Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-08-10

have him call; but know she would rather
John Masters-old poke-went with me.
It was hecause she did not know Guy; no
one could help admirin3 him.' 's-..
sis this why you have been so gloomy?',
Richard kept his face straight with
great effort, and wondered how this
shrewd, practical little friend, so sensible
and bright heretofore, could have taken so
wide departure from her natural self. He
thought fast All his life he had been first
to her. He saw her swayed by her earliest
youthful fancy and in imagination bearing
the Injustice of an .unkind world for the
n an she loved like true woman that she
was. He perceived instinctively the ro-.
u,antic bent of her present inclination. and
made up his mind.
She was the sweetest girl of his acquaint-
ance, the most generous, lovable and ten
der. despite her feeting Stiffness. He
would meet her upon her own ground and
save her from one who instinctlvely he
felt undeserving.
"Guy promised to come up and to
write,'' went on Mamie con6dentially, and
I have not heard word. | am afraid he
he is sick, orssomething has happened to
his letters. Would any one dare to detain
them, do youthink ?"
Her lofty expression would have upset
Dicks gravity but for her pleading, tear
wet eyes.
These impelled him to set his teeth hard,
and abuse Guy Faynestock mentally as
rascal, designing villain, and seoundrel.
Finally, he said:
'Mamie, this will all come right, if
you'll take my advice and wait; enjoy
yourself all you can until Guy does come
if ever he does,' was his mental reserva-
ton.
'But-Oh Dick, it is foolish but
it was 50 sweet to he loved, was her reply.
"Well," consoled Dick, mo one knows
of Guy. Take me for your lover; I'll be
your play sweetheart, if that will make
you happy, and resign you any time you
say. Come, little one. what do you say ?
I don It want you to NOPE here alone any
more"
''Dick, you're splendid-you won It think
me silly-of course I'll take you and then
no one will know why had been so blue.
And so we will play lovers.'
81 came in to ask 6ou to 60 down to
the Corners to an oyster party-youll
go?"
eyes; I'll be ready. Seven did you
say !" She made low bow, and would
! have run away; but with the brief an
nouncement: "The play has begun" Dick
bent down, and kissed her white forehead,
saying low, "Little love!''
For five minutes after he was gone
{ Mamie stood and tried to quiet her hearts
throbbings, to be melancholy and think of
Guy; it was an egregious failure.
The shy pleasure in her face was not in
the play
"My own little darling. had the sweet
est girl there; and 1 was, oh! SO proud /"
With these words. and lingerering
pressure of her hand in his, Dick raised
his hat and left her, and Mamie went
straight up to her own room and looked at
the bright vision of rose velvet, dancing
gray plumes and snow-whlte furs; then
! with long sigh of satisfaction hung them
away.
''Three weeks 1t can't be possible!'
Eyes it is. Are you going back to Aunt
Lue ?-and how soon p''
The questions were light, but they had
a deep undercurrent of anxious love and
longing in their depths.
Richard Hams ca d dared not let his
eyes tell their story.
They had just come in from sleigh
ride and sat recalling Nantes intended
departure at the glowing CRATE.
/ 81 don't know its ever SO much nicer
there, but I can't de ide-would you 60,
Dick"
GIl;4a't ask me : I shall be selfish enough
to say-no. -
Dicks face was white to bis lips.
"Onr play is over.'' said Mamie, care
! lessly If was such fun, am almost
sorry. You are good boy. Dick; I al
ways liked you why wouldn't you go ?"
"B.causa l cannot spare you. Oh
Mamie, don't go. love you! I am not
PLAYING now. Won't you stay with me ?"
ssOh, Dick-I-indeed l can't"
Her crimson face and startled eyes were
turned away. Richard could not see the
lovelight dance in their liquid depths.
With masculine perversity he reasoned
| that she did not care-that she had turned
from him-that she would never love him.
At this critical juucture Uncle Wesley
stepped into the room; simply saying
ssgood evening"" he selected some papers
| from the desk. Richard shaded his eyes
with his hand and looked into the fire,
while Mamie scanned the columns of the
evening paper till he left the room.
''Richard, come here"
| Mamie's face was white, but her tone
was steady, and slow smile crossed her
| lips.
Reading the paragraph she indi Gated, it
ran thus.
cat Trinity Church, December IS,
Grace, youngest daughter of Borland
ASIOr, ana GuY FayneSCOcK, OF BOSlOn,
were united in the holy bonds of matri-
mony after an engagement of one year.
The happy pair will sail for Europe to-
day.
| With the vehement words "Scoundrel'
and MY Little Darling" he drew nearer.
| "But Dick. if said did not care, that
loved you best before I saw this, would
sou believe me 20
| The tone was low. and with great cry
| he opened his arms and she came into