Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-25

: enough.
Well, as don't carry a copper noW, al
though. perhaps did then, will venture
to say, vanity to the right, about, that
| couldn't step without stumbling ovel
7 some victim that day, and without rip
, ping seam as well. All the gentlemen
| kept about me before and after dinner, and
, was just simpleton enough to like it, and
to feel 1t rather a triumph than otherwise
over the rich and fortunate girls. Alfred
Paget was on one side, and Colonel Meare
on the other. and Lieutenant Savary how
ering about, and Mr.. Mervin was pulling
me japanese lilies, and Miss Mervln was
hanging behind and saying disagreeable
things to Maria as we went down the ter
races and through the wicket into cur own
garden. where the boys and Sissy were
ready to wait on us with peaches and
cream, and where mamma looked loyelier
than all the rest Of US, lying in her white
wrapper on the straw sofa under the tulip
j tree. v
But of course as soon as was there
had to drop my roleof fine lady and belle
for that Of hostess and waiting-maid, and
was moving here and there making this
person and that more comfortable when
all at once caught my dress in thorn,
and such slit as rent its way through
that old stuff you never saw short Of zig
gag lightning in thundercl0ud. ran
into the house for some pins to catch it
together, but thought then had better
take hasty needle and thread; and 1 was
behind The window-screen, hurrying for
dear life, when heard voices, and there
was Miss Mervin, with the party round
her, giving some ribbons off her dress to
Sissy, aud mildly quizzing her the while.
| stuck the needle in, and sailed out, for
there was no knowing where that sort Of
thing would end. s'You haven't given
me any peaches and cream, Sissy said ],
coming up.
deed, Miss, said Sissy, ''I'm that sor-
ry! But the creams all done gone"
''Gone!" 1 said, placidly. ''Then run
and get some more.'' i
s'For sure, MISS Al-wat'll l get it
within" Missus glib me the very fastest
cent she had for the cream for desc YER
''Sissyl'
Poor SISSY" murmured Miss Mervin.
ssWon't she pay for this with more than
her fastest cent?"
'There u plenty more cream
''Plenty more?" cried Sissy, joytully-
"Whar's it at2"
SIN the milk room, to be sure. Make
haste, Sissy"
'sLors, Miss Al! Eff you amt allus the
one ter sabe 'pearances! I'd orter known
you'd hah some lef'. Miss Abs jess de Gu
test case" said Sissy, then, to the assem-
bled group, ''for getting somsfin outen
! nofin!-Dis here gown she's got on she
made oh an ole bed-curting; an yer
wouldn't nebber dreamed twas de ole
mosquito netting roun' Mars Alecs OLD
hat she wouldn't hab it done washed
nowaysz-''
Struck to stone, if ever I was thankful
in my life it was when John suddenly ap-
peared. and taking Sissy's shoulder gave
her twist round the corner of the house
and out of sight.
''Is it really true?'' said Miss Mervin.
with sprightliness; land did you make
that-that peculiar dress from an old bed
curtain? and is 1t mosquito netting from
round Alec's hat?"
"What triumph of art, Miss Lamar
tel" simpered Maria Vergnes.
mo" said then, recovering myself; |
sits the triumph of poverty. But it's
very good Of you to take so much interest
in my dress. I'll teach you all my art any
day."
Thanks, y said Maria, who wasn't ill.,
natured herself. 'But we shouldn't look
like you in it if you did. And, indeed, I'd !
rather be able to get up such dress as you
have done than to be able to buy out
WORTH
And at that little bit of kindness of |
course burst into tears, and ran away as
fast as could to hide them. I didn' know
where, and never stopped until found
myself at the bottom of the orchard, face
down on the grass. beneath the old hicko- |
ry tree.
But John had come stalking close behind |
me, and in minute there he was, lifting
me from the grass.
"Oh, let me alonel let me alone!" l !
sobbed. "Oh, let me 60! want to get |
these rags off and burn them up"
''What!'' he cried, gayly. "This Illumi- |
mated Dress?"
eyes, yes; it only shows what fool
was, trying to 60 where didn't belong
And don't care. 1 don't want to be-
long there. hate them ALL l."
"You hate them all, Alice ?"he laughed.
.''Yo GU hate Marcia My mother? Me?
Its no matter whether 1 hate you or
not; it's nothing to you. Nothing is
anything to you so long as you have Miss
Paget beside you.''
81 don't want Miss Paget beside me.''
t'John!"
"There's only one person that I want
beside me, and want her for life. But
| -she-thinks I'm too DID,
ooh, John!"
'And as for Miss Paget. she is going to
marry Colonel Meare."
''You don't mean so!'' And I started
! and looked up, for all this time it hadn't
seemed the least queer or unnatural that
was resting on John 8 arm. '''Oh, John, -
said, "don't you think it's been real
mean of you to pretend to make love to
her, just so as to-
| "To-well, to what?" said John.
s'TO to make me see I couldn t do
without you,'' cried out. And the next
moment John had taken possession of me
again, and his lips were on mine, through
all the rain Of tears upon my face.
ITO think" said he, shat kissing my