Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-07-25
,sshe always calls him .dearie. ,


shine and showers.
Uncle Rupert, finishing his lonely break
fast, soliloquized to himself
II must be on the lookout to-day for
Rdpert's promised trick. He won't find
it so easy as he imagines to fool his old
uncle. Who's there?" the last two words
| in answer to somewhat timid rap at the
door.
It was certainly not easy to astonish
Rupert Smithson, but his eyes opened with
most unmistakable expression of amaze
ment as the door opened to admit tall.
slender figure in deep mourning, and in
low, very sweet voice asked:
lis it the landlord?''
s'The-the-what?''
81 called about the house, sir.''
"What house? Take seat" suddenly
RECALLING his politeness.
els this No. 46 w place?"
"Certainly it ISL
II have been looking out for some time
for furnished house suitable for board
ers, sir, and if find this one suits me and
if the rent is not too high
"BuG,' -interrupte the antonished
bachelor.
ooh, hope it is not already taken! The
advertiseme said to call between eight
and nine, and it struck eight as I stood
upon the door STEP"
"Oh, the advertisement! So, so, Master
Rupert. this is your doing is it? Will you
let me see the advertisement, Madam2''
"You have the paper in your hand SIR
she said timidly. 81 did not cut it out"
"Oh, you saw it in the paper"
| He turned to the list of houses to let and
| there sure enough it was:
''To let, furnished, a three-story, brown
stone front, BASEMENT" and rather full
description of the advantages of the prem
ises, with the emphatic addition, ''Call
only between and a. m.''
80 as to be sure am at home, the ras-
cal ~ said Rupert Smithson, la, ing aside
the paper. II am sorry, madam" he said,
shat you have had the trouble OF calling
upon a useless errand.''
''Then it is taken," said she in very
disappointed tone, and the heavy Grape
|
face framed in the saddest of all badges, a
Widows cap.
"Well, no." said the perplexed bachelor,
''it is not exactly taken"
| s'Perhaps you object to boarders?"
"You want to take boarders?" he re-
piled, thinking how lady-like and gentle
she looked, and wondering if she had long
been widow.
Eyes, sir; bnt would be very careful
about the References
| ''Have you ever kept boarders before?"
| mo, sir. Since my husband died six
years ago (he failed in business and
brought on severe sickness by mental
anxiety, my daughter and myself have
been sewing, but we have both been in
poor health all winter, and 1 wish to try
some way of getting a living that is less
combining. I have Kept house for several
years, but have not the capital for full
nishing, so we want to secure house like
this one. if possible"
| Quite unconscious of the reason, Rupert
Smithson was finding it very pleasant to
talk to this gentle little widow about her
plans, and as she spoke, was wondering if
it would not make an agreeable variety in
his lonely life to let her experiment in
keeping a boarding house on the premises.
| Seeing his hesitation she said earnestly:
81 think you will be satisfied with my
reference, sir. have lived in one house,
and have had work from one firm, for six
years and, if you require it, L can obtain
letters from my husbands friends in Gin
cinnati.'
! sCincinnatl p
Gle was quite we'll known there. Per
haps you know OF him, John Murray, -
street ?"
| Rupert Smithson looked searchingly in
| to the pale, sad face that was so pleadingly
raised to his gaze. Where were the rosy
cheeks, the dancing eyes, the laughing
lips that he had pictured as belonging to
John Murray's wife? Knowing now the
truth, he recognized the face before him,
the youth all gone, and the expression
sanctifed by sorrow and suffering.
"You have Children he said, after
long pause.
'Only one living-a daughter seventeen
years old. I have buried all the Others"
II will let you have the house on one
condition." he said, his lips trembling
little as he spoke.
| She did not answer. In the softened
eyes looking into her own, in the voice
suddenly modulated into tender sweet
ness, some memory was awakened and she
listened with bated breath and dilating
eyes.
| Son one condition, Katie" he said,
S'that you come to it as my wife and it's
mistress. have waited for you twenty
years, Katie"
1t was hard to believe, even then, though
the little widow let him caress her. and
sobbed upon his breast. This gray-haired,
lniddle-aged man was so unlike the Ru-
pert she had believed false! But after the
whole pastwas discussed, it was not hard to
believe that there might be years of hap
piness still in store for them.
| Rupert Smithson did not put in an ap-
pearance at his counting house all day,
and Rupert the Second went home to his
dinner in rather an uneasy frame Of mind
regarding the April-fool trick of his.
IL must run over and see if / have Of
Tended beyond all hope of PARDON" he
said, as he rose from the table.
But gruf voice behind him arrested
his steps.
$50, SO! you have advertised my house
to let," said his uncle, but in spite of his
efforts he failed to look very angry.
'How many old maids and widows APP
| nliadYn innuired the daring zouna scano