Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-12-04


Miss Vane is past forty years old.
But, then, of course, no one ever
troubles ones self about it,
"Past forty! Frank, always
thought you had uncommon good
sense and judgment and pereep-
ton, but-past forty? But per-
haps you don't happen to know
how delicate and lovely her COM
plexion-how soft and luxuriant
her hair is--how girlish and
charming, yet dignitied, is her
manner
He spoke as if in great tri-
umph.
THAT goes for nothing, Uncle
Tom,' Lottie said, more mildly
than Frank had expected of her.
Complexion and hair can both be
bought nowadays"
81 am perfectly aware of that
fact, my dear; although l must
admit | had not thought you ca
pable of such-such well, the less
| said, the better, perhaps. But /
| assure you ] have satisfied myself
that Aura is one of those rarely
preserved women who at thirty
for l have it from her own lips
that her last birthday was her
| thirtieth--are more charming and
mature, and every way suitable to
a discerning mans taste, than
when young and girisb."
And he looked stralghtly, de-
| family into Lottie's eyes.
mOh, WE'LL" she retorted stub
bornly, you'll find out some
day"
Eyes" he answered, II expect
| to find out that the woman who
| will honor me by being my wife
| is just what / nave said she is in
ali respects. Frank, don't you
| want tickets for the opera to-
night? I've couple to spare, if
you want to take Lot.ie to hear
Patti. Miss Vane and / are 60
ing.'
Of course Frank accepted the
tickets; and after dinner, when
Lottie went up to the nursery
with him for their usual half hour
of baby worship, she declared she
never would call him by his odious
name again.
"He shall be mammals darling
little Roland now she said, hold
ing him in her arms and shower
ing kisses on his sweet, laughing
face and bonny dark eyes.
Frank laughed.
You'd better wait a little long
err, Lottie. Thirty thousand
pounds is worth being called a
worse name than Tom. Perhaps
the old mans disenchantment
may come even yet"
"It's disgusting" she said.
| And then she said good night to
her year old boy, with dozens of
kisses and hufis, and gave him to
the nurse.
81 want you to 60 on an Grand,
please, Frank" she said suddenly,
as they went into their own room,
sup to Blandford's for an invisi-
BILE net end hairpins. Will you.
Frank 2"
"An invisible net! What on
earth is that? Can you see it ?
How shall [ know when I've got
it?"
She gave him little push to-
ward the door.
"Never mind, Mr.. Impudence.
You simply ask for what l tell
you, pay what they charge, and
bring it home to me-"
So good-natured Frank put on
his hat and started off to Bland
ford's, the famous hair dresser's,
where he was to buy the 'invisi-
BILE net. and met Uncle Tom on
the door step impatiently waiting
for the carriage that was to take
him to his beloved.
"There's plenty of time" Frank
said,as he stopped a minute. "Get
your cane, Uncle Tom, and walk
up to Blandford's with me-"
Uncle Tom looked at his watch.
swell, / will. / shouldn't like
to keep Aura waiting, though"
There's no need to- Frank
answered.
And they started off; every bit
of Franks determination and tact
kept continuously on the alert to
prevent the old gentleman from
discussing Miss Vane.
However, by violent effort, he
succeeded, by talking abou: the
Premier's illness and the Irish
Bill, till they reached Blandford's
where an obliging shopman gave
them seats, and begged them to
wait only one moment, as they
were so very busy just then.
And Frank and Uncle Tom sat
down and waited, close by them
being a tall Venetian screen which