Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-04-28


and said civil word or two, and then de-
tached himself from the party with a NUT
tered excuse; he had only Just come to
show himself it was awfully hot; he must
go back and work ri
"Helloa why is Ned Beauchamp taking
himself off?' exclaimed Mr.. Templeton in
surprise, as he joined his eldest daughter;
but Pauline only shrugged her shoulders
and looked amazed. ~
81 don't know, papa; he seems to be a lit
tie odd and bearish to-day He used to be
pleasant enough when he stayed at Port
chester Terrace; but young men will give
themselves airs sometimes
"And SO will young ladies, my DEAR"
returned her father, rather .maliciously.-
swell, well, young people must manage
their own affairs. Anyhow, Ned Beau
champ is a capital fellow and worth a
little trouble. Why, he has fifteen hundred
year of his own now, and when his uncle
dies he will have as much again. So you
and Violet had better do your BEST" con-
tinued Mr.. Templeton, with the heavy
raillery in which certain men of coarse
calibre love to indulge.
When Ned Beauchamp had made that
excuse about his work he had lost himself
at once among the crowd near the entrance
gate. Flowers were all very WELL but he
had no longer any heart for them. Nab
had played him false.
People looked after the tall, broad
shouldered young fellow, with his hand
some, moody face and many would have
greeted him, but he looked neither to the
right nor left. There was a dull, heavy
pain in his heart, a sense of humiliation
and defeat that was driving him nearly
Twill friy1 1icb e., hoI oh II
him, he was ready to give all he had in the
world-not only his money, but himself and
his honest, manly heart-tO this girl, and
she wanted none of it. She had promised
to come-at least, if silence gives consent
and now she had played him false; his
wishes were nothing to her; he had told
her he should know what to think Well,
her knew what to think now
So the foolish young fellow argued with
himself, never dreaming in his mans phi
losophy that possibly there might be an
other side to all this.
He had reached Magdalen Cloisters by
this time, but the thought of work was
odious to him, so he turned through the in
ner gate into the shadowy GOODNESS of Ad-
dison's Walk.
1t had never looked SO deliciously invit-
ing as it did this afternoon. The deer were
clustered in shady nook in the park, the
birds were twittering over head quite lost
among the green leaves; the golden sunlight
quivered through tha thick foliage; the long
vista seemed to stretch endlessly before him,
like love and youth, merging into sun
shiny horizon; everywhere green leaves,
bird-music, sparkles of sunlight, and the
clear summer blue of heaven above all.
The walk seemed strangely empty this
afternoon. Ned had only passed one per-
son-a thick-set, gray-haired man, who was
poaing his stick among the perwinkles, and
took no notice of him. A little farther on
there was bench, with girl sitting on it
in gray dress, and a hat with daffodls;
but Ned was in no mood for curiosity, SO
he never turned his head. Only as he passed
the girl started up and called to him in an
eager voice.
''Oh, please stop, Mr.. Beauchamp! We
want to know where OVENS. And and
| beg pardon for startling you SO; but you
need not have passed me.'
Nab was stammering sadly in her confu-
sion, but it was the sudden look of joy in
Ned's eyes that made her trip over her
words. And why had he caught hold of her
hands in that quick, excited way?
'oh, Nab, is it really youl And why did
your sister say you had not come?
thought you had played me false. l thought
oh! cannot tell you how mad and un-
happy 1 felt-and you were here all the
time. my darling"
Well. it was good of Uncle Powell to
stand with his back to them so long, feel
ing the periwinkle-leaves, when they had
SO much to tell each other. Nab cried again
little as she poured her story into Ned S
ear-her despair when they had driven
away and left her-her sorrow at having
teased him-her terror lest he should have
misconstrued her absence-the beneficent
comforter in the person of Uncle Powell.
''Never mind, my Faerie Queene," Ned
had said, comforting her. 81 should soon
have learned the truth, for I had just made
up my mind to ask for leave, and run up to
Portchester Terrace. | know it would not
have been right in your fathers absence.
but could not have rested without hear
ing from your own lips why you had not
come. You would not have been long un-
happy, but now it is much better as it is
But here comes your uncle, and I must
thank him for bringing you, and then we
must go in search of Owen"
There was weary and somewhat silent
little party in OVENS rooms. Mr.. Temple
ton was yawning visibly. and Aunt Selma
was cross. Pauline and Violet looked bored
and little offended. Owen had asked none
of his friends to meet them; he was taking
no trouble to amuse them.
81 asked neutrality-suspicious. the fell
low, wonder why he does not turn up"
retorted Owen, rather irritably.
There, l think | hear him nowhere
are certainly footsteps" observed Violet,
willing to mollify her brother-and Pauline
smoothed her brow. Yes, there were foot
steps. Ned's face appeared at the door,
smiling and radiant.
"Owen, old fellow, have brought you
some VISITORS" he said, joyously; and at
that moment a little figure in q gray dress
dsrted forward and rushed up to the aston
ished Owen.
81 have come, dear. Uncle Powell has
brought me. Oh, my dear Owen, are you
not glad to have me-Papa and Pauline,
and-ah-Violet too?" And here Nab con-
fronted them, half shyly and half laughing
-'Oh, please, do not be angry, anybodyw
throwing cut her hands with pretty ap-
pealing gesture for mercy.
One Of them was at once taken and held
fast by Ned.
'tNo one shall be angry with you, Nab,
while I an here" observed this very auda-
cious young man. "Owen, tell your sister
she is welcome, and Mr.. Powell will explain
all the rest"
And so he did, to Mab's and her fathers
entire satisfaction.
HINTS FOR YOUNG LADIEs.-Do be ma
tural. y poor diamond is better than n
good imitation.
Dotry be be accurate, not only for your own
sake, but for the sake of your sex The
incapacity of the female mind for accuracy
is a standard argument against the equali-
ty of the sexes.
Do observe. The faculty of observation,
we'll cultivated, makes practical men and
women.
Do try to be sensible; it is not particu-
lar sign of superiority to talk like fool.
Do be ready in time for church; if you do
not respect yourself sufficiently to be pune
tual, respect the feelings of other people.
Do avoid causes of irritation in your FAM
lily circle; reflect that home is the place to
be agreeable.
Do be reticent; the world at large has no
interest in your private affairs.
Do cultivate the habit of listening to
others; it will make you an invaluable men,
e H. ,f Il TOO