Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-04


rapidly it is filling up. But suppose this
Captain-I forget what you said his name
was?"
"You must not forget things said Bar
bara. esquire Dallas never will be suited
with that. He's very particular old
gentleman. 1 mention these things. you
know she said with an air OF mild pat
ronage, because you seem like anice.
respectable young man, and should like
you to keep the place."
81 am much obliged to you,'' said the
stranger, hurriedly putting strawberry
into his mouth.
SHOW you are eating the strawberries, u
said Barbara, severely. you shouldn't
do that"
s'One or two is of no consequence"
apologized Squire Dallas hired man.
''But I was going to say. suppose this
company gentleman"
"Captain Severn, his name is" inter-
rupted Barbara.
"Yes-suppose that Captain Severn
shouldn't fall in love with either Of your
grown sisters9"
'Then he'd be very great disappoint-
ment,'' cried out Barbara.
s'He might fall in love with you," sug-
gested the young man, regarding his
pretty companion with sidelong glance
from beneath his long lashes.
with mel'' repeated Barbara. ''Me-
little girl that wears dresses without
trains, and isn't out of her scales yet!
That's likely thing, isn't it? Now, |
tell you what, young man, you are talk
ing great deal too much and working
great deal too little. Perhaps, if you are
smart with the berries, I'll bring you one
Of Phillis's tarts, and put it on the stone
fence tonight. Phillis does make the de-
liciousest strawberry tarts!"
"That would be delicious" said the
stranger promptly.
Barbara gave scrutinizing glance into
the berry basket.
II begin to think we've got almost
enough" said she.
Not yet" pleaded her companion.
Eyes" nodded Barbara, "And mamma
will be in hurry, and aude will scold
dreadfully if I'm not there in time to do
her back hair. And as for you, young
man." relapsing all at once into the severe
Mentor again, you had better get back as
fast as possible to your work; and don't
let Squire Dallas catch you lettering
again, if you've any regard for your
place."
| The stranger stood with dotted cap and
attitude of chivalrous attention.
"But you'll not forget the strawberry
| tart" said he.
| Certainly not"
! And off she tripped. with rosy stained
lips, golden hair floating recklessly in the
wind, and light, elastic feet bowlng down
the buttercups and red clover as she went.
dear me, chile" said Phillis, as she
came into the kitchen, rosy and breathless
with the haste she had made, ''what a
time you's been!"
mot half an hour" cried Barbara,
| Ainging away her hat, and slashing her
face with the cool water out Of the bucket.
elias he come, Phillis ?"
''De company young man. miss?'' said
Phillis. mo. he amt. An Miss Lisette
she's scoldin' cause you amt been to ar
range de roses for de big bokay in de
middle OBJ de table; an Miss Maud she
done can't fix her hair to suit her; an
dar's de missus CALM now. Run, Miss
Barbry, runP'
sThere, mamma. told you sol" said
| Miss Maud Wylde, the intellectual mem
Der of the family. ''It will be an incon-
venient crowd if Barbara comes to the
table,"
ssLet her watt" said Lisette, serenely.
'sBut won't walt p flashed out Barba-
"a, her blue eyes glittering with lndigna-
tion. II will come to the first table. AZ
ter arranging the roses and gathering the
wild strawberries and Mamma is it right
to keep me in the back kitchen all my
days ?"
my dear! my dear !'1Hemonstrated
Mrs. Wylde, "you are forgetting yourself"
s.And I do so want to see Captain Sew
ern,'' added Barbara, resolutely choking
down the big sob which rose to her
throat.
ssWhat nonsense!" said Lisette, the
dove-eyed beauty with the ripping hair
and the complexion of rose and snow. las
if Captain Severn would ever look at you!'
"But I may look at him, Supposed
cried indignant Barbara. "And I'm six
teen years old, and you've no right to treat
me like baby"
"Children! children! don't go to quar-
reling'' said Mrs. Wylde. ''And Barbara
can sit just here behind the tea urn, and I
dare say we shall have plenty Of ROOM"
"There!" said Barbara, with triumph
ant grimace at her sister.
eHorrid little spoiled child" said
Maude.
barbara always gets her way" COM
mented Lisette.
sHush!'' said Mrs. Wylde, authorita-
lively. "Here comes your papa nR the
laurel walking with Captain Severn"
Lisette peeped from behind the folds of
the auted Swiss curtains. Maude ran to
the Venetian blinds of the window.
aud barbara climbed with sixteen year-old
agility into chair to peep over her sisters
shoulder.
'nb, good gracious!'' cried she, drop
ping from her aerial perch with startling
suddenness.
''What is it ?" said Maude.
''It's Squire Dallas's hired mani" gasped
Barbara.
"What p said Lisette.
uv Avn ,o;,d about tho fret table -