Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-05-28
her feet.

her feet.
| "Now Robbie say his prayers.
| never saw anything half has lovely as
the mother and child that night.
s.God bless mamma"
"Mamma," he repeated.
s'And uncle and auntie."
"Uncle and auntie.''
ssAnd Mr. Lane, the nice gentleman"
She put my name in her child's prayers!
Why, Ford, my heart gave great ex-
ultant bound; but suddenly it stood still.
sMamma said Robbie's shrill little voice:
'sthat nice genelman gived me sumfn."
s.What, my darling-fowers ?''
s'Sumfn else.n
Chocolate 7"
ssSumfin else.''
sWhat then, my lamb ~
81 dunno,' and he looked puzzled; then
frightened up with, ''but show co."
HE began with my guilty glance toward
Brieg; he delivered the words. Now, my
little fiend, / give 90 sumin that's good
for 90, with tragic effect then he applied
the time-honered remedy for naughtiness.
He added, And, mamma, kyed vewy
loud, and then l feeled more BETTER"
'There was moments hush. Mrs.
Randolph Rugged Robbie to her breast.
crept down stairs, astonlshed at the ca
pacity ia children for retaining an impress
sion, but feeling had made great sue
cess.
Later she came down. We had all
agreed upon walk, so we went along by
the blossomed fields, but Mrs. Randolph
was perfectly SILENT
II argued good from this, and felt ella
ted. Russell and his wife saw something
out of the common in my manner, i think,
and considerably walked apart together.
I felt that must speak out my heart. SO l
began:
although we have known each other
but a few days, you must feel, as do. ours
is no common friendship"
She made no answer.
but forty; the night was heavenly bright'
she was beautiful "Adelaide, 1 love you
May uOp0 W VIII yOus
s.Adelaide stood still Instantly, turned
upon me, and fixed me with such look as
I never met before or SINCE"
sWretchl" she said, 'you raised your
hand against my child. my Robbie, my an
gel. You called him little fiend. de-
spise, detest, utterly abhor you. I'd mar
ry demon sooner"
"Ford. she shone white with anger. AS
soon as could catch my breath, I tried to
argue"
"See how good he was afterward. A lit
tie wholesome discipline is"
'Don't speak to me.'' she struck in
"Never dare let me see your face again.
Never dare.''
She walked on brlskly to the hotel, I
meekly following. She swept up stairs,
finging me back Judith look, full Of
righteous wrath.
told Russell the matter at once.
| He whistled, then laughed long and
loud. ''By Jovel'' he said, ''the boy had
never had whipping, and didn't under
stand it. It's pity, Lane that you can't
bring him up; but Adelaide is fierce where
that spoiled brat is concerned. Pm afraid
there's no hope for you.''
81 left next morning for Paris by the
early diligence
| WELL" said Ford, tit was lucky for
you. Robbie must have turned out a ter
rible wretch.''
mo, he hasn't. He's tall, handsome
lad Of fourteen; well hammered, and obedi-
ent to his mother and step-father.''
s'Step-fatherl She's married, then?"
s'Three years ago she met man my su-
perior in tact, courage. and persistence. !
respect and envy him.
s'But what tussle he must have had
with the boyl''
Eyes; for our domestic system is pecu-
liar. Here are statistics: Out of one hun
dred of the pirate species of child that I've
met, three were English, two Russian, one
French, and ninety-four American. To
bring these infants to reason it called for
ninety-fOur men of mettle. I only wish
I'd served my country by being one of
them.
Ford laughed, and filled glass. Here's
to Robbie's step-father, the hero and mar
tyrl''
''And the happiest of men," Lane add
ed, filling his glass. ''Ah, Ford, that's
the rub ~ and Mr.. Lane, with sigh, en-.
ded as he began: 'sShe's the loveliest wo-
man in the world"