Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-11-14
A TERRIBLE TEMPER.

If there is anything especially obn oxi-
GUS to me,' avowed Miss Murphy, in
solemn conclusion, lit is interference with
the affairs of Others; but in this case
said to myself. DUTY, Mary Anne Muir
ply. duty"
"Ohl" gasped Jessica. She had sunk
back in her rose-ribboned rattan rocker IN
quite tremor of dismay.
A very charming room this subur ban
parlor into which gold bars OF sunshine
slanted through the half-closed Venetians.
Worthy even of pretty Jessica-it. with
its tiled hardwood floor, its silver-fox and
bearskin rugs. its Madrasdraped windows,
Its quantity modern mantle Of polished
oak, its eccentric chairs, it's grotesque
tables, it's dainty aquarelles, It's Chinese
cabinets, it's slender, but admirably chos-
en- collection of bisque and Limoges. And
surely eye, however critical, could crave
no sweeter picture than little Miss Ray
made in her pale blue surah tea gown, cas-
caded with Valenciennes, and all her
bronze bright ripply hair braided in child
ish fashion down her back. But just now
[ the lovely face was curiously colorless,
the PURPLE blue eyes wide and startled
under their long lashes,
There was silence after that sharp ex-
clamation of Jessica's. Miss Murphy
could afford to be silent. She had dropped
her small shell and it had exploded with
a most satisfactory report. She sat rigid
" erect In the consciousness of duty done.
every fold of her black silk visiting cos
tune stiff with propriety, every pompon
on the brown beige bonnet bristling with
responsibility.
81 don't believe word of it !" declared
Jessica, slowly.
If impolite, the remark was in no degree
insolent. 1t was simply the utterance OF
conviction. Miss Murphy was not offend
ed. She removed her gaze from gem OF
Van Elton's on the opposite wall to fasten
it on the agitated little lady in the rocker
It took some endurance on Jessica's part
to sit meekly under the scrutiny Of those
faded blue eyes-eyes tolerant, placid
beaming as those of a benignant old COW
ut is true. my dear. He said it.
heard him with my own ears !"
This really was unanswerable.
"They were in the front parlor," pur'
sued Miss Murphy, folding her plump
tan.sloved hands with aggravating leisure
and serenity. 81 sat sewing just behind
the portiere. I never would have stayed
could I only have foretold what was com
ing, They had been talking about other
things, and were silent for awhile. Sud
denly my Ned burst out laughing. $50
you've seen her, he said, and you don't
fancy her, eh?' Fancy her?' echoed Jack
well. should say not y"
swell" urged Jessica, steadily.
She would hear it out, she told herself
she would-every word of it.
swell, then" slowly, to Eeighten by
suspense the effect of her narrative. 'Ned
said, "The boys around here like her i'm
mensely. Roy Pates says she's daisy y
"Oh!" moaned Jessica.
"You must excuse that nephew O
mine, my dear; you really must. Ned bu
repeats what he hears. Beside, you know
hs is only boy yet-just eighteen. Wha
Ned said is of no Importance"
Jessica sat again erect very pale and i'm
ssfatiye, indeed.
If you insist Oh hearing" hesitantly
-eplied. We'll. don't. did jus
Jack. +. confess for while she deceiv
at first. "a ,Hew days gave me enough
ed ed me me- , Ba aa aid, why, we all thought a
OF her, Ned eat ,,.,'ck to get her.
you were in 81 -, =. eswer, so loud
Luck ~ cried ia. x ia o. .cckI Yes
my dear, fairly JUL p -. luck
the most COMPOUNDED ". ~ M
ever struck - am as. o~ W s~s. 49,,
dear, but to be veracious '-~'' 9
here Ned, quite carried away ~ ~. ~, 10
full sympathies, inquired, sc s<Snnfonn,
out of it ?" And Jack said, = 80,
it, no! That's the worst of it. w.
break such contract with any .xss
myself. But only wish some 9th r..
low stood in my shoes just now. 81
promised to take her and I've got to do "
but it's a deuced hard bargain'-oh, m.
dear Jessica. you're not going to faintl
Jessca put out her hand with slight,
depressing gesture.
mo, Miss Murphy, am not going to
faint. Is that all ?''
Miss Murphy was rather disconnected.
Her she'll had exploded noisily, it is true.
But now that the smoke was clearing
away she, at whose feet it had been flung,
was not dead-not even wounded.
"Yes, believe that was all. tor just
then some one summoned Jack. But as
he went out, he called back to Ned: III
see you at Bryant's tomorrow night and
talk this unfortunate blunler over again.