Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-07-20

siderably.
81 hope" said he, "that you will moi
refuse my boy, Miss Edna. He has set his
heart so fully upon you, and you are every
thing that I could desire IN a daughter
I want some one to pet. I feel sadly lone
! ly at times. and am sure you would I'll
the vacant niche"
/ / drew my hand away from his caress
and almost felt like hating John Crawford
luxury but decided that had rather
keep boarders.
Not long after this the Cranford's con-
cluded to go to housekeeping. and Mrs.
Shellgrove was in her glory. She always
came to luncheon in her bonnet, and gave
minute details of all that had been done
and talked of about the house in the last
/ twenty hours.
+ sit IS really magnificent" said she
, sengthe1iGg out each syllable. Brother
furnishing the library, Miss Edna, after
your suggestion. You see we look upon
you quite as one of the family"
That is very good of you,''I replied,
shortly ''but I certainly have no expec-
tation of ever belonging to it,"
| Mrs. Shellgrove laughed as though I
had perpetrated au excellent joke.
young ladies always deny these things,
of course; but John tells a different
story''
| l ratified the cups and saucers angrily
aud my thoughts flew off, not to John, but
to johns father sitting lonely in the libra
ry furnished, after my suggestion. Wasn't
it, after all, my duty to marry the family
generally
The house was finished and moved into,
and John spent his evenings with me. !
used to get dreadfully tired of him. He was
too devoted to be at all interesting, and I
had reached that state of feeling which,
if summarily ordered to take my choice
between him and the gallows, I would
have prepared myself for the latter with a
sort of alacrity.
1 lock ed the door upon John on the
evening in question, when I had finally got
rid of him, with these things in full force;
and [ medltated while undressing on some
desperate move that would bring matters
to a crisis.
But the boy had been reused at last. He,
too. had reflected in the watches of the
night; and next day I received quite q
dignifed letter from him. telling me that
business called him from the city for three
or four weeks, and that possibly on his re.
1 turn might appreciate his devotion bet.
ter.
felt inexpressibly relieved. It appear
ed to me the most sensible movement that
John had made in the whole course Of oul
acquaintance. and began to breathe with
more freedom.
Time flew, however, and the three weeks
heightened to six, without Johns return
He wrote to me, but his letters became
somewhat constrained; and I scarcely
sfkneM what TO make OF him. If lie would
only give me up, thought but I felt
sure that he would hold me to that weak
promise of line, that I should either be.
came Edna Crawford or remain Edna Car
rington.
"Mr. Crawford" was announced one
evening, and entered the parlor fully
prepared for an overdose of John, but
found myself confronted by his father.
He looked very grave, and instantly
imagined all sorts of things, and reproach
ed myself for my GOODNESS.
"John is welll" gasped finally.
+: "Quite we'll, was che reply, In such s
kind tone that felt sure there was some
thing wrong.
What 1t was l cared not, but poured
forth my feelings 1mpetuously to my as
toDished visitor.
He must not come here again!" I ex
claimed. 81 do not wish to see him. Tel
him so, Mr.. Crawford tell him that hai
rather remain Edna Darlington as hi
made me promise, than become Edna
Crawford
"And he made you promise this?" wal
the reply. 18th" selfish fellow! But. Ed
"a. what am to do without the little cir
have h"@n exp C ing? am very lonely
so lonely that do not see how I car
give her up.''
l glanced at him, and the room seemed
swimming around-everything was dread
fully unreal. tried to sit down, and wa
carried tenderly to a sofa.
shall vt be Edna Darlington or Edna
Cranford?" he whispered. s'You leet
not break your promise to John.''
Edna Crawford" 1 replied, feeling
that had left the world entirely, and was
in another sphere of existence.
If the thought crossed my mind thai
Mr.. Crawford bad rather cheerfu'ly sup
planted his son the proceeding was fully
justified during the visit which soon re.
ceived from chat young gentleman.
tried to make it plain to him that I did
him no wrong, as I had never professed tt
love him, though not at all sure that
wouldn't receive the shaking threatened
on a previous occasion, and l endeavored
to be as tender as possible, for I felt real.
ly sorry for him.
To my great surprise John laughed
heartily.
"Well, this is jolly!" he exclaimed.
And [ am not a villain after all. What
do you think of her, Edna?"
He produced ali lvory-type in rich vel
vet case-a pretty, little, bue-eyed SIM
pleton, who looked about seventeen.