Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-02-14
long look at the young lady.

Mrs. Osborne from the next room.
| Freezing returned Austen, laconical-
". He was not given to many words.
| "You'd better wrap up warmly, Daisy;''
and with this smaternal injunction, Mrs
Osborne returned to her book. Daisy pro
ceeded to adjust very coqnettish hood en-
her head.
A knock at the door. 1t opens softly.
"May come in?' says rather cracked
voice.
certainly" responds Daisy, her utter
ance somewhat 1mpeded by half a dozen
pins, which she artistically manages to
hold in her mouth. It is only Belinda
Briggs come to spend the evening with
mother. But a glance at Belinda's cos
tune dispels this delusion. Miss Briggs
wears trained dress Of white silk, an
overdress of pink gave, Topped with large
red rcses aud a huge pink feather. Miss
Briggs looks ext emels splendid, but ra-
ther bony; Miss Br ggs kno the former,
but ignores the latter, SO she is in the best
Of tempers.
Miss Briggs is an old maid, or rath a
middle-aged maid. She is not nice, as
middle'aged maids generally are; she is de-
cidedly otherwise, and she intends, we will
use her own expressive words, to cut Daisy
out, anG captivate the unsuspecting
| Austen.
Il hope she don't expect to GO with u.s."
thinks Daisy, her heart sinking.
| But she does, and she begins sweetly:
"Good-evening, Daisy; good evening Mr..
| lsane: I've come to ask favor of you,
| I've been pponted-awfully. l had
an invitation to the Damask Rose, (lie No
| y ''but the gentleman who was to accom-
pany me has sent word that he has been sud-
denly Frustrated by a violent attack Of"
(she was going to say scarlet fever, but
substitutes headache) "a very violent at
tack of headache. Now. don't want to
lose my nights pleasure, and if you will
give me seat in your sleigh, Ilt be ever
so much obliged!''
ssThere'S no rOom," stammered Austen.
| Daisy, although she despises impolite-
ness, is sufficiently inconsistent to give
Austen look of gratitude for this rude
speech.
Il won't mind that. can squeeze in
| anywhere" says Belinda. 'sIf my dress
ism rumpled, won't care in the least"
"But your dress will be crushed Daisy
responds.
"Well, what can'C be cured must be en-
| dured,' you know. I'll go at any. rate "
noic rfal1y tad no fo0
and the three went out and crowded in the
sleigh.
The Damask Rose ball had no distinctive
feature of it's own, except that there was
\ less constralnt and more merriment than
is usually the case in such assemblies. The
dancers really danced they did not walk
through the figures as if they were attend
| ing the funeral of some dear departed
The waltz and polka being acquired tastes
| had not yet reached unsophisticated Mil
ton, in consequence the programme was
made principally Of country dances full Of
! life and spirit.
Miss Briggs hung on poor Austen's arm
during the entire evening. She never left
him for moment. He made many futile
attempts to get rid of her-even at supper
she held his arm with one hand. while she
helped herself to various substantial edi-
bles with the other.
Daisy, however, was not altogether de-
serted. Partners by the dozen claimed her
hand; and, though the enjoyment of the
evening was partially spoiled by Austen's
captivity, yet she managed to draw some
honey from the damask rose.
Miss Briggs insisted on going home with
them in the sleigh. This was the unkind-
est cut of all to Austen. He had purposed
to say some particular words to Daisy
some words to which Daisy would have
probably said, "Ask mamma" Perhaps
Miss Belinda bad guessed his intention,
and had taken this mode of destroying his
opportunity.
Austen refined in the horse before Miss
Briggs door.
ssNo, no, I won't get OUT" she said,
sweetly; II couldn't think of getting out
before dear Daisy-we'il drive her home
first.
'We," thought Austen; ''she has already
taking possession Of me. How can 1 get
rid of her 7"
After having left Daisy at home, Aus
ten seriously thought upon the feasibility
of making the horse run away. But Miss
Belinda got out at her own door and babe
him an affectionate good night, so that al
tentative was rendered unnecessary.
|
1t was certain that when Austen Rane
would marry there would be a comforta-
BILE home to which to bring his wife. His
father had left him the best farm of any
around Milton.
He was sensible and steady. He had
never been given to sowing wild oats, but
Of the other sort he had sown plentiful
crops, and the farm had doubled in value
since he had come to own it.
It was the thirteenth OF February, and
he sat alone at his desk IN the spacious
parlor of the farm. He was chewing the
end of a pen-holder, and rejecting.
s:She'n marry me, in spite of myself"
he soliloquized, ''if don't shut her up. |
can't tell her don't want her. right out
plain. couldnt speak so to any woman;
but such sly, lodging, prosecuting old
maid don deserve civility. I'll just write
her sharp note.
ssTo morrow will be. the fourteenth of
February. I'll send Daisy valentine.
There's right smart one in Browns
store. It's got two doves pecking at
heart, surrounded by wreath of daisies.
The heart opens, and shows gilt wedding
ring. Ill send Hiram for it. Hi-ram!''
"All right p and the chore.boy's red