Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-26

n privilege. 1t was SO seldom one met with
persons of trained intellect in society. Mrs
Drumblade was already informed of Miss
Pink,s earlier triumpts in the instruction OF
youth. Mrs Drumolade had not been
blessed with children herself; but she had
nephews and nieces and she was anxious
about their education, especially the nieces.
What sweet, modest girl Miss Isabel was!
The fondest wish she could form for her
nieces would be that they should resemble
Miss Isabel when they grew up. The ques-
ton was as 10 the best method of education
She would own that she had selfish motives
in becoming acquainted with Miss Pink
They were at the farm, no doubt, to see
A ,fred's horses Mrs Drumblade did not I'M
derstand horses; her interest was in the
Question of education She might even
confess that she had accepted Alfred's in
vitation in the hope of hearing Miss
Pink's views There would be opportuni-
ties, she trusted, for little instructive con-
versation on that subject. 1t was, perhaps,
ridiculous to talk, at her age, of feeling as If
size we're Miss Pink's pupil and yet it ex-
actly expressed the nature of the aspiration
which was then liz her mind. In these terms.
teeifng her way with the utmost nlce5y, Mrs
Drumblade wound the net OF fattery round
and round Miss Pink, until her hold on that
innocent lady was, in every sense OF the
word secure Before half the horses had been
passed under review Hardyman and Isabel
were out of sight, and Mrs. Drumb ade and
M is Pink were lost in the intricacies of the
stables Excessively stupid of me- We
had better go back, and establish ourselves
comfortably in the parlor. When my
hon, l,a nd nba1,n oir,cr
niece will return to look for US in the cot
tage" Under cover of this arrangement the
separation became complete. Miss Pink held
forth on education to Mrs Drumblade in the
parlor, while Hardyman and Isabel were on
their way to paddock at the farthest limits
of the property.
81 am afraid you are getting little
tired" said Hardyman. 'Won't you take
my arm!'
Isabel was on her guard; she had not for
gotten what Lady Lydiard had said to her.
''No, thank you Mr.. Hardyman; am
better walker than you think"
Hardyman continued the conversation in
his blunt, resoute way. II wonder whether
you will believe me- he asked, "if tell you
that this is one of the happiest DAYS OF my
life?n
81 should think you were always happy
Isabel cautious replied, 'shaving such
pretty place to live in as this. /"
Hardyman met that answer with one of
his quietly positive denials. GA man is
never happy by himself" he said HE is
happy with a companion. For instance, l
am happy with you"
Isabel stopped and looked back. Hardy
mans language was becoming a little too
explicit. 'Surely we have lost Mrs. Drum
blade and my aunt" she said. 81 don't
see them anywhere"
''You will see them directly; they are only
long way behind" With this assurance
he returned, in his own obstinate way, to his
one object in view Miss Isabel, want to
ask you question. Pm not a ladies' man.
speak my mind plainly to everybody-wo-
men included. Do you like being here to-
dayE
Isabel's gravity was not proof against this
very downright question. Il should be hard
to please she said, laughing, "if didn't
enjoy my visit to the farm"
Hardyman pushed steadily forward
through the obstacle of the farm to the ques-
ton of the farms master. ''You like being
hereg' he repeated. do you like me?"
This was serious Isabel drew back little
and looked at him. He waited with the most
impenetrable gravity for her reply.
Il think you can hardly expect me to an
swer that question" she said
''Why nots"
"Our acquaintance has been a very short
one, Mr.. Hardyman. And if you are SO good
as to forget the difference between us,
think / ought to remember it"
What differenceW
"The difference in rank"
Hardyman suddenly stood STILL and en-
phasized his next words by digging his stick
into the grass.
IF anything have said has vexed you, :"
he began, tell me so plainly, Miss Isabel,
and I'll ask your pardon But don't throw
my rank in my face l cut adrift from all
that nonsense when 1 took this farm and got
my living out of the horses What has a
mans rank to do with mans. feelings" he
went on, with another emphatic die of his
stick II am quite serious in asking if you
like me, for this good reason that like you.
Yes, do. You remember that day when l
bled the old lady's dog. Well, l have found
out since then that there's a sort of incom-
pleteness in my life which l never suspected
before. It's you who have put that idea into
my head You didn't mean it, dare say
but you have done it all the same sat
alone here yesterday evening smoking my
plpe-and dldn1 ENJOY IT, pTeaRIaSCed
alone this morning-and didn't enjoy that.
said to myself, She's coming to lunch, that's
one comfort shall enjoy lunch That's
what l feel, roughly described. l don't sup
pose I've been five minutes together without
thinking, of you, now in one way and now in
another since the day when | first saw you
When man comes to my time Of life, and
has had my experience, he knows what that
means. 1t MEANS in plain English, that his
heart is set on woman You're the woman"