Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-03-12
queer about Dick Murrluge."

queer about Dick Murriuge"
The Young doctor drew two letters from
his pocket and fell to reading them. That
is to say, he read them eagerly and yet slow
", as if he wanted to read every word. No
body shall know what was in the first letter.
except that it was signed 'tNorah," with
some very sweet words preceding the sigma
tire. He sat with this letter in his hands
for while meditating on the charms and
graces of the writer Then he put it back
into his pocketbook, and read the other let
ter, which was from his mother.
'sMy dearest son. she said, 81 am quite
ready to believe that your mistress is every
thing that you believe her to be, as good,
and as sweet and as beautiful I pray tha'
you may have as good wife as you deserve
and that is saying a great deal Will you
please give Norah my love, and tell her am
looking forward with the greatest eagerness
to seeing her and getting to know hera As
regards your plan and manner Of living, l
quite approve Of your ambition to become a
successful physician. 1t is fortunate that
YOU are the son of successful singer, my
dear boy You will find no difficulty in
making the attempt. As for my money, it
was made for you, and is all your own, if
you want it ALL There is, however, great
surprise for me ia your letter, apart from
the news of your engagement, which ought
not to pe a surprise to mother. 1t is the
surname and the Christian name of your
fiancee Is she one of the c. orsilla Cronans!
In that case her Christian name is easily ac-
counted for There should be also Calista
in the family, and her fathers Christian
name should be Hyacinth. They should also
be poor, which l suppose is the case with
them, because you tell me her father is a
general practitioner in Camden Town. Tell
me, when you write next, about their family
which concerns you in very strange man.
ner But of this l will tell you when we
meet. l hope to see you-and Norah-next
month. But do not forget to answer this
qnestion-Is her fathers Christian name
Hyacinth? Your affectionate
MOTHER
"Well, his name is certainly Hyacinth:
and there is a Calista in the family. And
they are the .Clonsilla Cronans. l wonder
what the mater meansa After all. she will
tell me in her own time"
He laid his head back, and closed his eyes
He had been up half the night with bad
case, and he fell asleep instantaneously, and
sept till they brought him his early dinner.
There certainly was something very queer
with the other young man. and he was going
to Caista in order to tell her so. He had
been accustomed for a great many years to
make Calista that kind of half confidant who
shares all the woes, hears nothing of their
cause, and is forgott n when things run
smoothly. Persons like Calista always have
plenty of friends, who make use of their
Il, l.. l.
'Calista,n he said dropping into chair
II wish l was dead!'
DO you, Dlcks You said the same thing
yet I heard afterwards that you were cheer
full"
81 wish was dead now, then"
What has happeneds What is the mat
ter?"
81 didn't say anything had happened, /
said I wish YVES dead"
us that all you have come to tell mea"
''Not quite. I've come to tell you Oh,
Calista; Pm the most miserable unlucky
beggar IN the worldI'
what is it Dick9 Have you done any
thing foolishs"
'1've-l've2" He stopped, because he
caught Calista's clear eyes gazing steadily il
his, and it seemed as if he changed his pur-
pose. Il didn't KNOW he said in confll
sion, that it would really happen until thls
morning. Now find it must"
What will happens"
s'You will remember my words when it
comes off-will you? [ came to warn you I"
well, Dick, if anything is to happen, ant;
am not to know what it Is, see no use III
warning me-"
81 warn yu because want you to under
stand that 1t is all her own FAULT
Whose own tault?"
Whose should 1t tie but Norah's! I'm
talking about her. amt I? Very well, then.
Let her understand hat it is her own fault
What has Norah doneg
she's deceived me. That's what she's
DONE I've offered myself dozan times anu
she has refused me. Tod me there was no
body else that she cared for; said she didn't
want to get married; said that last week,
and then / hear she IS engaged"
Very we'll You are not going to take
revenge upon her, are on, Dicks That would
be mean. indeed"
Not reveng'. 1t isn't revenge. And ye,
it's all her own fault, whatever hapnens'
~ GU are very mysterious this morning.
Dick, and very gloomy. Well If you have
nothing more to say, had you not better be
getting back homea 1t is twelve o'clock I'll.
ready"
''You can tell her if anything happens"
he repeated i" hat you knew all a.ong it was
coming, and that it is all her own fault
go. Dick. You are worse than gloomy
this morning You are wicked. l viii listen
to you no longer"
He turned and flung himself from the
room. Iuse the word which would have
pleased him most, because he desired to fling
himself. Tie people who fling themselves
from room are the samo who curl their
lips as well as their locks and knit brow
as easily as a stocking, and flash flames from
their eyes as well as from lucifer match.
But good fl nging requires narrow stage,
or, at least, close proximity to the door. At
the Adelphi, before the villain fings it may
be observed that he carefully edges up close
to the door, Now, the ward was a long
room and Dicks fling became, before he
reached the doorhandle, an ignoble stride,
which was rendered only partially efficient
by his banging the door after him so that
all the baoies jumped.
q n