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

ding the boys in picking and boxing and
packing for all the income we had (moth-
er and 1 and the chlldren) was what we
could make from our strawberry beds and
orchard, and it was mighty little anyway,
to everything.
1t happened that was down at the sta
ton, arranging with the freight agent for
my strawberry crates, on the day these
people came but saw them. every one,
and all their gay hustle, and all their pref
ty dresses-the girls, mean and sup
rose they were travelling dresses. too-very
likely the worst they had. and their worst
SO far surprising my best that they didn It
seem to belong to the same order of things.
I had heard Susan and the Rokesby girls
talking of the arrival of these people, and
of all the fine doings there were to be; but
I saw at glance that I could have no
share in the fine d0ings, unless it should
be in pillow case party, or something of
the kind, where everybody looked alike. -
They had never sheard Of me, and so I
looked at them with impunity that day at
the station, and decided that the tall dark
fellow was Mr.. Paeet, and that frightful
ly stylish, tall, sallow girl, in dark blue
foulard, all puffs and ruffies and shirrings
and laces and ribbons. was his sister Mir
lam, and that the blue-eyed beauty was
Miss Mervin, and the red-headed girl was
Maria, and the straight young men were
the surveyors. l needn't have spent much
time in guessing, for my ears are as teles-
cope tubes, and couldn't help hearing
what some of them were saying as they
stood waiting for somebody to classify
their luggage. "Deuced pretty girl, with
the red gold hair there Say, Sammy,
wager box IF cigars I'm on speaking
terms with her before tomorrow"
''You're regular heart breaker, Meare
but I take you up.''
''She's one of ours, at any rate," said
another: "There's John Rokesby going to
speak with her.. What uncommon luck that
fellow has. Nothing to do, independent
fortune, sound health
''And knows pretty girl besides, Mer-
vim" |
L
me if had seen them, that that dark blue
foulard had nearly smothered me with |
envy.
'sWhat sort of looking people were they,
Alice 20 she asked.
ooh, city folks.''
''Nicely dressed, Supposed said NAM
ma, timidly, |
ooh. beautifully I" And then mamma
sighed, and began to speak. but thought |
better Of it. wouldn't have you think
that mamma was silly or weak minded |
woman she wasn't but she had been !
young herself, and knew how young folks
felt. But guessed what she was going |
to say, and ran and threw my arms round |
her dear old neck and cried. 'sBut Idont |
care about their fneries, not the least |
bit; I'd rather have you and
II reckon if you was all rugged out too |
you'd look as scrumptious as any of them
Miss AL" said Sissy, our little colored
help. {
I'VE must find some way co get you
new dress, dear, sighed mamma.
"Oh, new drsss won't signify said
I'm not likely to see them
''Not likely to see them ?'' said mamma
up on one elbow. II should like to know
why not, intimate as you are with the
Rokesby's and all 4? Of course you'll see
them and meet them frequently. Mrs. |
spend the day tomorrow" |
ooh, it's no use, can't CO." |
eyes you can. I've had old Margaret do |
up your white dress to-day, and there's
nothing any prettier than white. We got |
out the strawberry stains. Speaking Of |
them, we might give an afternoon straw
berry garden party while they're here, AL
ice, and that would make you feel indie
pence4t."
Very, said 1, ''when we'd have to SO
without butter and sugar, and live on
beans for month. to pay for the cake"
"I'd just as lief,' cried Egbert.
"And sod L." SAID Alec.
81 doesn t mind the beans.' said Sissy, !!
''but sugars right hard to spar, Miss
AL" I
sob, well,'' said 1, II guess you won't
have to spare it, And then [ went to |
meet John Rokesby, who was coming
round the lilac bushes, and just had the
time to shut the wicket gate before cou-
pie of gentlemen were at the other side of |
it, and he had turned, and hesitatlng half |
an instant, had introduced to me Mr.. Pa
get and Lieutenant Savary and Mr.. Mer-
win, and then an older gentleman joined
them, and he was Colonel Meare. I knew
John didn't like it, but he couldn't help
himself, and as soon as I saw his annoy
ance began to enjoy it. 1 didn't mind
them if was in my old gardening suit
but if it had been their sisters ! However
didn't unlock the gate, or ask them
across it. |
''Rokesby stole a march on us. Miss
Lamarte," said Mr.. Paget. but he'll
find that sort of thing won't answer. We
had heard from Miss Marcia all about
you"
All about me Did that mean my dres-
ses too Well,i had had all the purple
and fine linen of the Queen of Sheba. I |
could not have held my head any higher
than did at that speech, although I knew
how inconvenient it would be to keep up |
that style. And then saw Johns eyes |
twinkle, and faced about in second
$50 have 1 heard all about you, Mr.. Pa
|get.''
"What have you heard, may I ask ?"
said he. 'sThat I, Alfred Paget, am poor,
but confoundedly aristocratic." Poor I
suppose he wasted more than we had to
live on. THAT