Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-12-19

i. sincerity and disinterestedness, his pres
ent mature age found him a bachelor.
i But now he had fully made up his mind;
in proof whereof the next day hepurchased
a handsome diamond engagement ring,
also magnificent bouquet, and. thus pro-
vided. again sought the seaside paradise
where all his hopes and happiness were
now centred. There had been heavy ar
rivals of guests during the day, and the
10 tells were full.
With great difficulty. Mr.. Pickerel sue
ceeded in obtaining a closet, just lar g
enough to contain narrow bed; and on
this he lay down to rest for half an hour,
before attiring for the evening. 1t was
warm, and the window wide open, but,
/ being close in an angle of the building,
admitted Of very little view. Sill an oc
casional stray puff of sea beeze found it
! way into the window, and soothed by this
| Mr.. Pickerel, fell asleep; nor awakened
until the twilight had deepened into dark
mess without, the moon not yet arisen.
AS he raised himself from his pillow and
rubbed his eyes, a glare of light flashed in
his face. Naturally. he looked in that d.
rection.
In the opposite angle of the wall was
row of windows, the nearest of which was
not more than six feet distant from his
own. The sash was not closed, and as
the lowered shade swayed gently in the
| ;oJ-, ~ H. 4 ri; Of oH
almost directly facing him, who was evil
IDENTIFY making her evening toilet IN front
of mirror, between the two windows OF
her apartment.
One glance took in the lady's whole ap-
lpearance. She was thin and sallow, with
an angular form visible through her loose
dressing sacque, She had very little eye
brows, and her small quantity OF pale
blonde hair was in the crimping pins. Her
Ilips were puckered and sunken, and when
she gave slight yawn, as if just aroused
from nap, Mr.. Pickerel perceived that
this appearance was owing to her having
no teeth.
Now, Mr.. Pickerel was an honorable
man, and his first impulse was Instantly
to turn away and draw down the blinds.
What strange influence was it that held
him there, spell-bound, as it were, and un-
consciously staring at this strange lady?
AS he gazed, she took into her hand a
bit Of something soft and white, and re-
peatedly and carefully passed it over her
face. Straightway, to Pickerel's surprise,
her sallow complexion assumed the hue of
a lily. Then she even more deliberately
touched her cheeks, and 10! those desert
places blossomed like a rose. A few more
touches of those magical fingers, clear,
regular arch surmounted each of her eyes,
while a soft shade beneath gave them
depth and expression. Then she lifted to
her mouth CHASTITY set of grinning, skel-
eton-like teeth, and instantly delicate
row of pearls cleaned from beneath her
now smiling lips.
Up to this moment Pickerel had gazed
with sort of vague and bewildered sur
prise and uneasiness, but now, as he mark
ed this transformation, a horrible suspl-
cion dawned upon him. Breathlessly he
sat, repelling the fearful idea, and striving
to convince himself that he was not yet
awake-that he was dreaming. But when
he saw that strange yet familiar appari-
ton unpin her wisp of hair. and puff it
into an airy puff above her forhead-when
| he saw her crown her whole head with an
artistic Fabric of glossy puffs, braids and
ringlets-ah, then indeed. reason could no
longer hold out The mysterious infu-
ence was explained, and he knew that he
beheld before him the lady Of his love-his
fair Celestine
Mr.. Plckerel did not faint or swoon-
men seldom do such things; but he sat
pale and dumb founded, as one who has
beheld his hopes and happiness melt away
like the baseless fabric of dream.
What aroused him was the mention Of
his own name. Mrs. Pettyman had en-
tered her daughters room. He could see
her majestic form seated at the open win
dow, with her back to him; and their
words came to him with an awful distinct
ness.
"And you really think, Celestine, that
, he will propose this EVENING""
\ 81 am quite sure Of it, ma. If. you could
have seen how he looked and acted ~
f swell, what have to say is that you
must take care to have the thing fully set
= tied. If lie hesitates or hold back, see
y that you bring him to the point, and pin
him there. He's such timid, feeble spir
tied creature, that you have to encourage
' him considerably. Besides, Celestine
vi YOU really cannot afford to lose this
\ chance. You'll be 80 in October, and al
., that age girl should give up sentiment
al and apply herself to serious business.
k am sure [ never had an idea that you
4 would do 50 well; and nothing could be
d more fortunate for us all. Ny only feal
s is that you will let him slip at last"
s.NntI! Trust me for that, MAJ.
s ITS very fortunate, also, that you met
g with Pckerel before you had positively
J. com u.itted yourself with your cousin Rob
ert.'.
.:Poor Bob! If he wasn't SO poor! wish
ell he had Mr.. Pickerels money. But LII
J., make him do something for Bob-take
r him into partnership or give him the stu
|, alton of first clerk; and then we'll have
him to board with us, you know"
ssThat reminds me, Celestine, OF my owl
is plan when you are married. I've beer
10 thinking the subject over to-day, and have
come to conclusion'''
I swell, maj"
In all this time Mr.. Pickerel had beer
I growing alternately red and pale, and nov
with parted lips. and staring eyes, he ben
J. forward ~ Eston ohliviauS al. all feeling