Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-25
. sTAUNToN. VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1882

elegant travelling costume was torn half
off me. How every one laughed! and
Aunt Sue made spectacle of me by pro-
ducing her housewife and sewing me up
before the assembled multitude. Then
half of the party went to the same hotel
that we did. and it leaked out that we
were newly married couple, and alto
gether it was the most completely morti-
flying and disheartening day of life.''
. You poor thing!" laughed Fan. If
you had only had nice competent sister,
as have, to take all the worry off your
mind. then you could have resigned every
thing to her good providence, as do, and
have calmly awaited your fate with folded
hands.'' I'D f5 . eg
Eyes; If had had some one to rely up
on I might have given my thoughts to
more serious matters. Or if Charlie had
been more conservative in his ideas, more
punctilious in matters of etiquette, he
might have helped me out, but he did just
as every one else does, left everything to
me, and had the satisfaction Of making
grand fasco of it all. But will do bet
ter by you, Fan. You are not to be mar
ried until June; that will give us plenty Of
time to complete the arrangements. The
ceremony shall be at st. Andrews, and I
will give you the most recherche of recep-
tions. I am very glad the professor has
decided to spend his vacation abroad; it is
just the thing for bridal tour. You can
have your selection of the young men from
the graduating class, with whom you ART
ed so unconsclonably, for your ushers. To
think of your receiving all that attention
from the undergraduates. and then mar
rying grave professor Itdoes seem so
funny" e.A ,s4.. ii5N
''But he is not grave at all, Sue; and he
is very young for his honours. Only thir-
ty, and twenty three, real old girl
You don't realize how time flies.'' ll
rWell. if he is not old, he is at least dig
nifed and formal good material to work
with at the start. He would give a GER
tain prestige to any occasion. I shall have
the satisfaction of seeing you married in
good style. You will redeem your fami-
ly.'' a.... 81, w, ,a..-
Mrs. Hathaway left the room with a
fiutter of drapery, and Fan fell into q
muse. Her father and mother lived alone
now III the old family mansion, Isabel was
in Europe again, Ned and the other boys
were out West, whilst she was Willing
away the winter at Sues beautiful home
in the city. She was weary of society,
and she wished that summer was nearer,
when Aston could leave his college duties
and claim her. She cared as little for GER
emory as her Bohemian sister Isabel; she
wished it all over, and herself settled IN
home of her own. Home What a delight
full sound: Should she ever realize the
word?
There was ring at the door. The post
man had brought her letters from her pro-
fessor and her mother.
DARLING FANNY (wrote the first),-
II can't wait. June is long, long, way
off, for The winter is only just begun
Moreover, there is no need Of waiting
We were idiots to think of it. Mrs. De-
lancy has gone Sd6th for the winter and
has advertised her lovely home to let, furn-
ished. You remember it. do you not? 1t
was at a sociable there, behind the garnet
plush curtains in the window, that
you told me-The house has had its asso-
Citations for me ever since. never 60 by
it in the evening and see the light stream
ing through the stained glass over the hall
door without fancying that it says to me:
II know your secret; I've weakness for
lovers.'' That house is to let, or, rather
it was; it is so no lenger, for have rented
it. Don't start and drop this paper. The
house awaits its mistress, I've told the
kitchen girl that you will appear Monday
morning. Now don't say you can't, for L
have just received letter from your moth.
er, and the thing is TO be. She thinks it
decidedly the most sensible plan she has
heard of lately. Why should spend my
evenings in boarding house for six
months longer, when I might toast my
toes at my own Preside? The thing is pre-
posterous. I enclose your mothers letter
W 1uO3 LII WalCa yOu WILL oCO Uldu DUO paw
poses that bring you to her next Satur-
day evening. We can then be quietly mar
ried at church after the regular Sunday
service, and can start for our own home
by the early train Monday morning, which
will land me at the college in time to at
tend to my regular classes. [ know that
your sister very kindly intended to make a
social event of our marriage; but I have a
horror Of ''eYents,', and, besides, can't
wait. She must come with you and see
the knot properly tied. I will meet you
both at the - depot at half-past four
Saturday, P. M" .@T FIX
The letter from Fans mother reinforce
ed the professors plea, and gave mater
nal sanction to the hasty marriage. Fan
ran to her sisters room, only to ascertain
that she had gone out in the carriage, the
maid did not know whittier. It was Sat-
urday, and half-past in the afternoon;
and scribling hasty note Of explanation,
which she left upon her sisters dressing
table. Fan packed hand bag and depart
ed. She reached the station little too
early, and sat in a corner of the waiting
room, enjoying watching the people come
and go. trying to imagine their histories,
and wondering whether they we're going
on errands like her own. at last the train
trundled in. There were the usual hub
bub of embracing friends, importunate
cab-drivers, and hurrying travellers. She
eagerly scanned each passenger who
emerged from the cars. Her professor had
not come. inexperienced in the ways of
travel. she began to be nervous. She still
sat in the corner of the room, outwardly
calm, but inwardly quaking. An old gen.
tleman by her side. who, like her, had
watched the crowd with meditative inter
est, his stubby chin resting pensively on
the horn handle of his umbrella, turned to
her and remarked, "Such power of peo-