Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-04-09
that he see ed to like the nonsense she
talked at asst he frightened und r it al.

that he see ed to like the nonsense she
talked at asst he frightened und r it al.
ways, and it ade him laugh. He never
bored her with sense and long explanatio s
but she was never in his company without
finding herself afterward thinking about
things which he had said, and 10 king uE
little points of information suggested by
his talk. He was 80 kind-hearted. too, al
ways SO kind He didn't sneer at her dia
tribes against love and lovers; and HI
seemed to understand and be little sorry
for her, left out in the cold, solitary in thu
midst of the sisterly circle once so one in
interest and so closely united. Here was
a genuine friend at last, she reflected-s
friend Of her own ana c0mforted thereby
for her losses, she grew little more toler-
ant of the happiness Of other people ani
even when, little later, a great wave o
surprise and sudden changes broke ovel
the home and all in it, still the tolerance
continued. ,zs.
For first John Norman had partner
ship offered him in South America and b,
and Eunice had to be got ready at two
months notice to sail to their new home.
And while Polly was toiling over the hur
ried preparation which was all that time
made possible, Susan Gilmore. her OWE
special friend, called one morning. and
with burst of emotion quite unwonted in
the staid Sue, confded the fact that she
was engaged to U. O., who was
the loveliest dearest man that ever was
though Polly had been SO unkind as not tt
find it out-a fact she (Sue) was very glad
Of now-and they we're to be married in
six weeks, and sail for China directly at.
terward. And would her dearest Polly
forgive her, and promise to love D. o., all
she possibly could, just for her sake?
you too ?' was all Polly's reply. But
she put her arms round Sues neck with q
tear and sob and all was smooth be-
tween them. Sue, who had dreaded the
interview, was amazed at Polly's forbear.
ance. A change had evidently come over
the spirit of her dream. Trials, we are
told, have Christening effect on the char.
acter. Was it her trials which were thus
blessed to Polly2
After that all was bewilderment and
confusion dire till the two weddings were
over. Eunice and John departed the day
after theirs, and a lull fell upon the weary
household. Mrs. Patten went upstairs to
lie down. Polly, who sighed for fresh air,
departed for walk with John Gilmore,
who missed his sister so much, poor fellowl
and Amy, the cadette Of the family, pre-
pared to celebrate their newly recovered
freedom by adjoining and making beauti-
full the dining-room, now rescued from
counting purposes, and restored again to
the common use of the household.
A busy afternoon indeed did little Amy
make for herself, but it was merry one
and she sang as she worked. Every vase in
the room she filed with vlolets and wild
flowers, or apple blooms fom the just bios
somed orchard. The curtains were pulled
to exactly the ideal angle, the chairs re
grouped, all the horrid look taken away
Amy thought, as if the room were meant
only for two, and for no one else. It was
dusk when she finished, and curling up in
the sofa corner, she awaited with impati-
ence Polly's return-Polly. who had hated
the love making as much as she had, and
would be so pleased. Polly was the one
person in the house of whose sympathy
Amy felt quite sure.
She was long in coming. but she came
at last. Amy heard Der step on the porch,
and with 1t another step, louder, frmer.
Surely that tiresome John Gilmore was not
coming in to spoil everything this first
pleasant night. No; he had come to see
papa. Amy heard him tap at the door of
the ''den," while Polly ran upstairs. He
emerged as she came down; there was a
long contabbing in the entry; but at last
the front door shut with delightful en-
phasis, and Amy jumped up from the sofa
to enjoy the effect of her surprise.
''Come in-oh. do come IMP she cried.
II want you to see if the dear old room
doesn't look lovely. I've been all the after
noon doing it, SO that it might be nice for
our first evening. Isn't it pleasant to
nave room to sit in again? Aren't you
glad that the wedding is over, and all the
;iresome love- making, ard we can have
,ozv little times at home like other peoplep
Why, Polly, how queer you look! Don't
'ou like it? What makes you do so?"-1
or Polly, half uearfully, was kissing and
ondling the child.
''Oh, l do, Amy darling, do like it very
nuch," pleaded poor Polly, "but-only-|
ny pet, I'm afraid you'll be very disap-
pointed; but John Gilmore is coming here
his evening to see me, and I'm afraid I |
hall have to ask you to let us have this !
oom."
John Gilmorel Good gracious! Polly |
oattern"-with almost shriek-'y
lot engaged to him You don't mean
hat ?"
"Y-e-e-s," faltered Polly. ..'Oh, Amy
lear. don't look SO distressed ~
Il will look distressed; I have right
o. cried Amy with burst of sobs. "Af-
er all you said! A man named John, too
three Johns in the familyl OIL Polly !!
And you who declared you hated men
lamed Johnl Well, after this, 1 never,
ever will believe in anybody again."
Amy. dear,I talked a great deal of
onsense. You must forget it. I didn't
now..' But Polly urged in vain. Amy
ushed her hand aside and rushed away to
onsole herself as best abe might with
ard At of crying. and Polly, convicted,
epentant, but by no means unhappy, was
9ft behind,
So ended Polly's controversy with Gu
ID. She was vanquished, as Pollys are
pit to be In such warfare: but there are
efeats which count far more than Yicto-