Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-25
MRS, HOLLY;S ROMANCE.

Farmer Brown, coming into the waiting
room of the little depot.
1.-THE train I was to take?" l said,
gasping. ,.
helped, Harness will give out some-
times, you know" said he, sympathl-
HWhen is the next western train due?'
mot till six o'clock; you've got hve
hours to wait. Be dreadful tlresome.
But there's a nice family that lives IN
t'other part of the house; s'pose / tote
YOU in there 1 know Mrs. Holly'll
give you bite of suthin' to eat, and she
will be proud to let you rest on her spare
bed. Fine woman, Mrs. Holly -
know her. Won't you 60 in and see
her ?"
mo, thank you, sir; dare say that
I'll be quite comfortable here"
"WaaI, jes as you please. But now
must be goin'. Hope you'll git to you
journeys end safe. Goodbye."
And Farmer Brown left the room, got
into his wagon and soon disappeared
down the dusty road.
I had been visiting friend who lived
in a country settlement, some i've OF
six miles from the solitary building
dignified by the name of depot, and
when the time came for me to return
home, she placed me in care of a neigh
boring farmer who was going to dis
tant village and would pass the station.
During our ride we met with an accl.
dent. Part of the harness gave way, and
we were detained such length of time
that, as the reader knows, l was too
late for the train.
After Farmer Brown left me l anus
ed myself by reading newspaper which
some one had left lying on the seat.
Finishing this, / studied the design
of the wall paper, counted the panes OF
glass in the little window, and wondered
at the tidiness of the whole apartment.
Then a thought struck me. ION,
probably the place is kept clean by Mrs.
Holly, over whose virtues Farmer Brown
was so enthusiastic. Wonder if this
same worthy female would give me
glass Of water RI"
And I tapped on the door communi-
eating with the other apartments.
"Come in," said CHEEKY voice. and
entering, found myself in one of the
prettiest, cosiest rooms [ had ever seen.
The most delicious tint of buff was on
the walls; cool mating covered the
floor, muslin curtains. festooned with
ivy, hung at the windows, pictures and
flowers and all the dainty belongings
that make q room look SO homely and
pleasant.
And, most charming of all, there lay
in white draped cradle rosy baby,
fast asleep, with rings of golden hair
falling over his white brow, and great
red velvet rose clasped in his dimpled
band.
Over him bent q woman of twenty
two or three years-a little mite OF
woman, with bright, dark face, vivid
" coIored big black eyes, and wondrous
dark hair wound in heavy braids about
her stately head.
She arose, with a smile, when I en-.
tered.
Excuse me but may 1 trouble you
for glass of water?" said.
eNO trouble at all. Pray be seated
Excuse me-" and she left the room.
Presently she returned, bearing a
salver, covered with snow-white nap
kin, containing glass of water, glass
of creamy milk, a saucer of luscious
strawberries and a plate of sponge cake,
light as yellow foam.
1sPardon me-" she said, smiling, "if l
take too great liberty; but, you see,
Farmer Brown told me of your being
obliged to wait SO long. and 1 thought
you might be hungry"
W0y, now very KIM YOU olO.
exclaimed, in pleased surprise.
- "Not at all it Is pleasure to me. II
you are hot and dusty, perhaps you'd
like to battle your face. If so, Just step
in here.n
And she led the way into little white
bedroom-the very heart of cleanliness
and purity.
In little while was very different
being from the cross, dusty, hungry
{ mortal who had sat in the hot waiting
room. l found Mrs. Holly perfect
little gem of woman, and, after the
manner of our sex, we soon became as
we'll acquainted as If we had known each
other for years. And while I was lying
languidly upon the comfortable sofa,
and she seated in her low chair stitching
away at her hahy's dress, she told me
the one romance of her lie.
81 have lived in this little depot all
my days." she began. "My father was
agent here and he served the company
SO long and so well that when he died
they kindly allowed me to remain in his
place with the same wages, too! For,
YOU see, was seventeen, and my father
had long before taught me telegraphing
and all the other work. About year
after my fathers death 1 became &C.
quainted with Jack-Jack Holly, my
husband" and Mrs. Holly looked up
and smiled.
"Jack was one of the best engineers
on the road land is now, too and every
body considers him an honest, likely
young fellow. He thought the world of
me, and we became engaged. But you
known how girls are? The weakest OF
them make a strong man tremble:"
ga weak girl held all his heart strings
;,,h how xy,hifo hanH Cj3 T GQId
"Yes and I dare say I often pulled
Jacks heart strings rather hard but he
was gentle and patient when l f1irted
with the country lads, and when 1 was
wild and wayward he did not remon.
strate. But one day there came along
city chap. who engaged board for the
summer at a farmhouse in the neighbor-
hood.
''This Clarence Beverages, as he was
called, was handsome, well dressed, and
had that polished, INDISPENSABLE air that
is SO fascinating to most silly girls. Jack
was kind and well hammered, but he
didn't have bit of style about him, but
STYLE was what I dotted on in those
days. So I snubbed Jack, and smiled
on Mr.. Devarges when he offered his at
tentions. I flirted most dreadfully with
him till even generous Jack was dis
pleased.
Zone morning looking somewhat
grave and sad, he came into the ticket
Office. The passengers had gone, and
the train was moving out. Jacks train
had stopped to take freight"
"Well, how long is this thing going
to last ?" said Jack.
"What thing Pr snapped out.
"Why, this affair with Devarges; I
gee it is going beyond mere Irritation"
"Pray, what of it?'
nOnIy that T do not wish my future
wife,s name Joined in with that of a"
lack paused here, and added earnestly:
"Well. I warn you against this fellow.
Who knows what heis?"
"Mr. Devarges is perfect gentleman,