Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-08-22

lCJS
standing before the library fire, while his
sister in-law reclined among her velvets on
the lounge. s'She is SERPENT" Mrs.
I Whyte was saying. II was astonished at
your imprudence with her during the
whole dinner. She has come to the house,
this Purcell beggar. for nothing under
heaven but to marry you, Gervais."
Miss Julia had no evening paper that
night. I come here to marry Gervais
Whyte! The Purcell beggarI
February 1.-THE longest, longest fort
night! I don't know how 1 am going to
turn out. am little curious to see. /
wonder what they are doing at CarecrOss;
If they pity me in this exile; if they laugh
at my Quixotism. But when learned of
this Mrs. Whyte and this poor little Miss
Julia, after the letter her maid wrote, and
the one dictated to Mr.. Gervais, and the
word brought by the messenger I sent to
spy out the land, was resolved to see it
out. She is very fond of me; it quite pays
one; she calls me her comforter; sometimes
she kisses my hands. She folds her hands
and says her prayers in her chair. She
never used to say her payers at all.
Some of the ''high-fyers," who are visit
ing here were singing the other night; we
were sitting in the moonlight, and set
the door open for her to listen. haven't
spoken to Mr.. Gervais since the night
Mrs. Whyte so emphatically announced
my intentions. have left the room as he
entered on his daily call. have walked
on roads he never takes. But never fail
to encounter him, and it makes my blood
run cold to look at him, to recall Mrs.
Whyte's lesson, to observe his aptness at
learning. He did send me some new
books-noblesse oblige. told James to put
them back on his desk. And he put
bunch Of violets in my hand as he passed
while spoke with Miss Julia's doctor; l
left them on the hall table. Sunday be-
fore last he sat in the great square pew,
where he could look me full in the face;
but after the first I never glanced up, and
last Sunday didn't go to church. Yet
see he is troubled and pale; perhaps he
is to marry Miss Mayne in spite Of his
aversion, and it worries him. All, that is
shameful. would not have thought it
of one like him-so perfect as he is, as he
is! To-day Mrs. Whyte casually remarked
to Miss Julia that she thought Ger vais
would go to Europe if he married Miss
Mayne. "He speaks all the modern Ian
guages,' said she.
THAT is an advantage" said I; for
his future wife cannot even speak En-
glish.'
II am glad," said Miss Julia, afterward,
s'that there's some one besides me not
afraid of Mrs. Whyte. Not that I'm not
afraid Of her; often feel like covering
and whimpering when she opens the door.
But call up all my nerves instead, and
snap at herr
TIT isn't right,'' said: land I'm sorry
am SO illnatured. But who could help
it ?"
"Nobody, my child. And you're not ILL
natured-youre perfection"
And I think you really believe it. But,
as I said, we were sitting in the moon
light, listening to the singing, when saw
a shadow in the door, and Mr.. Gervais
came in and shut it behind him.
''Now you've shut out the music,' said
Miss Julia.
'Do you call that music,' he asked.
"Antonie, here can sing Thousand
times better, anyway" said she. "Anto-
ME, sing me that German song again."
Sing for Gervais! And who had never
asked mel
''You are dreaming, Miss JULIA" 1 said.
"Let me dream too, Miss Antonie,''
said Mr.. Gervais. ''Won't you sing the
song ?''
I thought had better sing than make |
scene. So did. sang Adelaide" l |
don't know why it moved me so; butt did. |
1t did, although was SO angry with my
self. I felt as if were lingering beside
my grave, and saying those passionate
things to my lover, and to save me, / |
couldn't hinder the tears rolling over my
cheeks; and when looked up there were
tears in his eyes too; saw them shine in
the moonlight. SIT is divine!'' said he
coming and taking my hand. GOOD hea-
vens! your hand are cold cold as death !"
II have been singing death song" 1
said.
And then he turned abruptly and went
out of the room. suppose he cannot help
himself now-he is pledged; but, oh (! why
did I ever come here? why did I ever
come here?
"You were singing death song, and
your voice sounded like an ANGELS" said
Miss Julia. II wish you could have seen
yourself. with your black hair and your
blue eyes, and the tears falling IN the
moonlight, and the purple shadow of the
room about you. I think, Gervais is in
love with you, Antonie.''
"Cousin julia" cried harsh voice, as
the Duchess of Mangel- Wurzel sailed in,
81 will be obliged to you to cease such
childish talk. You may as well under
stand once for all, that Gervais is to marry
very different"
''Hoity- toity!' cried Cousin Julia. 81
will be obliged to you to leave my ROOM"
And if the Duchess of Mangel- W urzel had |
not Obeyed at once, smart tap of the
crutch would have hurried her. She went,
without doubt, to tell Gervais what we
were talking of.
''That surprises you," said Miss Julia.
"Did you think this is Mrs. Whyte'shouse
while live, and then it's the Alton Bay |
Lock Insurance Company's" Cousin |
Julia's mind doesn't wander as it did when |
she was alone so much.
II know all about it, said 1.