Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-03-05
Bending Her VIII.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

DtuuluS ntT Will
BY AMY RANDOLPH.
MY DEAR said Hero Field, don't
give up. If you yield to his way it's all
up with you for the rest of your marri-
ed life. And the idea Of a bride IN her
honeymoon being weighed down with
an old grandmother and grand father
in-law. My! who ever heard of such a
thing?'
Nanny Eastlake was bright haired,
azure eyed girl of nineteen a girl who
had been brought up at fashionable
clearinghouse. She never had known
the peaceful influence of home, for she
lived with Mrs. Sykes Ponsonby. an
aunt who floated on the very top wave
of fashion, and spent her nights in socie-
ty, and her days in bed. And the first
real heart experience that had ever hap
pened to her, was Donald Aubrey's
love.
It's such an elegant house. said Nam
ny. Finished in real wood you know
and furnished SO beautifully. Turkey
carpets, and furniture of ebony and gold,
and the FINEST little gem of a conserva-
tory, filed with roses and camelias, and
the sweetest carnations and my boudoir
of course, it's all very fine said Hero
Field, but you'll never enjoy it with
those horrid misunderstanding old an
tediluvians sniffin and prowling around.
Why not open an asylum for INDECENT
poor at once.
But they are Donald's gpran-darents,
pleaded Nanny.
We'll, what then? Let him provide
for them as other people do. His wife
has the first right and the only right in
his house, and so I'd tell him if [ were
you. A mother-in-law would be bad
enough, but this is ten times worsen
I don't think he ought to expect it OF
me- said Nanny.
'Of course he eughtn't said Hero. So
when Mr.. Aubrey came to make his
usual evening call that night, and aunt
Ponsonby had discreetly made some ex
cuse for leaving the drawing-r0om,
Nanny preached the subject at once.
Donald said she, I've been think
ing
We'll. dearest
And I've come to. the conclusion
rather abruptly-'that you ought not to
ask me to make home for old Mr.. and
Mrs. Viviann
is it not right and natural, Nanny,
that their home should be with me?
heasked, his face clouding over little.
I dare say it will be very nice for
them,' said Nanny, with toss of her
golden head but how about me? ---.
DO you object to it?'
Very decidedly, indeed answered
the pretty young bride-elect, foRdly
imagining that she had but to lift her
slender fipger to win any boon that she
asked of Daniel Aubrey.
1 am very sorry said the young man,
calmly. AS have decided to ask them
to remain permanently with me, / can
not, of course, permit my wife
Nanny crimsoned angrily.
am not your wife yet, Mr.. Aubrey.
And will not be your wife if
Nanny For Gods sake stop !'-Thlnk
what you are saying y
I mean it!' said Nanny, holly, L do
not choose to marry into a nest of rela-
tions-in-law, and SO you must choose be-
tween your grandparents and me!'
Mamie y
She laughed a naughty constrained
laugh.
I ana quite in earnest, said she. If,
you really care for me, you will give up
this unreasonable caprice of yours
Is it unreasonable to honor ones aged
parents p he asked, slowly, while his
dark, searching eyes seemed to read the
very secrets of her heart. is it cap
rice to retain some natural affection for
those who loved and cared for me when
1 was yet helpless child? p If you think
it is, Nanny, have been surely mista-
ken in your character!"
Very WELL said Nanny, feeling her
cheeks burn and her lips culver, I am
then to understand that your selection
is made
1t certainly isl
to me-
I prefer my duty to anything in the
world, Nanny
I have the honor to wish you very
good evening, then she said regally.
And Nanny swept out of the room in
style which she meant would be over
Whslming.
Good cried Hero Field, the next
day, when Nanny related to her the oc-
currences of the evening. He'll be on
his knees to you before three days have
passed, and you'll have your own way
for good and all, after this.
But three days passed, and three more
on top of that and never penitent low
or made his appearance to sue for Nam
ME Eastlake's pardon. And she be-
gan, most reluctantly, to realize that
Donald Aubrey had been in earnest
and that her own mad folly had estrang-
ed her from one of the truest and man
lest hearts in the world.
Nanny had been brought up fcelishly
and frivolously enough, but there was a
vein ofgenuine gold in her nature, for
al! that, and she bitterly felt her own
mistake.
"Oh, Hero, what shall I de?" she
pleaded, with wistful tears in her eyes.
Let him co." said Miss Field, who,
to tell the truth, had been a little envi
GUS that Nanny Eastlake had become
engaged before herself. There's as
good fish in the sea as ever came cut Of
it."
"Perhaps &c." said Nanny. "But
there is only one Donald Aubrey in all |
the world to me.
And she took counsel with herself, !
and she decided what she would do.
Donald Aubrey was sitting alene by
himself, lin the pretty blue and gold
drawing room he had furnished express
~ with regard to Nanny Eastlake's
taste. Mr.. and Mrs. Vivian, early risers
and early retirers, had gone to bed, al
though it was hardly yet dusk, when
the little parlor maid announced:
please, sir, lady to see you.n
And Donald found himself looking
into Nanny Eastlake's deep blue eyes.
"Nannyp' he calculated.
"Yes, Donald, it is 1. Oh. Donald, I
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