Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-08-31
A HAPPY ACCIDENT.

sGood morning, Jennie. The gray mare
and L have come to ask you to drive with
US to Mickford. on this lovely day. How
soon can you be ready?"
The speaker, young, handsome fellow
of some four-and-twenty years, stood in
the open doorway of Jennie Russell's ex-
quisitely kept dairy. He wore morning
suit of coarse tweed, whose cut, howeve r,
betrayed its city-make, and there was
about him a certain air which betokened
him accustomed to city ways; but the girl
who lifted up bright, winsome face.
with a half-start at his unexpected ap-
pearance, was engaged in deity skim
ming the rich, yellow cream with her own
little fingers. neither white nor tapering,
and though the great, brown eyes lighted
with gladness. they failed to give her
beauty. A sweet, true facs it was, pref
ty at tiu es-at times aglow with some
thing better than beauty, but never beau
tiful.
''Thank you, Allen,' she answered,
"I'll go with pleasure, and will not keep
you and the mare five minutes"
True to her word, within that time the
two were comfortably seated in the high
wheeled dog-cart, and flicker of the whip
had given the signal for departure.
Well pleased, Jennie's mother watched
them from an upper window. Allen Rut-
ger was the young Squire. He had been
educated in a great college far away, and
money without stint had been lavished
when he returned home, too honest love
was in bis heart for the acres which had
been so many years the heritage of his
family for him to wish to live elsewhere
than upon them.
Neither had he forgotten his little play
mate, and though, socially, wide gulf
yaWned between him and simple little
Jennie Russell, love has frightened many
wide chasm, and Mrs. Russell sagely
suspected that the little god was already
busy sowing his seed in the young mans
heart.
'I'm so glad that you came to-day, AL
len" said Jennie, naively, ''for I've a
great piece of news to tell you. We're to
have boarder this summer-a young girl
like myself. She has been ill, and is to
come to US for quiet. am so anxious to
see her! Early this morning l was ar
ranging the room which is to be hers and
making it as pretty as could. She will
arrive tomorrow. You are so good to
frvy RI tn
times pleasant for her, won't you?'
"What you call being good to you is
being good to myself. You forget
that it will be all the harder to
make it pleasant to this stranger, be-
cause she will interfere with our own hap
py, quiet hours. For one, don't like her
coming at all. More and more, Jennie, l
want you all to myself. Why is 1t, l
| wonder?"
And he turned toward her with ten
der smile, to which her sole reply was a
crimson wave. But she spoke no more of
the strangers coming, which late the next
afternoon became an accomplished fact.
AS she drove up to the farm house in
Mr.. Russell's wagon, Jennie stood in the
open doorway to greet her; but somehow
the words she had meant to utter died
away aud strange shyness took posses
sion of her.
Two enormous trunks filled the wagon.
| from which the seats had been taken to
make room for them; and though the dress
the young lady wore was quiet in color
and in make, it was wholly different from
anything Jennie had ever seen, and some
how reminded her, in the difference be.
tween it and her own, of the nameless diff.
ference she had detected between Allen
and the other young men of the place.
But the wearer Of the garments would
lend the plainest costume grace. Never
had Jennie beheld anything so beautiful
as the colorless face, lighted by the great
blue eyes, and tie little head crowned by
a mass of ripping. golden hair. The Zig
ure was tall and slender. One ungloved
hand vas faultlessly white and sparkling
with wonderful jewels.
Il hope your journey has not tired you
very much:" ventured Jennie, wlstfully
| II am always tired" replied Miss Car
rol, and the low voice held in it tone as
of perpetual WEAKNESS.
How tiny the pretty room looked as
signed their guest when herself and bel
two great trunks filled it But she Ian
guidly expressed her appreciation of it, as
reclining on the sofa, Jennie herself served
her with the dainty supper prepared fol-
her, and which she was too exhausted tt
take in the room below.
Three days passed before Allen and Miss
Carol met. She was half-buried in {
great armchair one lovely morning, wher
he stole up behind her, thinking it hi
little companion.
"Come, little girl I" he said. "The mar
and have been cheated long enough"
And then pair of blue, surprised eyes
glanced up at him, and two red lips ut
tered tiny, little scream.
At that instant Jennie entered, and thu
formal presentation was made.
Allen laughingly expressed contritiol
for his mistake.
Miss Carol graciously accepted hi