Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-04-11

prancing horse; ''iook here, my good girl
you are the first washerwoman I have
come across since I left Salt Lake City
Here are my clothes, and here is some.
thing to pay you for the trouble. 1 shall
be back here in a week. am going up to
the White Mine"
Before she could answer, he had flung
the bundle through the grape leaves
little gold piece had fallen at her feet and
he was gone.
10 looked at the clothes, then she pick.
ed up the quarter eagle, and ran back with
white dripping arms, to the sunshiny
steps where old Philo was basking, in q
sort of semi-lethargy.
Father" she said, "what shall do
A stranger wants me to wash his clothes.
And see, he has paid me in advance! A
quarter eagle! ~
"Wash 'em,' said Philo.
10 Redeemed.
u am not a washerwoman," said she,
''like old Mossie, or Chung Sin, the China.
man," said she.
'P'r'aps he's some poor creetur with NO
women folks to do for him." said Philo.
I'd wash his clothes, 10, eft I was you.
We all ought to help one another, says the
Good Book. You needn't to take the
money, unless you please.''
81 didn't think of that" said 10, soft
ening.
She washed the shirts and stockings
put the best polish on the collars, and
mended the rents and tears with artistic
neatness. Then she put the clothes into
neat flat parcel with the gold piece wrap
ped in an old envelope on the top, just
outside the grape arbor, at the weeks
end.
That afternoon the parcel was gone, but
the gold was left.
II shall have to keep it after ALL" said
10. "But I woa't spend it. I'll put rib.
bon through this little triangular hole in
it, and wear it for lockes. Perhaps il
will bring good luck.''
1t certainly did, for within ten days q
message arrived for her to come down to
Salt Lake City. Her aunt from the east
was there en- route for San Francisco, and
wanted to take 10 with her. 1.-The child
ought to see something of the world
said she. ''Let me keep her for little
while.''
"But what will father do without me?'
loyal to her duty through everything.
I'll jog along somehow" said Philo. as
Stunning a courage that he was far from
feeling, "Jo shall have chance"
"And I'll bring her back in three
MONTHS" said aunt Abigail, who was a
rich widow who could afford to indulge
herself in an expensive freak like this.
Shy The way" said the old lady, "a
gentleman who came out from Chicago
with me has just bought mine som e.
where in the Wahsatch range. The Whit Q
Mine they call IT,
10 opened her eyes.
"Why, that ism three days ride from
u.s." said size. "Just up the mountain
side. We shall be neighbors."
''Is that your idea of neighbors, here
SAID Aunt ABIGAIL.
sob, we don't think anything of dis.
tances in the Wahsatch mountains" said
10. "Somet1mes it will be days and days
that we don't see anybody"
Still, 10 did not put two and two to-
gether. Until Aunt Abigail had bought
her new ready-made suit of travelling
gray at the Zion Cooperative Associa-
t1on store, and a plumed hat which became
her dark beauty rarely, and they were
seated IN the parlor car. And then they
were joined by tall gentleman, whom
her aunt introduced as Mr.. Murray.
10 blushed to the roots of her curly hair.
1t was the very gypsy proved cavalier who
had flung the gold piece to her.
Evidently, however. his apprehensions
were less quick than hers. Instinct guided
her, and she said nothing.
He was the pleasantest of travelling
companions. And to 10, who had come
down from the solitary lodges of the Wah-
satch mountains, it seemed as if new
and beautiful world, both inside and out
side her heart was blossoming out.
But the acme of her happiness was not
reached until they sat one afternoon TO-
gether on the low broad balcony of the
Cliff House at San Francisco, watching
the white breakers of the Pacific, while
Aunt Abigail, at little distance, was
trying to count the seals on Seal Rock
through double barreled opera-glass.
"Do you really love me ?" said 10, in a
voice which was scarcely audible.
Apparently the answer was satisfac-
tory, and the next soft monosyllable she
uttered was
Eyes -
''But for all that" she added. sit WASH It
a case of love at first sight, as you say.
You didn't fall in love with me when you
FIRST saw me Hush Don't deny it
Look here at this =
She drew the narrow blue velvet ribbon
from her neck and held up the piece of
gold, pierced with an odd triangular hole.
''Did you ever see this before 2" she
said.
A moment ne stared aC 1t uncOmpre
hendingly. And then, all in a second
The opaline heights of the Washatch Noun.
tains rose up before him, the grape leaves
rustled in his ear, and the sound of a
sweet voice singing IN the shadows revisit
ed his senses.
"Jocelind ~ he cried, ''was that you ?''
ssYes - said TO- sit WASH
"What must you have thought of me ?"
he exclaimed.
81 was little vexed at first" said 10.
sBut my father said that perhaps you
were In need. So l washed the shirts.
But didn't mean to take the pay! !"
my own darling" said Mr.. Murray.
For men in love are unaccountable beings,
and this little incident seemed to make
her dearer than ever to him.