Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-08-23
Il can flank that sultan Of a brother of

his imperial opinion to the contrary. HI
has never seen you, or even your picture
and he shall think that you are Nellie st
Laurence, and that Nellie is you. I will
send her a note this minute. explaining
that l want her to personate you-hateful
naughty simpering. Oh, Flo, and yol
must be the graceful, reserved darling tina
you are, and that your name is Nellie st
Laurence. The masquerade will suit Mel
lie to death, for she is a limb for fun"
Three hours later two young ladies were
sauntering up and down the grassy GRO
quet lawn-one of them Iva Hope, thu
other a very deliberately gotten up person
with a saucy ~retrousse nose, and fringes OF
straight dark hair hanging over her fore
head.
On the lawn step of the piazza a deli
cate, graceful young girl was sitting, dress.
ed in a lavender cashmere, and looking
lonesome and lovely, Rutherford Hope
thought, as the tableau attracted his at
tention.
He threw his cigar away as Iva came
beamingly up to him, accompanied by thu
young lady in her heavy. trailing silk dress.
and bare brown arms, loaded with brace
let's.
Rutherford, 1 want to present you tt
my dearest friend, Miss Sydney. Flo, my
brother, Mr.. Hope"
The heiress bowed and giggled, and
Rutherford took a swift inventory Of her,
physically and mentally. as he salaamed
before her, and expressed the opinion that
she revealed exhuberant health.
ooh. yes, pretty well, I thank you. Pm
never i'll, am I, Iva ?"
Rutherford gave Iva a look she interpre-
ted exactly. Then he glanced at the slight:
graceful girl on the steps, caressing a pet
greyhound of his.
"You have another friend, Iva ?"
Iva glanced indifferentlY at her.
"Oh, yes. She came w this morning.
We knew her at school. Thinks some
thing of taking the children during vaca-
tion, and perfecting their German"
Miss Sydney twisted one of her heavy
rings conspicuously.
"Whatever she wanted to come for now,
I don.t see, unless she had an idea your
handsome brother would be at home"
She smiled straight in Rutherford's face,
and he turned away with a sneer of dis
gust that he MADE no attempt to hide.
"%Introduce me to her, Iva" He said
it in his lordly way, that Was only to be
obeyed, and Iva, with a mischievous smile
in her averted eyes, led the way up to
her.
"Nellie, my brother wishes to be intro
duced to you. Mr.. Rutherford Hope
Miss st. Laurence.
The sweetest, most wistful eyes he had
ever seen lifted themselves to his face
dark, velvety, earnest; and, at the same
instant that he declared she had the love-
Hest face girl ever wore, he was conscious
of a thrill Of new, strange delight that
Miss st. Laurence had hOnored his fathers
house, even if in the position of teacher
expectant.
Miss Sydney gave her train a scientific
jerk, and swept on just in front Of the girl
on the marble step.
$50 up to my room, Nellie, and bring
me my portfolio of foreign views. 1 wish
MI. Hope to see them. Go on-do you
hear me ?"
The ill-bred in~solence, the rude, domi-
neering tone, or something, brought the
warm blood to Miss St. Laurence's face,
as she quietly obeyed the order.
Rutherford wanted to choke her on the
spot, but contented himself with compos-
ing a lecture to deliver to Iva on the cor
rectness with which he had sketched The
character of the wonderful heiress. Iva's
dearest friend indeed!
Daily he grew more indignant at the
manner in which Iva allowed Miss st. Lau-
renee to be treated, and at last he came
out in bold defence of her.
81 see no reason why you should be at
such special pains to snub Miss st. Lau-
renee on every possible occasion. AS a
lady, she certainly deserves to receive, at
least, ordinary courtesy at your hands"
The heiress curled her upper lip vicious
ly.
II dare say, now, you think she ought
to be invited to Jul boating party, tonight?
But Iva and I have decided that she is
hardly enough on a social equality with us
to go as a companion. I suppose she might
60 as our maid, and see to the luncheons
and shawls."
Mr.. Hopes usual gallantry almost for
sock him before this vulgar upstart's esti-
mate Of the dark-eyed girl whose society
becoming sweet to him.
~ think. if the proof of refined woman
illness were put to the test, Miss Nellie
would prove a formidable rival to any of
the boating party. Iva, will Miss st. Lau-
renee be invited ?"
Iva took out her list languidly.
II think not; every seat is already
filed"
Rutherford took his hat almost angrily
from the table.
~ beg your pardon-one seat will be va
cant. l shall not 60 unless Miss st. Lau-
renee does"
That was the beginning of the end. In
a fortnight Rutherford offered himself
with his wealth and position, to the quiet,
dark-eyed little girl, who had taught him
life's sweetest lesson.
"Nellie, my darling, are you sure you
love me !"
The exquisite mouth was quivering, and
the dark, soulful eyes were lifted to his.
ooh. Mr.. Hope. I have always loved you
eyer since I-alwaysl Are YOU sur you