Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-06-02

so plain face as Mr.. Popison's seemed a
sorry fate-and Popison was such dread
full name. But Mary would not have bel
thoughts dwell on more than the step be.
fore her. There was something SO un'
maidenly in even acknowledging to her
self preference for one who did not de.
clare love for her. Yet she could not help
the plunging in her breast when she found
James McArthur's eyes resting on hel
with light behind them that made heI
feel the next moment would bring the
word she awaited; and she could not heir
jast then being especially kind to Mr.. Pop.
ison, partly from pity, partly from mis-
chief, partly and chiefly, lest she betrayed
herself. Life with James McArthur--time
and eternity with him-that seemed a
dream of earthly romance and heavenly
bliss. And yet
MARY" said her aunt Sophy, "You are
wrong to encourage Mr.. Popison so. You
certainly can't mean to marry him.
II don't know" said Mary. II should
like to have him around.'
Days and months went by. and still
things remained as they were. James
Macarthur went his long business journ'
eys, and in his absence Mr.. Popinson fill
ed the vacant place; he returned, and
there were the moonlit strolls, the sails,
the rides again. and that was all. In spite
of the temporary pleasure and her merry
h1rtations with others than these, it was
not a happy season to Mary Dunlap. Her
nerves began to feel a strange agitation;
conversation irritated her; slamming doors
made her spring; small excitements set
her to quivering; she had no appetite; she
slept but little; her color began to fade-
One day Mr.. Popison said to her; MARY,
1 have been observing you, and 1 think
perhaps do you an injury in wishing to
make you nay wife. shall always care
for you, always watch over you. But /
withdraw that tacit offer of marriage,
which. if have never formally made, you
have long been conscious Of" -
That capped the whole. She must be
growing fright. She had lost all her
charm. Even Mr.. Poplson did not want
to marry her any more. She turned on
him her eyes, like sapphires set with diam
ands. like violets glittering with dew, and
burst into tears. 1t made his heart ache.
But from that moment he was person to
her Of certain moral dignity, a dignity
which could not belong to James McAr-
thur uho poithor dooJorod h;vo,oJe oor Iot
her alone. That month Bessie Travers
came to see them; pleasant girl-with a
fortune. She was engaged to Tom Dun
lap, but, through some notion about keep
ing their happiness to themselves, it was
at present a secret of which James Nc.
Arthur did not dream. For he began
straightway to explore Miss Bessle's char
acter, sound its depths. and take its
heights, and do his best to interest him
self where it was for his interest to be in.
terested. as Mary said. And Mary Dun
lap, looking Oh, for all her levity, felt as
if death-cold hand had her heart strings
in his icy grip. She shut herself in her
own room and suffered month of misery
"a room filled with flowers, fruits, novels,
candies; but James Macarthur sent none
of them. When she came down again all
was as before. except that Mr.. Popison s
visits had almost ceased. Somehow there
was dreariness without that kindly smile
of his; she found herself missing him; and
when she met him she began to say so, and
then to blush like damask rose, and paus-
ed.
"You miss me? You really miss me?''
he cried, delightedly.
sob, unspeakably!" said Mary Dunlap;
and there was no coquetry in the comics.
sion.
''And shall you miss me if I 90 away
foreverp For I must. 1t is impossible
for me to stay where you are.''
eco away forever!" 1t came over her
all at once that then the world would be a
desert. She turned ashen. But if he
could 60 she should not let him know
Every well,' she said, coolly, IT want to
ask you something before you go. Did
you really, as Tom says. lend James Nc
Arthur ten thousand dollars when he came
near failing last springp''
SIS that all?'' he said. "That was a
trife, and it makes no difference now that
l have lost nearly all the rest"
'You have los: your money2"-.with a
rush of pity.
"a great deal of it. But that was moth
inn ho HOY fo,,
"Humph' said Mary.
"MarY, thought you"
''Carea for James Macarthur? Perhaps
did once, just as you cared fer Aunt So.
ply. If did, the fire burned to ashes.''
"And you will not marry him?"
"Why, he never asked me-"
"The fool"
''There is only one person in the world
would marry. and he declined one day
to marry me-" said Mary, archly, and
with sudden courage. and then she trem.
bled like poplar leaf. and the tears swell
led up.
"Mary, said Mr.. Popison, gravely, chang
ing the current with his words, 81 shall
tell your father that you have proposed to
me, and that have accepted your
So gay, SO bright, SO happy, so beautiful,
was Mary Dunlap that evening, singing
dancing. tripping here and there, that ev-
cry one felt she had returned from an alb
sence, and James Macarthur left Bessie
Traver's side to follow her. But there
was something about her that put her ust