Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-29
MISS RIVINGTON.

1T is for such women would possess
Hrther chivalry nor money. A woman
| who counts the effect Of every information,
every smile. every glance-who trades
upon her beauty and MANS weakness az
J the passing amusement of an hour-whose
seif-power is her sole duty
1t was harsh criticism, and Horace
Winters voice unconsciously hardened as
he uttered it. 1t was to his fiancee that
he spoke. Perhaps to another he would
have been more guarded; but there was
no softening IN his handsome face. as he
looked down from mis- splendid height to
the slight, grlish figure, who laid one
little hand pleading on his arm.
"You are unjust to Maude, Horace, !" she
said. "It is not your usual judgment Oh
women. Did not know you better I
should say you almost feared the power
you SO ruthlessly condemn"
mo darling. despise Maud Riving-
ton, AS a woman unworthy of her woman
hood-a woman who seems to me, in the
strange in congruous friendship between you
like some gorgeous poison plant beside q
pure white rose, in its half blossomed low
| illness. [ wish"
But Horace Winters wish was never ut
tered. At that Instant the portiere divd-
ding the library from the music room WAS
| brushed aside. In the former apartment,
| where the two had stood together, the
gathering twilight had already half hid
| den the room in the shadow, but the half
darkness failed to hide the marvellous ard
transcendent beauty of the third conner
upoc the scene. How long had she been
there7 How much had she heard?
Instantly, Miss Mathers, her hostess,
divined-nothlng. 1t would have been
impossible otherwise. she reasoned, for her
to come forward with that radiant smile,
and outstretching her hands to the blaze,
over the logs in the fireplace, utter some
commonplace about the dreary November
promise of an early winter.
But the man thought-nay knew differ
entity. The woman had spoken. as have
said commonplace; that is, so the words
written would seem. In reality, nothing
that fell from the rich, crimson, smiling
lips ever appeared so. Something of her
own rare, piquant charm invested all she
said or did; but in this moment. even while
the low, sweet musical voice broke the
silence, the violet eyes appraised themselves
in an instant into her censor's face, not
| with challenge. but pathetic with mute
appeal-such a look, perhaps. as overspread
Caesars face when he looked up and knew
that his friend had slain him.
In all his life no man had ever accused
| Horace Winters Of Eeing coward, -but in
this moment he felt himself such. Had
| he really been ungenerous, and toward a
woman? Could he have been mistaken
| in the estimate he had formed, when he
had deemed Miss Rivington a beautiful.
soulless statue, using her arts but in the
destruction of men3
An instant he let the doubt enter like a
sword thrust into his soul, then he sternly
barred it out. He had forgotten that she
was an actress, that for the moment he
was ready to let her acting deceive him
like the rest?
s.You are very cold, dear? You have
been out?" questioned her friend. glanc-
| ing at the tiny fur bordered cap resting
on her small, exquisitely poised head.
Eyes, have been walking. l went to
nv room to write some letters, but the
paper looked so cold and unresponsive
THAT felt quite sure that nothing could
Gut upon it could make it less SO. I be-
lieve, o.''-this with a ripping laugh
s'that grew weary of myself and my own
thoughts, and thought to get away from