Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-01-09


OF their own! This great, grand house
was prison. But it had always been on
the cards that George should live with bis
mother. An unusual devotion existed be-
tween the mother and son.
! Eddie was not a wise woman. She made
no effort to conceal the bitterness in her
soul from her own parents. They knew
that she was not happy; they never dreamed
of blaming her when day after day went
by without their seeing her. But they did
blame Mrs. LIE Roy, and none the less as
they saw Eddie grow quiet and dull and
changed.
George anG she drifted farther and farth-
er apart. His was an impressionable ma
ture, which speedily fell way from the
magnetism Of any influence which was not
vigorously exerted. And he liked life and
gayety; Eddies mood chilled and repressed
him. He had no sympathy forpeople with
| the blues. So he sought amusement else
where. If Eddie refused to return visits,
the more reason that he should visit Wig
orously. He was always warmly welcomed
at the houses of his old intimates. The
Storeys, for instance, made as much of
him as though he still were unmarried
He believed those girls would do anything
| for him. He showed Eddie with some
what of schoolboy triumph pair OF slip
pers Minna Storey had worked for him in
shaded fosses.
| Port Royal-at least it's exclusive circles
always left home in August and Septem-
Der. The LIE Roys from time immemorial
had gone to the Sweetbrler springs during
those months. 1t was decided to carry
out his usual programme, almost without
consulting Mrs. George LIE Roy. She, for
her part, destested the idea of going, as
indeed she had ended by detesting all the
LIE Roys' doings.
Nevertheless, Sweetbrier Springs was a
pleasant place enough, In the heart of the
peaceful, serene mountains. 1t was not
so far from Port Royal but that George
could Join his family once week, for
which fact Eddie would have been more
! than thankful had she had the full benefit
of his society when he did come. But
there were not many men at the springs,
and DR.. LIE Roy was handsome and popu-
lar. His weekly arrival was the signal
among the idle girls at Sweetbrier to mo-
nopolize his attentions.-And George was
nothing loath. He came up here to recu
perate and to have a good time, it was
with the same zeal which he had brought
to bear upon the study of his profession.
| The Storey girls were his warmest adj
mirers. Minna Storey was as bewitching-
ly beautiful as the typical Eastern houri-
all rounded curves and dimples, soft, ten
drilly brown hair, and laughing, mlschiev-
Gus hazel eyes. She was girl who never
hesitated to follow the bent of her pleas
ures, although these at times led her into
somewhat devious ways. She generally
had love affair on hand, although this
was apt to be not so much a filtration as
aromp. at least this was the distinguish
ing characteristic Of her present encoun-
ter with DR.. LIE Roy. 1t was great fun, no
doubt, but it could hardly be said to be
dignifed. AS the weeks slipped by, the
fact grew to be an established one among
the other girls that DR.. LIE Roy was Nina
Storey's exclusive property.
Eddie was wretched. Those women are
aticns, cultivate gayety which, if forced,
at least serves as an escape valve. Eddie
not only was wretched but looked so. And
George became irritated. He actually was
at last in the condition of believing him
self to be the aggrieved party.
One evening, when Eddie hung over the
children until they we're asleep, grooming
soft airs to them which always lulled them
to rest soonest, she wandered down stairs
with the vague intention of finding George
and trying to dispel the miserable cloud
which had hung between them now for so
long. A wish to do so had come into her
heart as she kissed her babies good night.
She drifted down the great sounding stair
way, looking like a pale ghost with her sad
eyes and her flowing white dress. She
glanced out on the different piazzas on her
way; the boarders were apt to walk and
sit about on these during the long even
/ ings. But she did not see her husband.
She drifted through the parlors. where
there was card playing, dancing, music.
''Look at Mrs. LIE Roy. How beautiful
she is!'' one person remarked.
And how intensely unhappy! Poor
thing! What a pity that any one with a
heart should have married George LIE
Roy!"
She stood in the open doorway and look
ed up and down the piazza on which open
ed the parlors. Ah at last! George was
seated with his back toward her, in a
lounging, negligent attitude. Facing
him. in an attitude equally negligent, was
Minna Story, her dimpled Bacchante face
upturned to his; her white arms cleaning
out of the falling rose-colored sleeves of
her dress, and wreathed with Roman
pearls. Perhaps she was posing for Lalla
Rookh or some other oriental character,
to whom strands of pearls are appropriated
in tableaux vivants; at all events her
graceful head was adorned to correspond
with her arms. She made a slight move
ment at the moment that Eddie appeared
in the doorway, with which her little
white hand fell against DR.. LIE Roy's knee.
and lay there carelessly. Eddie's face
contracted as in pain. She came forward.
Minna slightly changed her attitude, but
with no visible show of embarrassment
George glanced up. evil you join us?''
he asked, in an unsympathetic, superficial
tone.
Eddie paused moment, looking down
upon Minna. Then she said, Jelly. 'No,