Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-16
A Susceptible Heart.

Won 0O'ng cnll0I 1OuVe put the saiI
in the custs I'd and sifted sugar over the
sliced tongue, aid now you've capped
the climax by pouring catsup over the
cornstarch. You have maue pEe1'y
mess of It'll"
Becky Mason looked upon her work
in dismay.
"I'm sorry, auntie," she faltered, her
cheeks flushing. ~ really thought 1t
was the creamw
"Well, never mind young folks are
apt to be a little absent-minded some-
times. The desserts spoiled, though /;
so guess you'd better run over to the
black berry lot and gather enough for
tea as quick as you cam"
Aunt Sarah watched Becky's reced-
ing figure, and shaking her head with q
sage look, muttered:
"It's all on account of that citified
chap who's been hanging around here
so much of late. I'd deal rather she'd
taken liking to Rufe Tyndall, for no
one knows who this Werner st. John
may be, and Rufe is steady, well-to.do
young fellow who'll make his mark in
the world some day. can't say though
but it's natural she should be taken by
glitter rather than homespun."
Upon the hillside, among the long,
trailing blackberry vines, with her
finger-tips stained purple and her little
basket rapidly filling with the luscious
fruit, Becky Mason had gone back to
her pleasant task of building air. castles,
tenanting them with the brightest
hopes, forgetting for the time that they
were creatures only of her imagination.
The fragrant odor of a cigar fioated
up, and, peering through the tangled
masses of vines and bushes, she saw
Werner st. John strolling along the
meadow path, accompanied by g arrange
gentleman. Screened from their sight,
she could see them plainly, and when
they paused by the stile where she had
often fingered of late, their voices audi.
BILE, and she became an unintentional
eVesdropper.
"She's perfect little wild rose sort OF
a beauty, and, 'pon honor, Dick, !
couldn't help making love to her; you'd
have done it, too, under similar circurn-
stances. It's not my fault. but because
nature has endowed me with too sus-
ceptible heart;" and the young gentle
man stroked his silken mustache with
an air which seemed to deprecate the
fact that nature had also been lavish In
bestoWing on him a remarkable hand
some physique, of which he was per.
fectly conscious.
"Do you mean to say, then, that you
are actually in love with the little, I'M
sophisticated maiden ?"
"Pshaw! now you're unreasonable.
You well know at whose Shrine I wor-
ship, and, though may indulge il sueh
harmless little fiirtations, am still true
to your peerless cousin as the needle IL
TO lis magnet"
"Then advise you to let Kate know
nothing about your harmless filtration,
for she 10 inclined to entertain rather
quixotic views upon the subject, and
would not be apt 70 regard your conduct
as leniently as /. who Gympathize with
your weakness for a pretty face for hav.
ing personal experience ia the ssme
way To tell you the truth, Werner,
you're not half good enough for Kate,
and if 1 were not already engaged, I'd
cut you out myself"
"By which means she'd truly obtain
paragon of a husband" laughed ST.
John, as they passed on.
"Kate shall know, however," said
she. 1T should esteem it a favor if he
were my lover land she experienced q
twinge of pain when she thought how
recently she had believed him such), fol
some one to undeceiV9 me regarding
him.
Kate Vincent's black eyes flashed
ominously, but softer light crept into
them as she gaZed on the innocent face
upturned to hers.
"He appeared devoted to you until ]
came? Are you sure-forgive me fol
saying it-that you did not mistake
common civilities for more pointed at
tentions?"
Becky flushed little, but answered
HE certainly expressed his love fol
me liz every way except by words F"
"Are you sure you 10 longer care for
him?"
''Quite sure.''
"He proposed to me last evening"
Kate resumed, hut, most fortunately,
asked time to consider. think ]
should have rejected him, but shall moi
do so until he has received something o.
the measure he has melted out to others. VI
Werner st. John basked in the fav ora.
cble atmosphere which surrounded him,
and felt UNNECESSARILY grateful to the
two fair damsels who he believed were
willing victims to his peerless fascina-
tions.
'Poor little Becky" he sighed to him.
self. It's pity to put an end to hel
hopes, but my stately Kate is not one to
brook neglect. A delay might prove
dangerous-I must press my suit more
earnestly than I have been doing OF
late"
Accordingly he renewed his proposal,
and was surprised and indignant to
meet with decided refusal.
Eat all events my little wild-rose
beauty will be easily won," soliloquiz-
ed he. II am not sure but that | prefer
the more gentle order of womankind,
after all. Kate was brilliant and fasci.
mating, but then she did verge toward
strongmindedness and I never could
abide woman's rights female-perhaps
I have made happy escape"
Without loss of time he sought the
fair haired Becky, and, in his most
gracefully impressive style, offered to
receive her mistress of his heart and
home.
Dear me, Mr.. st. John you certain
ly can't mean J" exclaimed Becky in
little flutter of excitement.
"But I do mean it, earnestly and
truly. Make me happy by naming an
early day..
lido you really love an unsophisticat-
ed little thing like me?"
He smiled at her evident depreciation
of her own charms, and assured her of
his undying devotion.
"Then I am very sorry that nature
has bestowed upon you such q suscepti-
BILE heart" responded Becky. "You
were so distingue 1 couldn't resist the
temptation to indulge in little harm
less Irritation but am engaged to Rufe
TyndalI, and shall always remain true
to him as the needle is to the pole. You
will come to our wedding in September,
won't you, Mr.. st. John 2"
But Mr.. st. John packed up the next
day and Becky's wedding was not
graced by his presence.-Nea0 York
NeaUs.