Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-24

earnest" she answered. eff you wish me
to decide between you, you have heard the
| only terms on which 1 consent. The day
| is before you: do your best"
| AS she opened the door to leave them.
Mrs. Corydon came in. The amiabIe old
lady said she was at Sir John service when
he wished to see the house. is +
Sir John Bosworth entered the library
At one of the writing tables Cyril was sit
ting forlorn. surrounded by morsels of torn
paper.
"What have you done ?'' the elder min
strel asked of the younger The melan
choly answer was, "Nothing ~ Cyril's
voice sounded as if he was child again,
and was ready to cry.
Sir John sat down at a second table, in a
distant part of the room, and began to
write. The quiet in the library was only
disturbed, now and then, by the heavy sighs
of Cyril, and the sound of paper that was
being torn up.
There was knock at the door. A fresh
young voice asked gaily: 'sMay I come
in ?''
'Don't let me disturb you," said Mabel,
''The fair ladies of past times were remark
able for their patience especially with
minstrels. 1 can wait"
est to her. Too cruelty mortified to speak,
he took her hand and put it on bis hot fore
head; he pointed to the mass of torn paper
all round him. The tears rose in his eyes
he opened the door and went out.
Mabel's face lost its expression of mali
cious enjoyment. She looked ashamed of
herself and she said softly: ''Poor fellow"
Sir John crossed the room, with smile
of conscious superiority. He was not a
man who did anything by halves. Having
decided on humoring the young lady, he
presented his poetic offering with chival-
rous humility, dropping on one knee.
Mabel read his verses. They had one
great merit-there were very few of them.
''They say she's dark yes, like the night
Whose beauty shines from starry skies;
Oh. my sweet saint, how darkly bright
The mellow radiance of those eyes!
love il you the tender light
The light that gaudy day Denies"
every pretty" Mabel said-''and re-
minds me of Byron. Did you ever read his
Hebrew melodies?"
'sNever" Sir John declared fervently.
''Allow me, my angel, to kiss your hand
and claim your promise"
At that critical moment Mai. Evergreen
returned from his walk and entered the H.
brary in search of book, He stood pet
rified at the sight of the enemy whom he
abhorred. "That mani he cried-and
ran out of the room with furious look at
his neice.
She ran out after him. Sir John followed
on tip toe, and listened at the half-opened
door.
"There's more excuse for me, uncle, than
You Think Mabel pleaded. ''Sir John
Bosworth has one merit which you really
ought to allow. He is a poet like yourself
he has just written this.'
She began to read the verses
"They say she's dark; yes, like the night,
Whose beauty shines from starry skies"
Her uncle snatched the paper out of her
hand. ''My poetry y!'' he shouted. "The
scoundrel has been among my manuscriptsp
'I've longed to murder him for the last six
months, and now I'll do it -
1t was useless to search the room. Sir
John Bosworth had made his escape.
At later period, when Mabel was asked
why she had married Cyril instead of Sir
John, she used to answer: 'The poetry did
it, it,"-Adapted from from Wilkie Collins in
English Illustrated Magazine.