Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-04-27
ALITTLE COWARD.

-
! That was what Miss Merivaia had call
| ed her that morning when she trsmbied
and turned pale because the black mare
reared with her. She begged Sir Robert
to take her off, and stood In ignominfous
safety, while Agatha Merivale mounted
Stella and rode of triumphantly down the
| avenue.
She was COW .rd. She did not deny it,
| and was sometimes very much ashamed
of 1t. But no one.had seemed to mind It
until Agatha Merivale came. with her.
! bold. dark eyes and her dashlng ways, her
| riding and hunting; aud everybody admir-
ed Agatha SO much sven Sir Robert.
She almost hated Agatha You see, un-
til Agatha came they had been 30 happy At
De Rossett. Little orphan Madeline Leigh
had never been SO happy in her life as here
at the hall With sweet Lady De Rossett.
who was her guardian. and her son, Cir
Robert. They were 80 kind and good to
her. They petted her and loved her So
! And now Agatha had come. and for two
weeks lad monopolized Sir Robert, and
kept the house in turmoil of gayety, and
laughed ut Lima and made her life
wretched. -a-s> 81 .1a = Ezsss-
Lina's maid reported that everybody
said Sir Robert was to marry Miss Meri-
yale. Lima made stern resolve that she
would run away from the hall when that
event took place. Run awayi She would
run away now |, Not far though-she, was
too much Of q coward to venture far into
the world alone but she would go away
across the fields to Aunt MaTgaEet,s,' -
as she called Lady DE Rossett 3 widowed
sister-in-law. who lived in q quiet, COM
Portable house mile away from the
Mrs. Harrington was an invalid, para
lyzed and confined to her bed She was
| rather grim old lady, and most we're in
clined to shun her. But at the little gate
| that led from the park into the fields, Lima
was greatly Disconnected by an unexpected
encounter with Sir Robert and Miss Meri
vale. who came laughing and talking along
the path, both looking bright and hand
some in the golden rays Of the setting
sun.
She brushed past them with hasty ''good
evening"" but Sir Robert turned back to
speak to her.
where are you going, Lima Pr ehe
| asked. e..e
ITO Aunt Margaret's,'' she answered,
not looking at him.
Alone, Lima 7" Are you not afraid? II
you will wait little while, I will 20 with
you," Sir Robert said, looking down kind
| " at the girls flushed cheeks and ayerted
eyes. 81 81
mo, thanks,' Lima answered, hsstily.
II will not trouble you. Lao will take care
of me. And you would be late for dinner if
you went with me.''
MAY I come for you. then, after dinnerp"
Sir Robert asked.
[ Thanks. I'm not coming back. shall
stay all night, y was the hurried answer.
| and Lima turned to 60.
But Sir Robert detained her for mo-
men:.
"T4ina." he said in low tone. what
makes you avoid me 80, lately? What haveI
done to offend you?'' g.
Lima raised her blue eyes hastily to his
for one moment and then dropped them
again.
II have not avoided you" she said, cold
ly. "You have been much occupied with
--other people. There, I will not detain
| you." T.
She waived her little hand haughtily
and walked away from her He watch
ed the pretty, white-robed a1ure TOR
mnment and then Leo came and fawned
on him -
LEO, Leo I" called Lina's voice.
TO. Leo. said his master, and the ore
dent dog trOtted off down the path after
the girl.
1t was rather dreary at the ''lodge" that
evening. Mrs. Harrington was out of hui
NOR, because her agent had failed to call
that day to receive Ell 900 that she wished
him to deposit for her. And Psrkins, her
nurse and housemaid. let tho maid SER
wants all 10 off to fair in the village.
''where they will certainly get into mis-
chief" Mrs. Harrington said.
But when Lima had talked to her and
made her laugh little, .she forgot her
grievances and chatted away very pleasant
". At 10 O'Clock she declared she had
laughed till she was tired, and Lima must
give her her drops and let her 90 to sleep.
There! the spoon is gone. Where can
Parkins have put it ? Child would you
mind running down into the pantry and
bringing me spoon ? I would ring for
Parkins but she told nae she wanted to get
No some muslins this evening, and would
come up as soon a. she had finished"
Lima did not altogether like to pass down
the long stairs and silent entries leading
to the pantry, but she went and Leo trot-
ted after her. As she stood in the pantry
looking around for spoons with no light,
but a faint CLEAN from the hall lamp, :
sound of voices reached her ear.
The pantry was on tho ground .aoor. it's
iron-bound suffered window looking into
the garden. The sound was outside the
window, and Lima paused to listen. =
The FIRST word that caught her ear startled
her.