or if she repented of her i'll
advised decision, a letter sent to such an
address would reach him.
Bessie froze again. No such letter was
sent.
Of course this rupture was sweet NOR
sci for all the gossips. Bessie had the NOR
LITIGATION to know that every one was dis
cussing the matter, some plying, some
blaming her; few Of her intimate friends
and relatives said plainly that she had in
their opinion acted very foolishly; and
even Fred Purviance did not thoroughly
uphold her conduct.
AS usual, the man had the best of it; he
could leave the town and go where no one
knew his sorrow. He visited his family,
as he had intended, and then tried to
drown his sorrow by giving his whole time
and attention to business. Had he been {.
man of less integrity or stability of charac-
ter, he would, probably. have sought dis
traction in dissipation or fast company;
but, as it was, the rise and fall of stocks
and bonds could not entirely drive Bessie
out of his mind, nor fill the aching void
this sundered engagement left in his
heart. Everything he touched prospered;
but his increasing wealth gave him little
pleasure; Bessie could not share it with
him, nor would it buy back her affection.
About year after his return from
Russia, he went to western city on bust
ness, and on his way stopped in Cincinnati
to visit a married cousin. He arrived at
his relatives house quite UNEXPECTEDLY;
almost the first thing Mrs. Allerton said
was:
go, cousin Claude, you are perfect
Godsend! I give my annual dance to-
night, and young men-young men who
are fine-looking, unmarried, good takers,
and can dance as we'll as they can talk
are none too plentiful in our circle. Pray,
rest yourself all day, so that you will be
perfectly charming tonight, for, in ad-
dition to our native bellies, I must intro
duce you to two lovely girls who have just
returned from six months visit to Paris;
they are the guests of my dear friend Mrs.
Goodwin"
Claude laughed and promised to be as
agreeable as he could to all the ladies,
young or old, native or foreign.
Evening came, and Mrs. AlIerton's
handsome parlors were all aglow with
brilliant lights, many hued flowers, spark
ling eyes, glittering toilets, and bewitch-
ing smiles. Claude was conversing pleas
anty with an elderly maiden, almost ma
king her fancy herself once more young
and attractive, when a familiar voice,
greeting his cousin, fell upon his ear.
Turning quickly he saw Bessie Hembrow.
"Oh, here you are, Claude!" said Mrs.
Allerton; s.allow me to introduce you to
my guests"
Aud, in moment, he found himself
bowling profoundly to Bessie and her COM
panions. Miss Goodwin and a M ISIS Pur-
Vance.
He soon saw, f, ON their manner to him,
that Bessie and her friend Gone of that
COMPOUNDED Fred's sisters, presume"
Claude muttered, pulling his moustache
nervously) intended to treat him as
stranger, so he regulated his words and
actions accordingly.
Chance, and not his own volition, you
may be sure, gave him Miss Purviance as
a partner'in the first lancers. He found
her very pleasant girl, in spite of shade
of reserve in her manner; and, as in duty
bound. tried to make himself agreeable to
her, although she was Purviance.
During pause in the dance, he said
s'Some of your kinsmen live in Rose
vale, Miss Bessie Hembrow's home, do
they not !? Your name is familiar to
me-"
eyes: Uncle Thomas and his family re-
side there. You have met Grace, proba-
bly, ?"
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