Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-02-17

oH"0 was UecduSe L was KIM OF SpOOny
about young woman that wouldn't mar
~ me. Atlee used to have the name OF
being too level-headed for anything like
that. lie wouldn't be such fool, would
he ?''
The small brown hat went slightly up
ward with sudden movement. II dom t
KNOW" said the owner of it "why you
Should call it being fooI'7
: "Y GU know better than I do about it, OF
course, assented the whit e-nalred critic.
"Perhaps that's exactly what he's done.
Is it?''
" heard some one saying they thought
ne was disappointed in love,'' Bertha an
sWered, rapidly and ungramatically.
"And you don't blame him?'' hazarded
he, indulgently.
. s'No, don't. It shows that he feels
deeply, anyway"
well, now," continued the old man,
with drawl which indicated an approach
ing relapse into garrulity, s'it's queer
enough L should have met ye, ain It it?
And you from Glyddon, where [ used to
|
Queer enough! Well, [ must see his folks
when get back and find out if they know
where he's gone
After this they talked Of other things,
until they came to Wingfeld, the end of
the journey, he making himself agreeable
all the way, so that when the moment
came for parting, Bertha was aware
that the journey had seemed very short,
and that her casual acquaintance was real
ly an entertaining one
MAYBE shall see you again. he sug-
gested, as they descended to the platform
together.
''Do you ever come to GlyAdon?" she in.
qulred, with polite reserve.
Guess shall before long," he replied.
You wouldn't be surprised, suppose, if
old Clifford should drop in to see you some
day! And now I think of it, what's your
name? Will you tell me?"
She told him, and he promptly wandered
Off, after giving her nod, apparently in
tent upon his own affairs. II should
think he might have said goodbye little
more as II he was interested" unused Ber-
tina, not wholly pleased at having him ap-
pear to dismiss her SO easily. And yet,
what else could mere stranger, fellow
conversational of an hour, do? Besides
Bertha reflected that old men co,Qld not
be expected to show the same inter est and
gallantry as-well. as Guy and other young
men.
when she got home that evenins :, she
| bethought her to inquire of her ather
whether he had ever heard OF an old man
named Clifford who had lived in the vii
lage. Mr.. Finch dimly recollected him
years before. ''But I thought he was
dead he added.
| mo; met him to-day in the TT ain, :"
! his daughter informed him, s'and ad a
very pleasant chat He was so nice. lido
like Old men. Somehow when they pay
you compliments it doesn't embs lrrass
you. and they seem to be true; for what
can an Old man expect to gain by payi ng
compliment that he doesn't mean?''
'I'm afraid the appetite for feminine, ;ap-
prevail only increases in us with as,e,''
laughed Mr.. Finch.
In less than week from the time of his
departure the village was astoRished lby
Guy Atlees temperance. 81 went up to
Woodruff to see my folks,'' was the ex pla
nation; and he expected to make light of
the manner Of his going. But though his
escapade was good deal criticised, he. ap.
peared to have gained rather than lost in
public estimation by it.
When he went to see Bertha Finch he |!
declared that jealousy had brought him I
back. II learned of Irritation you were |
carrying on with an old gentleman in the
cars-old Clifford; and knowing your pre- |
terence for mature men, [ thought my
chances, if I had any left, were in Danger
You are very impertinent to suppose |
you have any chances,'' was the retort to
this.
But is it true about Gifford?" he per-
sisted
''1t is true that I met him. Oh, hers a
perfect lovely old man!''
He would be very much fiattered if he
knew you said that. Shah [ tell himl?''
''You can if you like; I don It care, " said
call on me-"
did he tell you so? Then he pr obably
wants to sell you some pills.''
'Mr. Atlee, what in the world do you
mean?"
"simply that he's a patsnt-pin peddler.''
''How disgusting!'' exclaimed the, fastid-
ious maiden. ''Never mind, he's a real
pleasant old fellow.''
Its part of his trade to be-" exp ained
Guy. 'But l judge, from your admi ration
for him, that you still scorn poor young
boys like me.''
81 never, said 'scorn,''' she answ cred.
land think it was cruel Of you to make
US all think you had perhaps committed
suicide. It was cowardly to make me feel
1 might have caused It,
II didn't mean it so,'' he pleaded Il
hardly thought. I wanted to go away out
of sight, and I didn't want any search.
Couldn't you forgive me for being foolish,
and, as you call it, cowardly p"
81 don't know"
''You see, I didn't suppose, from what
you said, that you cared what became of
me-"
The little face that so often seemed to
be looking down was really bent with some
confusion at that moment; but it's owner,
obeying whim, said, perhaps L didn't,
after all.''
Guys manner changed at once.
''Oh, do forgive - he cried, moe king1y
ST would do almost anVbhinr tn sncura
that even to growing several years older,
if you would only stop growing, and wait
for me-"
''There, that's just like a boy. You
can't be serious two minutes toeeJher,"
Bertha rallied back at nina.
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