Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-15

most tedious said Clarence Hatfield,
"a he left himself fall heavily into the
stiff and uncomfortable seat OF the rail-
way car, with lis faded velvit cushions
and its back at exactly the wrong angle
for approaching the luxury Of a nap 1
saw, Clinton, do you think we might
smoker?
We'll, rather imagine not,' said l.
with a motion of my head toward the
other passengers. There appears 10
be ladies on board
Hatfield shrugged his shoulders.
Such ladiesv
,Well.' laughed 1, they don't appear
to be particularly stylish in manner or
costume. but nevertheless, my dear
fellow, the divinity of their sex hedges
Them around like a WALL
Divinity OF their humbug;' shortly
interrupted Hatfield, AS if these i'll
dressed dowdes, with babies and band
boxes, could possibly belong to the
same world with Beatrice Hale!'
To this I made no answer. 1t did not
seem TO me exactly appropriate to lug
the sacred name Of Beatrice Hale into
a discussion in a place like this. Yet
what could 1 do, except to feel my
cheeks flush and the roots OF my hair
tinele. For was unmlstakably in love
with Bee Hale, and so was Clarence
Hatfield.
IfI were 10 waste quarts OF ink and
reams of paper in trying to describe her
manifold charms and eXcellences to the
reader, it wouldn't do any good. Such
things have been tried before, and
failed. Let him imagine the falrest
brunette the sun ever shOne on, and be
NAV come somewhere near the mark.
Suffice 1t 10 say that she was as beauti'
| ful as a dream, and that Hatfield and l
were devoted slaves at her feet.
Which ofus did she like best? All,
that was the question ! 1t was sohe-
thing like the children's old game OF
see-saw Up 1 60, down you come
Sometimes fancied had the ghost OF
chance; sometimes 1 was convinced
that Hatfield was altogether the pre-
ferred, and that 1 had better emlgrate
to Australia at once.
.Hello!' cried Hatfield. breaking un-
tremendously upon the thread OF my
musings, there goes the whistle. We
shall be off directly. Thank goodness
for that!' And he put up his foot on the
| opposite seat, and prepared for as COM
Portable four hours ride as possible.
Clarence Hatfield and L, be it under
stood, where employees 10 the extensive
business OF Mcssrs. jenkins, Jumper
ton & Co.. auctioneers, and had been
down in the country putting up a sale
of swampY lots, cut into streets ant
squares, according to the most approved
metropolitan methods Of doing aucf
things:
| II has been q dismal business. -
November is not an inspiring month a.
the best, and three days. fog had con
spired against the success OF Mount
| Nora Park, as jenkins, Jumperton &
Co., had chrlstened the new specula-
ton. Yet we had done reasonably
well, and were now thankful enough t
get back 10 New York.
| AS the train gave It's starting lunge
the door few open, and in came tall
old lady, in a prodigious black bonnet
feet cheUrean de .frise of squirrel cages
leather bags, brown paper parcels, ant
sandwich boxes. She was followed
closely by younger lady dressed II
black. and closely veiled, and pause
hesltalingly in front OF out seat.
| Young man. said she, in a lo'
voice as gruff as that ola man, is thi
seat engaged?'
Yes, said Hatfield; ii is.'
For your feet?'
No matter what for superciilousl
replied the head clerk of jenkins, jun
rerton d Go. please to pass on, ole
:. lady. You will find seals enough b(
yond.
But this was stretching Of his truth
There were no seats, beyond, as the oil
lady could easily perceive, unless 81
choose TO sit directly opposite red h'
coal fire or upon one of those corn
arrangements close to the door, whi(
are equivalent to no seat at all.
The old lady hesitated and change
her heavy carpet bag from one weari'
arm to the other. l thought OF II
good Aunt Polly at home, and rose
once.
.Pray take this seat, ma'am,' SAID
'And let me put your parcels up IN Il
rack for you.'
1t Clifton, what a fool you are! cri
. Hatfield, in an impatient soto 10
why couldn't you have sat still al
minded your own buSinessT
1T is my own business answere
brusqucly, 'io see that every lady
made as comfortable as it is in the nj
ture of fittings TO be. Now the squire
cage ma'am-it'll go very well und
= the seat think
Hatfield uttered contemptuo
grunt but he never offered to take
feet Off the opposite cushion, althou
the younger woman stood in the ali
uncomiortably swaying backward or
No. forward with the motion Of the car, u
til woman beyond the state OF affai
drew sleeping child into her lap a
49, beckoned the other 10 take the plf