Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-01-30

some minutes at the hall window which
opened ous upon the garden, where the
mother and child were frolicking, very
much after the manner of two children
chasing each other round and round big
elm tree, until Mrs. Linden's heavy, abun.
dant hair escaping from imprson ent,
/ fell around her as free and uucon fiued as
the floating curls of Edith, who, finally
stumbling, was caught up by her mother
who bore her in triumph, laughing and
struggling, to rustic seat beneath the
tree.
"Sweet Bud and Blossom rightly
named!" he thought as he watched them
''Was there ever anything half SO lovely?"
Surprising that he was alone DR.. Living
stone uttered the last sentence aloud, and
with considerable emphasis.
(which, the mother, or the child?" said
a voice back of him, which belonged to
Harry Everton, who had been standing
there, unnoticed for some minutes.
'Both," responded the doctor, laughing
and coloring.
'You admire them both equally?o said
the other dryly.
! 81 zove them both differently" was the
frank reply. II consider Mrs. Linden
the most charming woman, and Edith the
most lovsly child ever knew
Edith as very pretty" said Everton,
carelessly- but L IN not over fond of Chill.
dren. They are "a great bother, and con-
foundedly in the way, sometimes 50
The truth was Everton was jealous of
the child. as we'll as annoyed by her fire.
quent Interruptions and demands upon
her mothers time and attention. Mrs.
Linden was devoted mother. She had
rs good nurse-girl as money could pro-
cure, but she never delegated to any one
the duties and responsibilities that were
hers. Edith was her constant companion,
she was never so happy as when she was
in her arms, or by her side. She had no
| idea that EVerton felt her presence to be
an annoyance Or constraint. He had too
much policy to allow anything of the sort
to be visible, to or, though sOmetiM 90 1t
would creep out when she was not pres
| emit.
| Edith affected DR.. Livingstone very
differently; he never felt SO Rauch at ease,
or so much freedom in cCnyerang with
her mother as when she was sitting upon
his knee, with her head on his shoulder.
With child 3 unerring instinct, che knew
who really loved her. and while size sub
mitted passiveIy to the caresses to which
Everton sought to win his way to her
stones honest affection with all the fervar
of her honest little SOUL
She was unusually bright, and, from
being SO much with older people, very
mature for her age, often making remarks
and asking questions not little aabar-
RAISING to hear and pulling to answer.
Mamma" she said one day, twhat is
a nuisance?"
"a nuisance, darling?"
Yes. Mr.. Everton said I was little
nuisance, yesterday. What does it mean?n
sit means that you are a troublesome
little girl, l IN AFRAID laughed Mrs. Lin.
den, turning her eyes away CONSIDERABLY
from Everton's crimsoned face. .-.a
Il amt one bit troublesomel" exclaimed
Edith. indignantly. IAN l, Doctor?"
mot to nae,' said DR.. Livingstone,
gathering her up closely to his breast.
Now no mother, however sensible, likes
to have her child called nuisance. and
Mrs. Linden treated Everton little cool
ly for some days after this unlucky speech.
But there Was something so seductive in
the charm of his words and manner that
the old spell returned. until there were
times that she almost believed that she
loved him. But Mrs. Linden Instructive
ly loved the good and the true, and there
was something in DIR. Livinstone's simple
honesty and sterling goodness, if he had
the courage to urge his suit, that would
have turned the scales in his favor AS
it was they hung very evenly. Mrs. Lin
den being puzzled to decide which of
them she liked best. ..-.-
1t was in this doubtful, unsettled state
of mind that both suitors preached the
sui ject that wa so near to their hearts,
Everton with a boldness and confidence
that have won many woman from less
assured but more worthy men; Living
stone with trembling eagerness which
showed how highly he estimated, how
much he feared to lose the prize for which
he was striving. To both she had only
one answer--that she would decide and
let them know before her departure.
which was near at hand.
Mamma, do you love DR.. Living
stone?"
Now as this was question that she
was just asking her own heart, Mrs. Lin
cen was not little startled at her words.
"What makes you ask that Edith"
well, but do you?' persisted the child.
''Re asked me last night if 1 wouldn't teach
you to love him. I said you didn't need
to be teached. Was that right"
s'You shouldn't say such things to Doc
tor Livingstone" said Mrs. Linden, her
face all aglow with bushes.
Why"
This being question not very easy to
answer, it remained unanswered.
But do you love DIR. Livingstone, man.
ma?' repeated Edith, renewing the attack