Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-02-28

the next, to get her to myself. | tried te
think of something that I could do OF
show her that would amuse and detaiI
her. 1t seemed as though had exhausted
all my resources, when at last brilliant
idea occurred to me. I would show hel
the pre- sents had brought for sister Nell
They were all in my little sea trunk, and
knew that she couldn't resist their attrac
ti0ns. She came up on deck bright an(
beautiful as ever.
'sIsn't it delightful, she said, "to think
that tomorrow we shall be at homer /
can hardly wait for the time to come anG
yet''-and her voice dropped into the dear
loved soft tone"-the voyage has been q
most charming ONE, owing to your kind
ness,' she added, brightly.
I longed to lauDch forth my tale of love
but thinking it more prudent to wait unit
ed her, in the most ordinary manner. if
she wouldn't enjoy looking at some little
trinkets that had picked up in Paris
Her eyes sparkled.
eyes, indeed, y she said. Nothing could
be more delightful than to get a glimpse
OF Paris while at sea-"
1 went below aud got all my pretty nou-
Ueaattes, and brought them up to her. Plac-
ing chair in a quiet corner, and we'll hid
from the other people, then drawing mine
up beside her, began showing one by one
my collection of odd things.
'Where did you get them, Mr.. Reming-
ton 1 hunted all over Paris, and found
nothing half so pretty" And she slipped
one after another of my carefully chosen
bracelets on to her little plump wrists, and
turned them first on one side and then on
the other.
knew Nell's taste, and had searched
for something uncommon, and was well
pleased with what had bought. But Nell
and everything were forgotten with this
bewitching creature by my side, and when
she made a move to take them off, I said.
laughingly, of course, ''Oh, don't disturb
them they look so well where they are,
and it is so pleasant you know, to get a
glimpse of Paris while at sea-
She kept them on, and opened the other
boxes. There were rings, crosses, medal
lions, chatelaines, and many other orna-
ments Of curious design. The widow
decked herself, and was in high glee. A
child could not have enjoyed it more. 1
watched her with loving eyes, told her
where each one came from, and helped
fasten them on.
II feel like an Indian princess. she said,
sand ought to have a throne and crowd
of kneellng courtiers, and the picture
would be complete
Cant you imagine throne ?'' I said,
sand take me for kneeling courtiers.
Wouldn't my love compensate for the ad-
miring crowd 20
She looked up quickly, ana was about to
answer, when one of those eternal old
bores that, nc matter when you cross, are
always to be found on shipboard, came up.
and began telling Of his early reminiscent
ces; what the sea was twenty years age
as though the sea had ever changed-and
how, when he had first crossed. his friends
never expected TO see him again. He had
made his will, and they parted as though
he were to be forever lost to them. I as
sure you that I silently wished in my heart
that he had never turned up again. With
out saying word l got up took my boxes,
and left my Indian princess. / was thor
oughly angry with the old fellow for inter-
rupting our tete a-tete, and seriously with
Mrs. - for listening to and answering
him. l made up my mind that that game
had been played long enough. would ask
her the simple question the first chance
that got, and know my fate at once. But
the chance did not come as soon as I ex-
pected it would.
She went to her room with sick head
ache, so she said, and I paced the deck
alone We we're long way up the har-
Dor when she made her appearance the |
following morning. She said that she had |
hurried with her packing, thinking that
we were nearer than we really were to the
city.
''Oh, Mr.. Remington, had no opportu-
nifty Of returning your jewelry, and so
packed them with my things. But you are
coming, you know, to dine with me on
Saturday, and I will then give them to
you"
"Certainly," said. "There is no time
for us to change them now. Wear them
until see you again."
had fully made up my mind that as I
had been baffled so often, would now wait
until [ had seen her to her own home be-
fore opened my heart to her, or rather be
fore asked her my fate. She already knew
my heart. There was no time to talk; all
was excitement; we were rapidly approach
ing; handkerchlefs were waving from the
docks. The widow was straining her eyes
and suddenly leaving me and going furth-
or forward, saw her throw kiss. How I
longed to catch it I locked with Jealous
eyes to see who would take it up and an
swer it. Foremost among the crowd was
a great big man-six feet, and broad in
1t was he who was returning
the kisses. Could it be her brother, or
was it friend, and this merely pleasant
from distance?
[ watched him come on board, and what
did the big idiot do but catch her up in
his arms-my sweet one, whom, though
loving, had never dared to touch-and
kiss her over and over again! | could
have knocked him down
On drawing near to them, l saw that
neither of them noticed me. She had for
gotten my existence. With a heartsick
ceiling turned away. Was this to be the
end? Why had I come home? I conld