Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-08-02

which he well knew never bloomed in {
! Chester greenhouse.
One evening he was congratulated OF
his engagement to Miss Bender.
II am engaged to no one,' he said. will
a sudden giddiness about the head, as j
| the ground shook under him.
MOP. Well, folks do say you oughte
! be, if you amt, returned the disappoint
| ed gossip.
Indeed! Folks seem to understand
my duty better than their own"
He walked homeward, half benumbed
revolving the subject drearily. Had h'
indeed gone beyond his depth unawares
he asked himself. Was Miss Prue mis-
taken, like the rest, with regard to hi
feelings? Had he misled her in his blinG
selfshness? Ought he to marry without
love because ssfolks" talked? AS he drew
near the Vaughns' in the failing light he
perceived two figures family outlined: {
woman had just closed the garden gate
and stood within: a man departed, YET
fingered with the others hand shut in his
own; the tall hedge had hidden Mr.. Dew
ems. In a minute more he would be in
sight. He wished neither to listen to nor
encounter his rival, nor to surprise them
love-making. He took step backward,
still behind the hedge.
Tomorrow, then,'' said the masculine
voice with tender information, II shall be
the proudest, happiest-" Devens found
himself actually bending all his faculties
here, but the sentence escaped him. 81
should be glad to invite a handful of
friends to witness my success s." pursued
the same voice, eff you do not obj ect.''
IL object' said Laura's silver treble
Il, who owe you so much-so much and
can return so little ~
s'Good-by." A little silence followed
then-could Mr.. Devon believe his own
ears? The jackanapes had kissed Laura,
and she had not rebuked him ! He TUNED
hot and cold alternately; his heart seemed
throbbing in his throat. He glanced to-
ward the gate where she still leaned; he
longed to take her in his arms and claim
her love- in spite Of that strange man 8 au-
dacious Kisses. Then he remembered Prue,
and what 'sfolks'' had said. Had he not
put his own happiness beyond his reach
In teaching Laura lesson had he not
learned more than he cared to know him
self? He was like child crying for the
moon. He had better go home and marry
Prue. Then he NOV ed forward swiftly as
a leopard; had reached the gate and placed
a compelling hand upon Laura's before
she was aware of his neighborhood.
''That man-who left you just now-who
kissed -you--who is be? You are 60
ing to marry him !" he gasped, as if he
challenged her to deny it.
''And you are going to marry Prudence
Bender" returned Laura's terse tones.
"Let me wish YOU joy" The hand that
held hers dropped like lead. He hung
his head like one convicted, and walked
away without word.
Looking drearily out Of the car window
on the following morning, on her way to
Boston, Laura S eyes fell upon Mr.. Devens
making his way toward the refreshment
room, having just left the cars. She fan
cied that there was something strange in
his appearance. Was he i'll /? Could he
have been watching? He had haggard
addressed air, as if he had been up over
night, and had not found time to adjust
himself to the hour, and he walked I'M
steadily. Presently the train gave an ad-
monitory lurch. Mr.. Devens would loose
it, she thought; no he was coming, quick
ly but not surely. His foot may have been
upon the step when it parted and rolled
forward, and broke up suddenly with
noise like the crack of doom. 1t seemed
to Laura as if the heavens had rolled to-
gether as a scroll at that instant. She
knew what had happened without hearing
a word; she was on her feet, cropping her
way out amidst the excited throng. which
seemed to part instinctively to let her pass.
She did not know that she had called his
name tenderly, wildly, with the terrible
in her voice which only love
lends. She knew nothing till she found
him lying like death, broken, beside the
track, white and speechless and mutilated.
She crouched beside him there, whispering
tender words, as if he could understand,
as if they two were alone, and not the
spectacle of a curious crowd.
Il was desperate, Laura, at losing you,"
were his first faint words. II believe-I
took something to drink-at the inn-in
to forget about it all. The
first and the last"