Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-31
F. q N !!

III ~ !
WRECKED IN PORT.-It was the wild
midnight.
The tame midnight was off watch, and
had gone TO bed three hours before.
A storm brooded over the eastern
heavens. 1t was a thoroughbred brood
storm. Hop brewed, for it was coming
from the yeast.
Hawkeye creek was rolling tnmultously
in its sandy bed. Bugs, probably. Or it
might have been nervousness.
A little form covered at the garden
gate. Many manly form has been cow
ard at just such places, ever since summer
nights, and gnats, and beauty, and love
and June bugs were invented.
"He does not come," she murmured
softly. as she peered into the darkness, II
cannot see him. will call him."
She was wrong. 1t she couldn't see
hin, she certainly couldn't call him with
the same hand. A manly step came scrap
ing down the sidewalk. 1t was Desmond.
She threw open the gate; the next in
slant he clasped in his great, strong arms
twenty-seven yards of foulard, three yards
of ruchlng, seven dozen Breton buttons
and a Pompadour as big as dog house. 1t
was all his own.
AsAll is lost" he exclaimed. "Constance
de Belvidere, the Russians have crossed
the Balkans. We must fly.''
He wanted to fly to some desert isle,
but she submitted an amendment provi-
ding that they should fly to the ice-cream
saloon.
They flew.
In the crowded saloon, where the sofs
light fell upon fair women and brave men,
and the insects of summer night fell in
the ice cream freezer. They spoke not a
When two sentimental human beings
are, engulphing spoOnSful of corn starch
and eggs and SKINNED milk, language is
mockery.
At length Desmond broke the tender
silence. He'said:
more, dearest?"
l.She smiled, and bowed her lovely head,
but did not speak. She was too full for
utterance. -4
Desmond gloomily ordered more. And
more when that was gone. And d supple
ment to that. And an addenda to that.
And an exhibit to that.
Gloom sat enthroned upon his brow.
Constance saw it. She said:
what is it, dearest?''
He spoke not, but sighed.
A dreadful suspicion stabbed her heart
like knife.
desmond you are not tired of me,
darling?"
''By heaven, no." he said, and then he
looked land thought) unutterable things.
Her brow lightened up with lay OF
celestial intelligence.
II see." she said, tapping the empty
plate with spoon. ssToo cold. Signed,
G. Morbus.''
He denied it bitterly, and babe her re-
main where she was while he settled with
the man.
She, guided by unerring instinct of her
sex, peeped through the curtains OF the
saloon. She saw her Desmond holding
earnest discussion with the man. She
saw the man shake his head resolutely in
answer to Desmond's pleading looks and
appealing gestures. She saw him lock the
door, take out the key. put it in his pocket
and lean up against the door. She saw
her own Desmond draw from his own
pockets and pile upon the counter pearl
handled pocket-knife, six nickels, four
green postage stamps. watch key. two
lead pencils, memorandum book, a
theatre ticket lof the variety denomina-
tion), pocket comb. an ivory tooth pick,
shirt stud, one sleeve button, a photo
graph of herself, a package of trix, tw"
street-car checks, card with funny
(wicked) story on it, silk handkerchief
and pair Of gloves. And then she knew
Desmond was bankrupt, and when the
man swept the assets of tile concern into
. drawer and opened the door she sobbed
convulsively. ''And it was mine extrava-
gance which hath done this thing''
They did not talk much on their way
home. Once she asked him if he was rich
and he only said:
Enormously -
Such is life ~
A young woman, after receiving ten
notes in as many hours, sat down with
fury in her eyes to write an answer that
would wipe out his love- making as with
sponge But the little messenger boy soft
ened her heart by remarking: "If you
please, mum, don't write any thing that
would scare him SO he won't send any
more notes cause I'm gettin' five cents
every trip this bad weather.
1t is charged that numerous Louisville
girls never take off their gloves, and, for
fear of spelling their hands they never do
stroke Of work. Perhaps the charge is
not true. Perhaps it is The work they are
afraid Of spelling. Give the young women
q chance.
A stranger arrived in ct. L0uis, took a
look at the city and shot himself. In his
pocket we're found thirty-ive cents and
stub of pencil, which caused the coron-
er's jury to return verdict: Chicago
editor couldn't stand prosperity
A woman may not be able to sharpen
per Gil or hold an umbrella; but she can
Dack more articles into a trunk than a man
can in a one horse wagon. |
There is a new work on the ECONOMY |
of Consumption. Consumption may be |
economical, but it is not considered |
healthy.