Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-29

But at all times and in all places Matt was
his companion
And, curiously enough, Matt in bis dream
was very different to the Matt Of waking real
ity: taller and brighter-in fact, as beautiful
as a vision can be; so that his spirit was full
OF strange sensation of love and pity, and
the touch Of the warm little hand disturbed
his spirit with mysterious joy. So vivid did
this foolish dream become at last that he
found himself seated on a sunny rock by the
sea, by MATHS SIDE; and he was talking to her
like q lover, with his arm around her waist;
and she turned to him, with her great eyes
fixed on his, and kissed him over and over
again, SO passionately-tha6 he evoke!
It was blowing hard, and the rain was pelt-
ing furiously on the roof of the caravan He
tried to go to sleep again, but the face of
Matt las he had seen it in his Gream) kept
him fer a long time awake.
"Now, young man, he said to hilnsalf,
''this is idiotic. In the first place, HIATT is a
child, not a young woman; in the second
place, she is a vulgar little thing, not a young
lady; in the third place, you ought to be
ashamed Of yourself for thinking of senti-
lnen6 at all in such connection Is your
brain softening, yollngstef, OF are you labor
ing under the maGgn influence Of William
Jones? The kiss you gave to this unsophisti-
Gated daughter of the desert was paternal, or
say, amicable it was very nice kiss, but it
has no right to make you dream of stuff and
nonsense
But the influence Of the dream was over
him, and in that housekeeping, hfalf-wiiziDg
state he felt like boy in love. He found
himself calculating the age of his own friend.
Let him seel it was fifteen years since, in her
own figurative expression, she "come ashore"
aud tho n11nS+i0n remained HOW old yroc sI,a
on that interesting occasion? As far as he
could make out from her appearance, she
conld not be more than sixteen. For a danlsel
Of that age, her kiss was decidedly precious
At last he tumbled off again, and dreamed
that Mat6 was young lady of beautiful
attire and captivating manners, to whom he
was ''engaged;'' and her speech, strange to
say was quite poetical and refined; and they
walked together, hand in hand, to a country
church on a green hillside, and were just
going to enter, when who should appear upon
the threshold but Mr.. Monk, of Monkshurst.
But they passed him by, and stood before the
altar, where the parson stood in his white
robes, and when the parson asked aloud
whether any one saw any just reason or i'm
pedinent that the pair should be joined in
holy matrimony, the same Monk stepped
forward, with a Mephistophelian SMILE and
cried, eyes, I dol" On which the young
man awoke again in agitation TO find that it
was broad daylight and a fine fresh summer
morning.
Whom should he find waiting for him when
he had dressed himself and stepped from the
house on wheels but Matt herself. Yes there
she was, as wild and quantity attired as ever,
quite unlike the ethereal individual of his
dreams; but for all that her smile was like
sunshine, and her eyes as roguish and friendly
as ever.
Conscious of his dream he blushed while
greeting her with friendly nod.
"Wel, Matt, here again, eh?' he said;
adding to himself, ''This won't do at all, my
gentleman; if the young person continues to
appear daily the caravan will have to move
on.'n
Matt had evidently something on herlnind
After looking at Brinkley thoughtfully for
some minutes, she exclaimed abruptly:
civilian Jones don't like you neither. No
more does William Jones' father
'Dear mol" said the young man. ''I'm very
sorry for that"
"He says-William Jones says-youre come
here prying and spying. Do you?'
''My dear Matt" replied the young man
lightly, Il come here as humble artist,
seeking subjects for my SURPRISING genius to
work upon. Ii it is prying and spying to
attempt to penetrate into the beauties of ma
ture-both scenic, animal and human-I fear
must plead guilty; but otherwise-"
She interrupted him with an impatient ex-
clamation, accompanied by hitch of her
pretty shoulders.
'Don't talk like that; for then I know
you're chatting. Talk serious, and I'll tell
you something"
'All right I'll be serious as a parson. Go
ahead"
ssMr. Monk, of Monkshurst, wants TO marry
me. He said so to William Jones'"
The information was delivered with as
sunned carelessness; but after it was given
Matt watched the effect Of it upon the hearer
with precocious interest. I,rinkley opened
his eyes in very natural amazoment.
"Come, come, Matt; you're joking"
"No, I amt. It's true"
"But you're only child-a very nice child,
admit-but to talk of holy matrimony in
such connection is-excuse my frankness-
preposterous. People don tmarry little girls"
But Matt did not consent to this proposition
at all.
''I amt little girl, =" she affirmed, with a.
decisive nod Of her head. 'I'm sixteen, and
I'm growed up"
The young man was amused, and could not
refrain from laughing heartily. But tho
girls brow darkened as she watched him, and
her under lip fell as if she would like to cry.
eff you go on laughing, (" she said, 9TH run
straight back home, and never come here no
more.n
'Well, I'll try to keep my countenance;
but the idea is very funny. Really, now,
don't you see it in that light yourself?''
Certainly Matt did not, to judge from the
expression of her face. She turned her head
away; and Brinkley saw, to his surprise, that
a tear was rolling down her cheek.
'Come Matt, he said, kindly; ''you mustn't
take this so seriously. Tell me all about
it-there's good girl"
II Wilt you won't laugh"
81 won't then-there."
swell, when I was lying in my bed this
morning heard William Jones a-talking to
some one He thought I was asleep, but I
got up and listened, and heard Mr. Monks
voice; and he said, says he, She's over six
teen years old, and I'll marry her.; and vii
liam Jones said, Lord Mr.. Monk; what can
you be a-thinlzing about? Matt amt old
enough; and what's more she amt fit to be
the wife of a fine gentleman Then Mr..
Monk he stamped with his foot like he does
when he's in passion, and he said, says he,
My minds made up William Jones, and Tn
going to marry her before the years out; and
don't care how soon.' Then I heard them
moving about, and crept back to bed and
pretended to be fast asleep"
The young mans astonishment increased
There could be no doubt of the veracity and
sincerity of the speaker; and the story she
told was certainly pulling. Brinkley made
up his mind, without. much reflection, that if
MIR. Monk wanted to go through the marriage
ceremony with that child he had some
special and mysterious reason for so doing
unless-which was scarcely possible was
OF sentimental disposition, and, in the man.
ner OF many men advanced toward middle
age, was enamored of MATHS youth and mex
perience.
''Tell me, Matt" said Brinkley, after pom
dering the matter for some minutes "tel1
me how long have you known this Mr..
Monk?"
Ever since came ashore, was the reply.
''Humph! Is he well to do2-richg'
Matt nodded emphatically.
"All Aberglyn belongs to him." she said;
"and the woods up there, and the farms, and
the horses up at the big house, and-every-