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

softness of hers; her cheek was a shade
paler than now, and fairer. perhaps. Well,
| we rowed over to Isola Madre. There,
under the shadow of the wooded banks,
we heard the nightengales sing. and, in
short,n said Mr.. Lane. with nervous
laugh, knocking the ashes from his cigar,
and beginning to smoke before he had done
| speaking-..in short, resolved that very
| night to make Mrs. Randolph my wife, or
live bachelor
] s'Sudden, wasn't it?" limited Ford.
Eyes, but times nothing in such mat
tiers; it's-it's-"
ssSay it in four letters Ford suggested.
| swell, it's love; and | was heartily, des-
perately IN love. You see, was only for
| ty then"
| Next morning early was pacing the
turf in front Of the hotel, and met Mrs.
| Randolph. She Was dainty, fresh, and
sender-hued even in the full morning sun
shine l breakfasted with the Russell
| party, and bonnie brought to tie table the
prettiest four-year- old boy ever laid eyes
| on.'
"My Robbed my darlingl my blessing!"
exclaimed Mrs. Randolph, in a motherly
rapture, seating the child on her lap. The
little chap shook his head of yellow curls,
| reached with both hands over the table,
and calculated, 'Honey"
Honey IS bad for mammals boy,'' said
Mrs. Randolph, while |. looking at the
picture they made, only desired to call
both n other and child my own. Why, in
| fancy, [ was already father to the boy.
| loved him, brought him up. put him into
| the firm-all in a few minutes, during
which the little man was lunging and
| plunging after the honey dish. His moth
er restra lining him. he delivering piercing
yell, and grabbing the table-cloth, dragged
off some dishes that broke. "W alter"
said Mrs. Randolph, "take the honey
away
| at this the boy beat first the air. then
his mothers face. She turned red and
pale by turns, and hunted my pockets.
A knife, pencil-case, loose change, a
watch (s'tick, tick'', and like seductions
were displayed in vain. Finally l found
a bit of chocolate in silver paper. 'sWhaJ's
that, Robbie?"
Robbie stopped short in his pleasant ex-
ercise, and answered promptly, sChoclit.
. | 1 want it.
sits too early in the morning forsweets''
said the mother. ''RObbie shall have it by
by-and-by."
sNo-o. Now" yelled the boy.
I made the bonbOn disappear into the
air, iuggler fashion, and the cherub sulked
with finger in his mouth.
"He's a lovely boy,'' I said to the moth
er.
He's mammals blessing she answered
fondly. ssRobbie, speak to the nice gentle
man."
mo, won't,'' responded the blessing,
in tone of smothered brutality, like an
infantiIe Bill Sykes.
ROBBIE said I, ''don't you want to
ride pretty pink pony with a blue tail,
eh?''
This novel proposition made him
thoughtful moment; then cycling me
with settled hatred, he answered, emo, I
don't; want choclit."
Mothers lamb shall have chocolate by
and BY" said Mrs. Randolph, and kissed
him in manner perfectly distracting to
the man who adored her. Whereat he
grabbed an ear ring, and cruelty held her
graceful head at arm S length.
Robbie darling, you make mamma
cry" she said, persuasively.
} The young pirate held on, however, un-
til uncle Russell caught the little arm and
} shook it, with Hill hill young rascal, let
CO."
"Be careful; d on t hurt him. said Mrs.
} Randolph, with warmth and decision.
"Won't leggo! won't leggo!" screamed
Robbie, until the yelling, struggling mass
of embroidery, bare knees and yellow curls
was handed over to Marie, the bonnie, who
carried it up stairs. ''Robbie won't Rob-
bic won't!' reaching us in grateful dimin-
uendo.
Mrs. Randolph and took a stroll by the
lake. "My little son is very nervous and
sensitive she remarked, 'but very afec-
tionate.''
"And such child is treasure when
properly governed ventured with dis
Greet emphasis.
ssHe has never been punished, she said.
(, Ellis spirit shan't be broken"
"Certainly not. but little wholesome
restraint
mo" she broke in, with decision, "he
doesn't need it. He's darling child, and
my only comfort
nf nth q
d very becoming, after all all, to such pref
/; ty woman, and that May day passed like a
b pleasant dream. To be sure, it was broken
y occasionally by suspicion of nightmare
Y IN the shape of Robbie. who, except fol
o the one moment when he grabbed the GOV
e eted 'schoclit," regarded me with steady
:, disfavor.
o ssHe'll be so affectionate when he's once
u acquainted the mother said.
ssKiss me, Robbie DEAR" ventured.
1 'Hit YER" answered the baby ruffian.
y sob, no." coaxed mamma; ''give the
: nice gentleman pretty, pretty kiss"
g The nice gentleman approached eau
tiously, but not cautiously enough, Rob
Q bic delivered a well-aimed blow directly
q between my eyes.
Next morning we all started in travel
= ing carriage forthe passage of the Sim
: plon. The vehicle was roomy for the foul
l. of us, and Robbie besides. The bonnie rod'
9 out side. In fact, his mother was SO fond
} that Robbie's nurse held something OF {
sinecure. Now there's nothing that 81
IS favors rapid intimacy as travelling by
J. carriage. There's the proximity, the lacE
% ~ 1,,,ohoon from tho cam.