Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-08-02
affair to Laura, which she openly discussed

| There had Deon a llCClo coolHeSS UeIWeen
them, dating from the time when he
brought her letter from the mail, direc-
in fine masculine hand, and she had re-
Used to crafty his curiosity about it. He
had spent the next evening playing euchre
with Miss King, and Laura had seen him
go in for that purpose. One trife after
another had helped to widen the little rift
within the lutte, and he had not been neal
he better step over this evening and see
how she was enduring it ? he asked him.
self. And about this trip to Boston! How
could she leave her district school? It was
only some nonsense of Mrs. Bender's, no
doubt. But, delaying in the hall on
Wednesday evening to brush his hat, he
overheard Miss Prue saying to her mother:
'sEllen Dow taught school for Laura
! Vaughn to-day. | wonder the committee
don't complain. 1t Is very odd about her
going up to Boston. She asked Ellen Dow
not to mention il, too. And Ellen told me
not to say word about it, either, so dom It
you let it out to Mr.. Oevens, ma, just to
tease him. 1 wonder if she met Jack?
Her father doesn't approve of him, and so
she meets him on the sly" pursued Prue,
weaving her romance from the meagre
material in hand II wish you would for
bid somebody coming to see me and then
But then Mr.. Devens entered.
| HIS Laura suspected of meeting another
man on the sly 1t gave him cold chill.
He had fondly believed that she only
waited his beck and call; it had never oc-
Cured to him as possible that she could
console herself with another lover. And
| who was this Jack about whom Miss PIue
discoursed SO volubly Should he 60 to
Laura and beg for reconciliation had
fully made up his mind to this step before
entering the house-or should he give her
a lesson?
ibid Miss Laura match your fringe to-
day?" he asked, nonchalantly.
81 didn't like to ask her." said Prue. II
reckon she had other fish to fry
"When young lady goes to the city to
meet a sweetheart, she can't attend to
matches of another kind" said Mrs. Ben
der, facetiously.
''Did Miss Laura 60 to meet sweet
heart, eh?" he asked, with an air AS it it
didn't signify in the least.
s'She went by appointment, Mr.. Devens,
to meet young man, too. don't see why
it should be kept from you.''
"Indeed! Did Miss Vaughn tell you
SOP"
'sNot she. It's dead secret, but it
leaked out"
$50 it seems.''
"Laura's something of a flirt, like the
clergynlan-in fact, it's her nature to be
on with the new love before she's off with
tue old.''
"Mrs. Bender, Miss Vaughn is friend
Of mins,' said Devens, reprovingly, while
he thought bitter things Of her himself,
and made desperate resolves.
''And Pm sure Laura and I've always
got On well together. But it strikes ME
that we must be tulerably familiar with a
young fellow when he signs himself Jack
and nothing more. Shouldn't you say so,
Mr.. DevenS? | shouldn't like Prue to be
on such terms with any but declared
lover myself
docs Miss Vaughn show you her love-
letterS?'' he asked already caught in the
snare.
mot muchly, Mr.. Devens. But murder
will out, you know. | believe myself that
it is d dangerous innovation to teach ser
wants reading and writing, as the Vaughns
do. No good comes OF it,
Mr.. Devens experienced strange dis
trust straightway. Not being versed in
the wiles of women of the Bender type he
miStook her airy inSinuatiOnS for law and
gospel. Laura had played false, had taken
advantage of their little quarrel to encour-
age rival. Should he not return the
c. mpliment by bestoWing his attentions
upon some other damsel? Naturally Miss
Prue became the recipient OF his tempor-
any favor. 1t Was Prue who drove with
him through the lanes that led t., Laura
school-house, where they were pretty sure
to meet her going or coming, and see the
quick color deepen in her cheek and for
sake her lip; it was Prue who played back
CANNON with him in the lighted parlor,
with the curtain of the window looking
out upon the Vaughns' premises raised
and the interior visible; and it was poor
Laura, in the darkness of her own room,
who watched the pretty game, with
tightness at her heart and tears in her
eyes.
''What blessing postal cards are to be
sure!' reflected Mrs. Bender, as she looked
at the pair. "Now, if that one hadn't been
thrown in my teeth, so to speak, he would
have been spooning over at the Vaughns'
this very minute"
Mr.. Devens. blinded by his feelings,
failed to perceive that the situation looked
peculiar; he never guessed what topic he
afforded at the sewing society and the
Bethel meetings, nor how much occupa
ton he provided for the neighbors' eyes
and ears. He never once stayed to ques-
ton how his behavior affected any one but
Laura. Prue was used to flirting with
Tom, Dick and Harry, and she had never
received wound.
Its kinder natural and handy, living
under the same roof said old Mrs. Good
hue, looking over her spectaeles at the
spectacle. II s'pose Prudence and her
ma posset him within an inch of his life.
The way to a mans heart is through his
stomach; you must pamper his appetite or
fatter his vanity, and the Blenders are
equal to the occasion, reckon"
''It's propinduity," remarked Miss Blue,
who read mental philosophy and novels,
and represented feminine culture in Ches-