Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-02-20

making himself name of good repnte,
saving not little money, and-falllng IN
love with Jessie Haven.
And it was on this one particular point
that Keturah was most oft1sh. 1t was OF
his sweetheart that Guy had been talking
very enthusiastically, as he lay on the
lounge watching the needle ny IN her hard
brown fingers-for Miss Norris scorned the
idea of using sewing machine. arguing
that they were promoters OF laziness,
sheerest extravaganza, and reflection on
the good old times before they were inven-
ted.
What served her mother and grand
mother was good enough for her, she
would say proudly; and she was purely
conscientious in it too. a
A silence had followed something that
Guy had said-a silence that was becom-
ing a little uncomfortable. ~.
81 am sorry you are so prejudiced
against jessie" he said. at length gravely.
81 intended to ask you to invite her here
for week or sd, before we are married,
So
II shan't do any such thing" Aunt
Keturah said, with sharpness that, had
he not known that it was her manner
more than her feeling. would have made
him vexed; 'sfor don't want her here! Ii
you'd picked out sensible girl, even If
she was ugly as sin and poor as Jobs tur-
key. I'd never said a word, and I'd had her
here and showed her my way o'doing things
and, like as not, give you real good set
out in sheets ana table linen, and the like.
But strange girl from New York, and
girl that writes for the papers, at that! [
know all about 'em-I've read how they
never comb their hair unless they go out.
and they daub everything they touch with
their nasty, inky fingers, and they can't
do any other blessed thing but scribble.
scribble, scribble all sorts Of sicklsh trash"
Guy could not not help laughing at the
picture in sable she had drawn with such
energetic skill.
II think you have been misinformed.
Aunt Kitty" he said, good humoredly.
s.You would find my Jessie to be-"
Aunt Keturah laid her sewing deliber-
ately down, and looked at him over her
glasses.
s'See here, now, Guy, there's no earthly
use talking If you want to marry her,
marry her and take tile consequences. I'd
Thought you'd a preferred nice, han
DIV girl, who could do her own housework,
and make her own dresses, and do up your
shirts as used to do. ids thought you'd
preferred good cookin' and a clean house
to good-for-nothing shiftless creature,
J eternally and eyerlastingly writing for
those silly story papers, and neglecting her
family and children-unless the Lord IN
His mercy denies them to you !"
Guy laughed outright. 1t would have
been almost impossible to do otherwise, so
positively indignant was Aunt Keturah's
voice and manner, so awfully solemn and
lferbidding her faces sss stst.s -s'sssaes
Il see my little Jessie hasn't the ghost
of chance to win your favor" he said
presently, just little disappointedly. II
wonder if Uncle Hiram is so prejudiced
against her?''
| Aunt Keturah' 8 face relaxed into a brief,
wintry smile.
ssYour Uncle Hiram usually thinks pref
ty much as do, Guy"
! And the conversation ended just there
while. two months from that very after
noon, there came big white envelope
through the mail to the little Norris cot
tage-a big white envelope, that contained
a somewhat smaller unsealed one, which
in turn held set of wedding cards-Guy
Norris and Jessie Haven's.
Gail right!'' Aunt Keturah said, caus-
tically, as she spelled the fancy type labo'
riously out. and handed the cards over the
table to Uncle Hiram. II hope the boys
satisfied! The next thing we'll hear il
that he's dyin' of dyspepsia or starvin' fol
want of decent cookin'."
Uncle Hiram adjusted his glasses. ane
looked good-naturedly at the pretty white
cards.
s.Mebbe not, mebbe not, Ketury. Wei
wish 'em good luck anyhow, and I'll sene
him down a weddin' present out OF the
cear-a barl of apples and couple d
home cured hams En-, Ketury?"
) IF you want to be fool and encourage
him in his shiftlessness, she retorted say
agely-and yet, away down her heart sh'
was experiencing certain feeling OF tend
er sentiment and unspoken blessing sh
would not have admitted for fortune
The months rolled on, and as no invita-
) ton went from the cottage to the youn'
bridal pair, there were not many letter
reached them from Guy; but the few tina
he did send were always bright and happy
and breathed perfect content-to Uncl
Hiram's delight.
'aTaint so desprit bad, after all h
: said once, after reading one aloud.
do you 'spose he'd admit he'd made
mistake?'' She returned sharply.
And after that, not much was said o.
, the subject for many long weeks. until on
day, Uncle Hiram brought a letter in fron
the post Office that containedsvery unusua
news-that startled even Aunt Keturah
little.
: For disastrous times had fallen upo
their boy. In a great financial stress, hi
employers had been impefatively obllge
to discharge him with other valued en-
: ployeas, and, added to loss of business an
sudden stoppage of salary, Guy had bee
> taken alarmingly ill--so ill-so i'll that, h
wrote, his life had been despaired of bu
Q he was much better now, and he would b
so glad to have Aunt Kitty and Uncle IL
y ram come and see him.
Nor could Miss Keturah refrain from
little triumphant laugh, in the very race
Guys misfortunes.
s t.n;ax,t ol,,ovo oav it'd acme sooner {