Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-12-04

Joseph Noruury nad promised to CONSIDER
the serious advice of his doctor that no
should take sea voyage.
Since the death of his wife, Joseph Nor
bury's only sister, Kate, had taken up her
permanent abode in his house. He was IS,
she a dozen years his junior. They had
been orphaned at an early age, but with
sufficient means to lead life of independ-
ence. They had only been separated when
joseph married, and then Kate had thought
it best she should live with her aunt at
Manchester, leaving Mr. and Mrs Norbury
to possess together the dear old rambling
house on the Derbyshire Wye, near Mat
lock. They were only separated, alas, for
five years; but now that they had come to-
gether again the shadows of the tall white
broken column in the little churchyard fell
right across their two lives. jose h's
trouble had even postponed indefinitely, it
was feared. the long hoped for happiness of
Dick Woodville who had been engaged to
Kate for more than a year. He was
prosperous young fellow, and he had won
his way to the affection of both brother and
sister.
Just about the time that Mr.. Neeiham,
M. p, was entering his town house on that
LIST of May previously mentioned, Joseph
Norbury, his sister Kate and Mr.. Richard
Woodville were engaged in pleasant after
dinner chat at Brambling house, the old
family residence of the Norburys. 1t was
an exceptionally fine and warm day for
Wyedale, where spring, as a rule came
tardily. This year it had fastened its visit
The river raced along almost with summer
song. There were gillyfowers in the gar
don, rosemary and rue; the thrush was
singing in the copse and the wild cherry
was in blossom.
Dick had come over, as was his won't, to
spend Sunday and to return to business
on Monday. They sat together, with the
window open, though there was fire
blazing and cracking on the hearth Kate
and Dick sat near each other, Joseph at the
head of the table. The dessert was laid on
an old service of Grown Derby, and the
table was polished oak, rejecting dishes and
fruits in a world of lovely tints and positive
colors They were drinking old port wine
in the old fashion, Joseph occasionally hold
ing up his glass against the yellow fame of
a wax candle to catch glimpses of ''the
wing that foated like bits of dead gold
lesf in the purple liquor. They dined early,
and there was no real need for the candles,
but it was the custom to light them, and
Joseph thought, as his father before him,
that wax candles were as essential to the
proper enjoyment of port wine as friend
and companion in the cracking of bottle
Kate, like her brother, was fair but she
had hazel eyes and dark eyebrows, which
gave peculiar beauty to her face, setting
Oft her pearlwhite skin, her ruddy lips, and
her brown, wavy hair, in which the sun
always discovered streaks of red gold. 1t
was refined face, the lips only just full
enough to escape the charge of being thin,
and she had merry laugh. Dick was dark,
almost swarthy, with large, generous
mouth, closely knit forehead, strong hands,
broad chest and strong, manly way of
expressing his opinions, and a gentle, tender
manner towards Kate that was in strong
contrast with his otherwise robust and
almost noisy self ton of himself, when
she had not to be considered.
''You are dull, old chap, wake up; am
sure this wine might rouse any fellow into
high Spirits" said Dick.
'One is not always dull because one does
not talk" Joseph replied; "ndeed, 1 have
known the time when talked great deal to
hide the fact that was not only dull, but
wretched. tell you, Dick, I am all right,
and more than usually happy"
''You are so noisy, Dick" said Kate; 1--WE
come of quiet family-do we not, Joeg'
Eyes, we are like those thoughtful par
rots who are such beggars to think"
Il dared not say anything like that Of
you; but it reminds me that Kate is always
saying she'll think about itn
''About whatg asks the host, evidently
not paying much attention to the CONVERSE
ton
about what" Dick exclaimed; ''about
rythingI That is, it is everything to
meP'
''Oh the old story, is its" said the host.
swell, l am selfish enough to hope she'll
think about il a lonu tima uat Dick y