Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-03-07
Which

4
Which?
Miss Driscom had so many follow
ers' that she did not know what to do.
| 1t was not at all surprising thing. con.
| ty. and rich. She was alsO sensible
dissolve into thin mists when put to the
| test.
Setting aside the other score or so OF
| iadmirers about whom she troubled her.
self very little, there were two who gave
,she heiress some uneasiness, and these
two were very unlike
Giles Cortland was tall and fiue look
| ing remarkusi; handsome, in fact !;
with eyes that expressed so much, it was
| not necessary for the owner to fatigue
himself with langusge-th those ey es could
| fairly bewitch people out of their seven
sepaes. Miss Driscom had frequently
felt herself SO bewitched in the presence
lof Mr.. Cortland but there was faint,
lingering suspicion left that the spell!
suas d spell, after all, and not reality
1t has been admirably said that these
| wonderful eyes often express sentiments
and feelings to which they have no
claim whatever; but which really be
flong, perhaps, to q l,air of dull, inex
pressive Orbs u lOug way off
| Such was the case in this instance ;
aud the eyes that did not what their
owner felt, we're the property of q young
doctor, Clarence Blake by name, who
never told his love-" with appropriate
looks and gestures, but told it, as he was
painfully aware. in the clumsiest FASH
| ion possible, because poor fellow !-he
was so terribly in earnest.
| 1t all came Of his feeling Miss Clara 8
| pulse one morning. when she imagined
herself to be slightly indisposed; or
posi- ply she wished to try her power on
the young doctor-there is no telling,
sometimes, what women will do to car
ry their point-and before he knew it.,
the touch of the soft hand aud wrist
had upset him so completely that, for
getting all about his patients feelings,
the Nj. d. began to unburden his own
Clara laughed, but she blushed, too
which was hopeful sign-and gave
him an evasive answer.
| Giles Coptland had offered himself
the night before, amid all the advan-
tagee of gas light, flowers, and musi: !;
and be had done it 30 gracefully, and
looked 40 like = medieval knight, as be
stood with bowed head awaiting her de
,cision, that the heiress almost said
Eyes" But something held her back ;
she wondered now If she hadwaited for
this.
Miss Driscom's country home was sit
uated in the midst of wild and roman
tic scenery and one August day the
heiress aud her two most devoted ad-
nirers had ascended hill that COM
manded a fine view of the adjacent
cOuntry-while just below them ran
the river, deep and rapid in its flow.
They had been talking of the days of
chivalry; and Miss Clara chose to sig b
over the degeneracy of modern times,
aud to wonder if true knighthood had
quite vanished from off the lace of the
earth
I'm those days. she continued warm.
~, "if lady saw fit to throw her glove
halfway down that steep bank and
send her knight to bring it back as a
proof of bis love, he would need no Sec
having"
"ADd what of the lady ?" asked Doc
tor Blake, quite gravely. "The woman
who would risk y mans life for the sake
of q whim ?"
Command me, O fair ladyv' cried
Giles Cortland, effusiveiy. II am quite
ready to break my neck in your loved
SERVICE"
You have read the story, perhaps,
| Miss Qriscom," continued the other
s'of the knight who rescued his lady's
glove from before the lions In an arena.
where she had wantonly thrown it to
test her power over him? He restored
| OF N of he 81;
"Rer love- do you mean ?n asked
Clara, with q laugh.
II do" was the reply. HE wisely
judged that the love of a woman who
would voluntarily risk q brave mans
life to crafty her vanity was not worth
having"
Really" thought the heiress, s'this
quiet man is coming out wonderfully
ne begins to be quite interesting ii
Doctor Blake stood with folded arms.
looking very manly and self respecting.
"Were you in danger of life or limb.
Miss Driscom, may safely assert that
no one would sooner risk everything
for your rescue. thrust that you believe
me~
"Perhaps," replied Clara, rather pro-
vokingly. "Time will show, Mean.
while. I've decided fancy for some of
those blue gentians
They were in very dangerous place
e crevice in steep orag overhanging
the river. where false step would pro-.
duce most unpleasant consequences
and Giles Cortland confounded her
caprice as he viewed the SPOT.
but the heiress was worth some
risk, and he was very sure footed. So.
gracefully waving his hand as he disap
pesred. he carefully let himself down
and grasped the covered flowers.
What did Clarence Blake do In the
meanwhile? Courteously lifted hat
AID departed much to Clara's chagrin'
for she wanted him to witness her tri
umph.
Mr. Cortland returned safely, with a
handful of the blue gentians, which he
presented on one knee in most love like
fashiOn-having said to himself that
the scramble down the precipice had
sufficiently spoiled his nice suit to make
little more contact with Mother Earth
matter of no consequence. Miss Dris.
com was quite touched with this proof
of bis ready devotion, but still the same
old feeling of distrust fingered
That very evening Giles Cortland
pressed his suit with renewed fervor.
and Clara was almost overcome by those
softly pleading eyes.
She mahaged. hovever, to reply:
"Mr. Cortland, you have only known
me as Miss Driscom the heiress; what
would you cay if I were to tell you that
had received q telegram informing
me that was beggar, and that this
very roof which shelters me now be-.
longs to another? But what is the
matter, Mr. Cortland? Are you i'll?
"A-sudden pain-in my heart" he
stsmmered. II am subject to it, Pray
excuse me, Miss Driscom, for this even
ing-yon shell hear from me in the
morning"
THAT romance is ended" said the
heiress. little bitterly. as she. perused
the gentlemanly note that was banded
to her the next morning (the writer
bad received sudden summons to
South America). Exit Giles Cortland.
wonder If the other will etand the
test ?"
Liter ip. t',. ias "-tp >.:,,,. ~.