Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-10
Unexpected courtship.

t1 ss-g go - 8
II do wish you'd sit down and keep
quiet Daisy, you distract me so, fluttering
around the room like bird !"
Now, Miss Cybele Martin was tall, mas
culine, hard on the s.thirties,' with stiff lit
tie curls, and gold-rimmed spectacles, anda
stand-up collar and cravat, like mans.
aud she was very busy among pile OF
books, preparing hard questions to annihi
late her Sunday-school class on the morrow,
while little sixteen-year-old Daisy, with
her pink and white skin and brown curls.
and inrocent blue eyes, beat retreat
mortified at having distracted her said
| >is er.
81 suppose shall learn better some
time" thought Daisy, ''but, oh dear, l am
such silly little goose."
She went on tiptoe past the door where
| Mr.. Vining. the young minister, was en-
gagged in the revision of his sermon, for
| Mr.. Viuing lodged at Widow Martin s,
and Daisy felt her youth and folly more
painfully than ever in his dgnifisd pres
ence.
| She stood moment in the doorway
where the cheerful July sun became a gol
den checker-work on the floor, quivering
through the vines, and sweet od'r crept
subtly in, Of newly mown cloverfield, and
roses just blooming along the garden wall.
| 81 know what III do," thought Daisy.
as her pet, the kitten, darted away through
The bushes. "I'll have some of those ripe
cberries''
| Daisy bounded down the garden-walk,
deftly climbing the old stone wall, swung
herself into the branches of "a huge cherry
tree. like white-plnmed little bird.
"Mother would be horritied, and Cybsle
would have a fit" quietly she thour ht,
''but it's so nice and shady up here, and the
robins are stealing all the cherries. l al
most wish was a robin, it is such a pleas
blue sky peeping through. Dear me, /
| | hope that isa't mamma p
| Daisy crept a branch or two higher up.
as foot-Steps came down the den path.
Alas her prem"nitions were but too cor
rect. Mrs. Martins cap-string< were fiut-
te'ing below. and Mrs. Martins self had
C 'me out with bowl to pick cu'rauts ac-
companied by Aunt Susannab. her sister.
| "Now Pm caught" soliloquized ouc he
roine. 81 hope they won't be long. L
wonder what they are talking about. Mr..
Vining. as live p
Daisy held her breath, and secretly
laugh to see how unconscious the odd
danes we're of her near vicinity.
Yes" said Mrs. Martin solemnly.-
| ''He's good young mana very good
young man."
"There Amt no minister all over the
country round gives such satisfaction ~ said
| Aunt Susannah "Them cabbages is
comm on finely Lucretia
''Oh bother the cabbage ~ said Mrs.
Martin, tartl, Its about MIR Vining Pm
talking, Snsannah! But he ought to marry
and settle down. A single minister can't
do Ill the good he could ifhe was married r'
That's true" assented Aunt Susannah,
''and Cybele would make capital minis
ter's wife,
"She's the verv wife he needs; and if
some Que would just put the idea into his
head"
'.Perhaps he doesn't mean to marry
''Then he doing very wrong, encOurag
ing Cybele the way he does, walking to
Sunday school with her, and talking about
the poor money, and picking cat the psalms
and hymns with his head close to hers. Of
all creatures, do dislike male coGuette."
Dear me, Lncretia! ~ said Aunt Susan
nah. with mild remonstrance. 81 don't
suppose he ever thinks of the thing"
"Then he ought to think of it. Some
one Onght to speak to him."
Meek Aunt Snsannah picked currants in
81 don't really think he ought to tiife
with my poor Cybele's feelings-and she is
sensitive, too" resumed the widow.
81 never did pretend to understand young
folks when love and courlship we're in the
business" said Aunt Susannah ''But it
would be fine thing for CyLele.''
''I'd be proud to he minister's mother
in-law," said Mrs. Martin. exnltant at the
remote possibility. And Cybee is a very
SIN ,rt girl. You ought to hear her talk
about free-wll and fore ordination Why,
Mr. Vining himself was asIonished.
81 should think it very likely said
Aunt Susannah dryly..
Cybele had never been her favorite niece;
she had lectured Amt Sns nnah too often
for sleeping in church, singing out of tune,
and ether venial sins.
81 don't really know what to do about
it, sighed good Mrs. Martin. 81 wish
somebody wonld speak to Mr.. Vining, and
tell him plainly what his duty is"
"Haven't we picked currants enough?'
haztrded Aunt Susannah.
Is'poses said Mrs. Martin sharply, "you
never had the trials of family, Su.anuah;
and they cpme hard, though my girls are
pretty good girls, after all. Cybele's quite
a model; aud Daisy's well enough, if she
would sober down litte''
Aud The two elderly ladies went in, with
their bowl of sparkling curran,s, leaving
their unseen auditor still sitting among the
cherry boughs, with her bright, brown
carls all blown about, and the scarlette
velvet of her lips deeper and ruddier than
ever
"Dear me-" thought Daisy, ''there's a
revelation Our Cybele in love-I d,dn't
know women who wore spectaces ever did
fall in love; md .r. Vrning male coquette
we'll, I never should have thought that
of MIR. Vining. | really think, as mamma
says, some one ought to speak to him.
Pve great mind t. speak to him myself"
Aud fred with the a,dor of her new
plan, Daisy slid down from her perch in the
cherry tree, to the great astonishment of
her friends, the robins, and ran into the
house.
"Iwon't stop to consult mother or raunty"
thought eager Daisy; ''fdr l know they'd
think | ought not to speak, just because l
am only sixteen years DID," 4
So Miss Daisy stole like white mouse
al"ng the hull and tapped softly at Mr..
Vining's study door
''C'me in p called out the clear sonorous
voice of the young clergyman.
Not until our Daisy was fairly in the
room did she fully realize the awkwardness
of her position. Then with the roses
maniling on her cheek and her head hung
down, she stood pretty picture ofmaiden-
ly confusion
"M-Miss Daisy" said Mr.. Vining alb
stractedly. glancing up from his paper, and
Frightening visibly when he saw who it was.
''l am happy to SEE such a little sunbeam
in nv gloomy old stuny. Sit down
No. sir, can't stay" said Daisy, TAX
ing courage. 81 only came to speak to
you, sir-about being married"
'1Abnut , eng marri, ~ echoed Mr..
Vining in gennine astonishment.
"Yes, sir" went on Daisy, twisting her
fingers t'geher; the people in the parish
think you could do much more good if you
were married."
ssSu might assented the minister,
mnsingly. Il have thought of that my
self -
Oh, then you have thought of it, sir!:
cried DAISY delightedly. II am so glad"
''Daisy, have been here long time"
''Yes. sir; know you have.
s'Shnuld you be sorry to have me go
away?3