Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-03-02
AN OLD MAIDS LOVE.

had fallen into doza as the stage
| coach slowly progressed along a smooth
| and sandy country road. Being the only
passenger 30 far, had rel ,iced in the lux
ury OF undisturbed possession, and was not
over-pleased when, being aroused by the
stopping of the vehicle, IasceItained that
| we were to take in two other passengers.
One of them was hurley. fl rid. good-
| humored looking man, and, rs I soon
learned from himself, was a well-to-do
grazier of the name of Catln. The other
was of my vn sex-a little, middle-a getl
lady, brisk and bright. who appeared ac-
conpanied by silky poodle. and a nick
ing. bird in caee-besides the usual bar
ket. umbrella and parcels. She entered
the coach iIinely, apnlogizing for dis
tubing me. as removed my oVn parcels
from the opposite seat, then proceeded to
arrange her effects with the air of one
WIN had just taken p ,ssession Of lodgings
and was putting them in order. The graz
zier, though evidently as mueh a stranger
to her AS to me, kindly assisted by point.
ing out how the umbrella and parcels
might be more conveniently disposed of,
while won her heart bv noticing the lit.
tie dog and suggesting hat the bird-cagf
might be suspended from the ceiling of the
coach.
When the arrangements were effected
1o Ia I n 1od tn
| looked smilingly about her. and seealpd
| inclined to be sociabl-. Thus falling in
| with the graziPr's humOr, the two speedii,
became chatty and communica' i've. aud il
was rot very long before had learned
the whole of Miss Allisnn's history. In
deed, it did not take mans moments to re
late. being a remarkably ordinary and un
event ful one. She had been born AID al
Ways lived on the little farm" which wal
now her own. having been left to her b.
her parents. She was not rich. she said
modestly, but had m0re than was sutii
cirnt for her own wants, and she mean
to leave it all to her neice. Alethia. WIFI
vas considered the prettiest girl in n
cruelty of Gates, and had taken the high
est prizas for drawing and Frencf, at tn
Mount Prospect Academy. She was Onl
a farmers daughter. it Was true. but sis
Ehad very dainty and delicate ways. an
had never been forced to do coarse work
Like herself, Al-thla. was an only child
and her fa'her. Miss Allis0n's brother. wa
Livery we'll eff " and with what she woul
j h; lnkh
ba rich. and match for any young ma
I in the county. And Miss Allison tosse'
her head ard looked brightly around
apparently very proad of her neic
Alethia.
"The yonng 1ady's got fne name in ad
dition to her other attractions remarked
the grszier good humoridly.
lyon think SO? p replied abe. looking
pleased. "They wanted to call her afte
me; and should have liked it if had hat
pretty name," she added, with ligh
laugh; 'but Priscilla isn't a pretty name
and, to make it worse, they call me Prlssv
1t used to worry me when I was yonne
Tor liked pretty names rs well AS any 9th
pretty things. 80 | resolved that m
npice should bs more fortunate than my
self in that respect. Well, when sh. Wa
| week old. looked over all the books
could about the house, and at last Car
across Alrthla, which seemed inst tIt
right Thing. And think il snits her. onl
she prefers to have it Alelhe. That
French. you know"
II take it. you know French, ma am,
suggested Mr.. Catlin, in complimentary
manner.
mo, no; had no advantages of educs
tinn, which I've often lamented over; an
hat was why insisted upon Alethia bs
ng sent to Mount Prospt ct A, ademy AL
fired to pay for it myself il her fathe
wouldn't. think should have made
good scholar, "she added with half sgi
? for had natural liking for books an
! c. ures. use TO write poetry, too, when
aas u gill"
"Shunldn't wonder, ma am. And bein S
smart, you naturally looked down upO
ahe men, and wouldn't bemsan yourself t
rave one of 'em for lord and master,
laid the grazivr with good-na, ure
f :huckle.
z The little old maid laughed too.
: sit WASH It becaus. had an Ov-r-Opinio
If myself. bus, mt how, the men kne
!. never suited me-"
'.Mebbe the right one hasn't con
;. vet," he suggested, in a consolatory MAJ
1t ner.
mo, nor l don't expect him tn come
- his time of day. He stayed away too lor
If he meant TO come at all. After thirt
i've a w0man's got no business to be thin
,ng of ge' ting married-and I'm past th
:. ty FIVE she added, with little d. fla
y don't care' air.
& "Poss bic? Well, now, shouldn't tai
uo,, FOR uioh thai. and I've alUaya mai