Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-11-21
little service to Miss Ferris, and that he
had introduced himself.

had introduced himself.
| The trunk was found, the young ladies
were all volubly and futteringly put intt
the carriage. when the whistle Of the Ions
delayed train was heard. A hasty good
by, and he found himself just in time Il
have the train tagged. He flung himself
into a comfortable seat, and hastily tear
ing leaf from his notebook, wrote:
DEAR EvERIDGE: l am ready to keel
my share of tie pledge we once made eact
other. have found my ideal, and you
are the first to hear it. She shall be the
second. She's come, I've seen her, anG
been conquered. She's the woman I've
dreamed of, from her lovely baby blonde
blonde face to her sweet, soft voice; and,
best of all, old fellow, I have positive
proof that she isn't that pet horror Of
mine-that drug in the modern matri;
monial market-'a splendidly educated
girl
Its the most curious thing, but she
has been brought up according to my latest
theory, which I'll tell you when-Never
mind her name, it shall be Mrs. Rylance
if she'll consent, and 1 can be pretty
stubborn soldier at a siege. I'm not mad,
but intend to be. Be sure you keep your
pledge, as have mine, and congratulate
me, not this minute, but after while.
"Yours, in love with the ideal),
FIRED RYLANCE."
A day or two later the threatened siege
began. There was an uninterrupted series
of picnics and drives and walks. all ar
ranged by Mr.. Rylance, and all given IN
Dolly's honor, and all conspicuous by
Fred's absolute devotion to the yellow
haired visitor Of Riverview.
She furnished him more food for refec-
tion than any one he had ever met. Until
he met Dolly he had some sneaking
doubts of his ''latest theory" viz, that
provided woman were thoroughly re-
fined, the less she had of "hook larnin' y
the more charming she would be. But
here it was, the only example he had ever
seen, and the most startling and complete
vindication of his ideas.
She was quite as bright as her cousins,
and after the most careful scrutiny he
failed to find single occasion upon which
her lack of "a common school education
placed her at disadvantage. To be sure
he wasn't quite fair. He never permitted
the conversation to turn upon books, and
he could not help wondering at times what
people would say when Mrs. Fred Ry-
lance's acceptances or regrets were con-
veyed always in her husbands writing.
One glance, however, at Dolly's bright,
animated face was enough to dispel all
these troublesome doubts. His curiosity
ran high at times as to how this singular
state of things had come about. A re-
mark. of Milly's gave him little light
She said once: Isn't Dolly lovely? And
it is so st range that she is. She has been
brought up entirely by her father, who
has the most unheard of ideas on the sub
ject Of educating, or rather not educating
girls. It's wonder she isn't spoiled"
''Pity more women weren't spoiled in
the same way" growled Fred.
Save for her confession at the staff or
two circumstances only betrayed her igno
rance. He used to post letters almost
daily to her father, but always addressed
in Kate's writing. The other was thai
he came upon her once in the library, an6
found her reading Harper's Monthly up
side down.
This really touched him. There wal
something pathetic in the idea that she 81
felt the difference between herself and
other girls,that she was led into this child
ish way Of pretending that she was not SO
ignorant as he might think from her in
ability to write. He longed to tell hel
that he at least valued her all the more
because she hadn't been spoiled by ridic
ulous theories of education. He found ar
occasion.
They were talking one day-that is
Kate and Milly were-of woman g move
that was running in one of the magazines
Dolly had been very silent, and FREQ
judged that his time had come for declar
ing his preference for unschooled and I'M
learned femininity. Throwing himself
back on the grass, and gazing up at the
blue patches of heaven visible through tht
net work of boughs above him, he announc.
cd, dlctatorially;
II never intend to read line again from
any woman. It's all nonsence. There s
my friend Danforth, who has married
Miss Colby-she calls herself Daisy Earle
on paper, believe. Fancy a man DELHI.
erately selecting a literary wife? Oh,
anything hut an educated and supe-
rior female companion"
Dolly looked conscious and embarrassed
but was silent. Kate retorted:
ooh, you goose! You are like all other
men in the world. thoroughly inconsis.
tent. notics that in real life you never
pursue sweet ignorance, as one would ex
pect from your conversation; indeed, the
girls you like are invariably those VIII are
called brilliant and"
Nonsense "said Fred; ''who ever sale
I liked a fool? But. seriously, the bright
est and most charming woman" che hard
ly dared say woman) II ever met could
neither read nor write"
No one answered for a moment. Their
X late. swapping her embroidery silk pstu-
lantly, folded her work, and rose, saying
with some dignity:
''Since you are bent upon making your
self so agreeable, III go to my painting
awhile"
"Oh, come, now," said Fred, springine
to lis feet. "I'll 60 to the house with yor
and make up"
The next day was the last of Dollys
visit. 1t was to be celebrated by moon
light lawn party, with all the charming
accompaniment of supper served in {
great brilliantly lighted marquee, music
ovarvwhara and ahoya all indie.