Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-11
WILL SHE MARRY?

There were only seven of us, all girls, il
the dear old Wrayburn, where papa hat
lived for thirty years. Under the daisies
in the pretty churchyard dear mamma hat
slept since Kate was baby, and Aunt JAM
had come to care for the motherless chill
dren of her brother as soon as the calamit!
fell upon him.
We are rosy-cheeked, healthy set o.
girls, rather good-looking, Nell being oul
beauty, and I the only invalid. I am :
cripple, but am not going to bother yor
with my story, excepting as my observa
tions are recorded.
1t was in the Spring, and my sisters ano
Aunt Jane were very busy with house
work. was in my room knitting; papa
was wandering about disconsolate at The
invasion of his study, and consequent in
terruption of his literary work, when the
murmur of voices from the porch foated
up to me, and mentally exclaimed
s'Dear me! Chris is proposing to Mel
again"
"And nobody ever will, or ever can love
you as do,' Chris was saying.
Then Nells voice struck in
"There, that window fairly dazzles you
who says can't clean glass2 Oh, 1 bes
your pardon, Chris. No, of course''
"But, Nell, do listen to me''
"Chris, did you ask me to marry yct
when was in my cradle? I am sure vol
have asked me once week ever since.
won't, you know or ought to know, by thi'
time. Why can't you ask somebody else
just for variety? I am sure any of th'
other girls will make a much better wifi
than I will; that is" said Nell, with {
sudden spasm Of loyalty for the rest Of us
eff any of them would take you"
Chow can care for any one else wher
my heart has been yours all my life?'' sale
Chris, disconsolately. cit is cruel to trif'
so with true and honest love-"
"Don't be an idiotp' said Nell, sharply
81 told you that you were horrid boy
and I would never marry you, when yor
used to steal apples to present to me, ant
I never, never told you anything else, die
| I?"
s'No," sighed Chris.
"Then why don't you let me alone?"
Here Aunt Jane, her head tied up in ;
manner that defies description, came upol
the scene saying
''Oh, here's Chris! Chris, do run owe
to Smiths and get me paper of carpet
tacks!"
Chris departed.
Presently Smiths boy brought the Car
pet-tacks, and Nell was let alone for the re
mainder of that day, as far as Chris wa
concerned. The next day the cleaning
went forward briskly, but it was still earl!
in the morning when Nell came to m,
room equipped for walk.
"Any letters?" she asked carelessly. 'sl
am going down the street,
'tNone," said I; 'I did not think yor
could be spared.''
."Aunt Jane is rather grumpy about it, }
said Nell, adjusting coquetting wreath O.
apple blossoms upon her hat; 'but wan
to get the smell of soap-suds out of my
nose. 1 may stop at Gilmore's; have yor
any message?"
"Only my love to Mrs. Gilmore"
Now, Mrs. Gilmore was the mother OF
Nell's persistent adorer, Christopher Mel
son Gilmore, and the families have beer
intimate for years. Still, for Nell to take
the middle of house-cleaning week to cal
on Mrs. Gilmore was little out of order
She fitting away, her sunny curls dane
ing in the soft May breeze, and I, putting
two and two together, remembered thai
Chris had not been in the house for twenty
four hours. Vainly tried to recall SINH
lar interval when he was in Wrayburn
School, college, business had called him
out of the village, but his home hours were
always fairly divided between his mothers
house and ours.
Something must be the matter!
thought of all possible and impossible
catastrophes, till I was not surprised to SCI
Nell coming in the gate in subdued frame
of mind apparent upon her pretty face
She came directly to nae, as they all do
even Aunt Jane and papa, in emergencies
''Belle," she SAID, in low, grave tone
"Chris has gone to Cape Town.
"Gone!" cried. "Why, he was hert
yesterday
"He went to London yesterday after
noon, and he has gone to visit his uncle,
the one who offered him business opening
some time ago. Chris did not want bust
ness opening, as he has plenty of money
and Belle, Mrs. Gilmore says that it is al
my fault that she is left alone and child
less.'
''Scarcely your fault, DEAR" said, my
heart aching for the piteous strain in til,
sweet voice, the pain in the eyes. ''Yo,
were right to refuse to marry a man yol