Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-19
doubt our sight begins to IAN

doubt our sight begins to 1an-~
And we leave Off canting about the beau
ties of nature" added Lady Lydard. Il
hate the country Give me London, and the
pleasures OF society"
Lady Lvtliardr put in peace-making Mr..
Troy There's p.enty of society to be found
out of Lonlon-as COOL society as the world
can show
THE sort of society,"" sdde1 Miss Pink,
(which is to be found, for example, in this
mel .hbornood. Her ladyship is evidently not
aware that persons of distinction surround US
whichever way we turn. l may instance
among others. the Hon. Mr.. Hardyman--'
Lady Lydiard, in the act of pouring out
second giassful OF beer, suddenly set down
the jug.
who is that you're talking of, Miss Pinke
81 am talking OF our neighbor, Lady Lyd-
lard. The Hoa. Mr.. Hardyman"
"Do you mean Alfred Hardyman, the man
who breeas the horsess"
1.-THE distinguished gentleman who OWLS
the famous stud farm" said Miss Pink, cor
recting the bluntly direct form in which
Lady Lydiard had put her question.
is he in the habit of visiting here?" the
old lady inquired, with n sudden appearance
II had the honor of being introduced to
Mr.. Hardyman at our last flower show, Miss
Pink replied HE has not yet favored me
with visit"
L.dy Lydiard's anxiety appeared to be to
some extent relieved.
II knew that Hardyman's farm was in
this county" she said, ''but had no notion
that it was in the neighboIhood of South
Morden. How far away is he-ten OF a
dozen miles, eh?'
'Not more than three miles," answered
Miss Pink. eve consider him quite a near
neighbor of ours'
| Renewed anxiety showed itself in Lady
| Lydiard She looked round sharply at
Isabel. The girls head was bent so low over
the rough head of the dog that her face was
| almost entirely concealed from view. So far
| as appearance. went, she seemed to be en-
tirely absorbed in fondling Tommie. LAZY
| Lydiard reused her with tap of the green
| fan.
''Take Tommie out Isabel, for run in the
garden" she said He won't sit still much
longer and he may annoy Miss Pink Mr.
Troy, will you kin lily help Isabel to keep my
ill-trained dog in order?"
| Mr.. Troy got on his feet, and, not very
willingly, followed Isabel out of the ROOM
They will quarrel now, to dead certainty"
he thought to himself, as he closed the door,
"Have you any idea of what this means? he
said to his companion, as he joined her in the
hall. What has Mr.. Hardyman done to
excite all this interest in him?'
Isabei's guilty color rose. She knew per-
fectly well that Hardyman's unconcealed ad-
miration of her was the guiding motive of
Lady Lydiard's inquiries. If she had told
the truth, Mr.. Troy wo lid have unquestion-
ably returned to the drawing room, with or
without an acceptable excuse for intruding
himself. But Isabel was a woman; and her
answer, it is needless to say, was, II don't
know, Pm sure"
| In the meantime the interview between the
two ladies' began in a manner which would
have astonished Mr. Troy-they were both
silent. For once in her life, Lady Lydiard
was considering what she should say, before
| she said it Miss Pink, on her side, natur-
ally waited to hear what object her ladyship
had in view-waited until her small reserves
Of pa fence gave way. Urged by irresistible
| curiosity, she spoke first.
Have you anything to say to me in pri-
| vate?" she asked
Lady Lydiard had not got to the end Of
her reflections She said eyes," and she
said no more
SIS it anything relating to my niece?' per-
sisted Miss Pink
| Still immersed in her reflections Lady
| Lydiard suddenly roe to the surface, and
| spoke her mind, as usual.
about your niece, ma'am. The other
day Mr.. Hardyman called at my house and
| saw Isabel"
Eyes" said Miss Pink, politely attentive,
but not in the least interested so far.
That's not ALL ma'am. Mr.. Hardyman
| admires Isabel; he owned it to me himself in
so many Words
| Miss Pink listened with a courteous in
clination of her head. She looked mildly
| gratified, nothing more. Lady Lydiard pro-
| ceeded
| You and I think differently on many
matters" she said, ''but we are both agreed,
| / am sure, in feeling the sincerest interest in
| IsabePs welfare. l beg to suggest to you,
Miss Pink, that Mr.. Hardyman, as near
neighbor of yours, is very undesirable
neighbor while Isabel remains in your
| house"
| Saying those words, under strong convic-
| ton of the serious Importance of the subject,
| Lady Lydiard insensibly recovered the man.
| ner and assumed the language which befitted
lady of her rank. Miss Pink, noticing the
change, set it down to an expression of pride
on the part Of her visitor, which, in refer
| ring to Isabel, assaulted indirectly the social
| position of Isabels aunt.
~ fail entirely to understand what your
| ladyship MEANS" she said, coldly.
| Lady Lydiard on her side, looked in I'M
disguised establishment at Miss Pink.
Haven't l told you already that Mr..
Hardyman admires your nieces" she asked.
Naturally" said Miss Pink isabel inner
its her lamented mothers personal advant-
ages. If Mr.. Hardyman admires her, Mr.
Hardyman shows his good taste"
Lady Lydiard's eyes opened wider and
wider in wonder. my good lady," she ex-
claimed, ''is it possible you don't know that
when a man admires a woman he doesn't
stop theres He falls in love with her las the
saying isl next"
$50 have heard" said Miss Pink
$50 you have heard?' repeated Lady
Lydiard. IF Mr. Hardyman finls his way
to Isabel. can tell you what you will see
Catch the two together, ma'am, and you
will see Mr.. Hnrdyman making love to your
niece"
under due restrictions, Lady Lydiard
and with my permission first obtained, of
course, see no objection to Mr. Hardyman
paying his addresses to Isabel"
''The woman is mad!" cried Lady Lydiard
''Do you actually suppose, Miss Pink, that
Alfred Hardyman could by any earthly pos
sibility marry your niece"
Not even Miss Pink's politeness could sub
init to such a question this. She rose i'll
dignantly from her chair. care you aware
Lady Lydiard, that the doubt you have just
express is an insult to my niece and an in
suit to mesn
/ | / m.