Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-18

Az g SYu sely pisaGA Wafu as Iar as am con
u And be beamed all over with still com.
I plaeebcy.a 7a aesa
Mrs: Savage turned one admiring eye
frpm his visage and another threatening
one from that of her daughter, and pro.
ceeded to perform an introduction between
us and the elder. His affability was ex-
Jtremes and addressing JUS each as ''slster. y
heR commenced, a theological discussion,
while Mfs.aSavage and Phebe bus ed them
selves in preparing supper. But as he had
| the discussion, all to himself he soon
wearied9 yof it, and favored US with his
views o. Politics and temperance at great
~ 'sHHaln't I seen you down below?'' he
suddenly inquired, from the midst of his
disquisition, ~ searching Marianne's face
with q somewhat puzzled expression.
We were both considerably startled, for
as his speech was extremely free with the
nanecof hls SATANIC majesty. the s'down
felow' was naturally suggestive Of very
objectionable region. It was great re-
lief tosfiud out that he only meant Bangor
after all. 5ai ga
Phebe and tine strange young man, who
seemed by no means strange to her, ap-
peared rather excited and were inclined to
laugh at the elder, during the solemn ex-
ercises of supper. The elder regarded him
with severe disapproval, and remarked
cheerfully several times, that he knew one
or two young men who were going straight
to destruction.
Evening, however, found Phebe demure.
the young man sleepy, the elder still in a
theological, but not SO severe a mood and
casting lover-like glarces toward the maid
of his choice. But Mrs. Savage looked
anxious, and was continually dropping a
stitch in her knitting. t'My son john
and the strange young man, who seemed
to be fast friends, retired early. pleading
fatigue. Then Fhebe, in spite of her
mothers demonstrating glances, retired
also. The elder asked PERMISSION to smoke.
pipe, and no objection being expressed
he pulled away, uttering a little exhorta-
ton between the whlffs.
$50 Phebe is engaged to the elder2'' in
CURED Marianne when the reverend gen.
tleman had taken his departure for the
night, as we sat with Mrs. Savage by the
fireside
"Why, yes, kalkerlate they'll be mar
ried. She's awful bigoted though, N says
she won't have him. (Bigoted is the
word used for all sorts of Objectionable
behavior in the Aroostook.) sThis young
man that druv the elder up KEEP school in |
our deestrict an courted her spell win
ter fore last, N I'm afeerd he's turnin'
her head agin now.''
"A marriage with him seems a great |
deal more suitable" ventured, feeling
deep sympathy for the poor damsel. 1.-THE
elder is so much older than Phebe.'
eyes, indeed" said Marianne, warmly,
you ought to marry the elder yourself,
Mrs. Savage.''
''Sakes alive!" remarked that lady; ''the
elders enough sight too young and hand
some for me. I'M bound to have him in |
the family, though, eff tits only to spite the
Wilder Jone, that Is a setting her cap at
him like all possessed, n is alters whis-
perlng something against PLebe in his |
ear"
The next morning Mrs. Savage was astr
Early, as usual, for John, who worked on
the river, was obliged to have his break
fast at O'Clock. Phebe, she always called
At half-past 5, and when the hands of the
clock indicator this hour she stepped into
Inc hall and Phebe's name echoed with
emphasis through the still house.
But there was no response. She called
again and again. but only silence pre-
vailed.
II declare that girls CROWN more and
more shihess every day." she muttered to
serself, and ran swiftly up stairs into her
daughters bedroom
The room was empty, the bed had not
been occupied at all, and Phebe's clothing
had disappeared from the nails in the
closet; so had her fathers old hair trunk,
which for years had stood in one corner.
There was an envelope on the table ad-
dressed to her mother. She tore it open
and read with feelings better imagined
Than described:
"DEAR MARM:-Seth Peckham and is
! goin' over to Patagumpus to get Elder
Wright to marry us this morning. could
stand the elder fur pa, but not fur a
husband. Cum and see us when you get
through yore summers work and the
ooarders is gone.
PHEBE JANE
P. ST. shall send after my hefer and
Fether beds and kochin chiny pulets and
Ill my things next week.
Mrs. Savage, as she declared, was ssdret-
'ul took aback," but determined to make
The best of it. The elder, on bel. in
.ormed of the elopement, seemed to be ;
more affected that they should have gomez .
% Elder Wright to be married than any
bangs Of unrequited love.
'They might at least have given me the
privilege of marrying them, though faint
likely Seth could afford to pay a great deal
If fee,' said he, regretfully.
A day or two afterwards he informed
Mrs. Savage that it had been revealed to {
him that there was providence in Phsbe's
'efusal to marry him, and heaven had or
1ained that he should marry her instead;
Ind Mrs Savage accepted the ordination
" heaven. II
CURIosITIfcs OF 1881. The year 1881
Will be mathematical curiosity. From
light to left and 1T to right it reads the
'ame. Eighteen divided by 2 gives 9 as
luotient; 81 divided by gives 8; if divi-
led by the quotient contains 9; if null
'lplled by 9 the product contains two s.; 1
md are 9; 8 and are 8. If the is be
placed under the 81 and added the sum is
". 1t the figures be added thus: 1881,