Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-07-05
recoonize. so changed is it.

the day before. She is in a simple white
dress, with here and there knot of blue
ribbon about it; and she has bit of blue
also in her golden hair. Her manner is as
charming as her looks, and as she thanks
my wife with pleasant, cordial words for
being the first of her neighbors to take
compassion on her loneliness, I can see
that my Mary Anne, whose heart is as
large as her figure, basely deserts the female
faction and goes over to the enemy. Mrs
Ogilvie is very young, still quite a girl,
though she has been married three years
she tells me,
cit is dreadful Frank should have to go
away she says, and the tears well up in
her large gray eyes; ''that is the worst Of
the service. See; here is his photograph, y
i lifting a case from the table and handing
! to Mary Anne. els he not hand
;some ?"
He is most undeniably so, if the like
ness speaks true, and we both say SO; Mary
Anne, with the privilege of her sex and
age, adding word as to the beauty of the
pair.
80, yes,'' replies Mrs. Ogilvie without
the smallest embarrassment 1--WE are always
called the handsome COUPLE"
suppose something Of my establishment
expressed itself in my countenance, for she
smiles, and says: 81 am afraid you think
me very vain; but cannot help knowing
that am good-looking, any more than 1
can help being aware that my eyes are
gray, not black, and that my hair is gold
en-. 1t is a gift from God, like my talent,
valuable one. too, I think it, and I own
that am proud of it for my dear Franks
sake, who admires it so much"
| Yes, this is Mrs. Ogilvie's popularity,
as we afterwards discover AN intense and
| quite open admiration of her own beauty.
| At first everyone is astonished at this
idiosyncrasy Of hers, but in a little while
J we all come to laugh at it; there is some
thing original and amusing about it; and
in all other ways she is so charming.
My wife, with whom she speedily be-
comes intimate, tells me that she is sure
she values her beauty more for her hus-
bands sake than her own. ''She evident
ly adores him. says Mary Anne; 'sand he
seems to think so much of her sweet
looks. She says he fell in love with her
at first sight. before he ever spoke to
her."
But Mrs. Ogilvie has many more at
fractions than are to be found in her face.
&c nh cd tod Hrct
rate musician, and pleasant and intelli-
gent companion, and more than all, she
has a sweet, loving disposition, true
heart at the core of all her little vanities.
she is very good to the poor in our village,
and often when am on my rounds I meet
her coming out of some cottage with an
empty basket in her hand, which was full
when she entered it.
IN a quiet little neighborhood like ours
such a woman cannot fail to be an acquisi-
ton, and every one hastens to call on her,
and many are the dinners and croquet par
ties which are inaugurated in her honor.
To the former she will not 60; she does
not wish to go out in the evening during
her husbands absence-much to my wife's
satisfaction, who approves of women be-
ing keepers at home''- and it is only sell
dom that she can be induced to grace one
of the croquet parties with her presence.
But when she does she eclipses every one
else. She always dresses in the most ex--
quisite taste, as if anxious that the setting
should be worthy of the jewel-the beauty
which she prizes so highly.
She has been settled at the cottage
rather more than two years, and is begin
ming to count the weeks to her husbands
return. We do not number them quite so
away from us, and we shall miss her sore
ly. 1t is summer again-a hot, damp sum-
mer; it has been a very sickly summer,
and my hands are full.
81 shall have to get partner, my DEAR"
1 said to my wife as l prepare to go out.
''lf this goes on l shall have more to do
than can manage. There is nasty fe-
yer about which don't like the look of;
and if we don't have change for the bet
ter in this muggy weather, there is no say
ing what it may turn TOT"
u am glad all the boys are at school,"
observed Mary Anne, ''and think 1 will
let the girls accept their aunt's invitation
and go to her for a month";
ut would be very good plan, and
should be glad if you would go too. A
little change would do you good"
"And, pray, who is to look after your"
asks my wife reproachfully. "Who is to
see that you take your meals properly, and
don't rush off to see your patients, leaving
your dinner untasted on the table!''
Mentally, confessed that should
probably be poorly off without my Mary
Anne; but it is a bad plan to encourage
vanity in ones wife, so 1 say, ooh, /
should dc very well by myself" and with
a parting nod betake myself to my daily
duty.
In the village meet Mrs. Ogilvie. bas-
ket in hand. She doesn't look well, and 1
say so.
"You have no business out in the heat
of the day. tell her. sWhat will your
husband say. if he does not find you look
ing your best when he comes back?"
A shade comes over her face, "Ah, he
would not be pleased" she says rather
gravely; che always likes to see me look
my best and prettiest."
"Well, then, as your doctor, I must for
bid your doing any more cottage visiting
just at present. You are not looking
very strong, and going into these close
houses is not good for you. I will come
and see you on my way back"
Which I do. I find there is nothing the
matter with her; she is only little |