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

An employment which he enjoyed repre-
sented the bright side, and an enemy whom
he abhorred personified the dark side of
Mai. Evergreen's life His constitutional
tranquility accepted responsibilities of all
sorts with a good -humored indifference
which set them at defiance. If Miss Mabel
had eloped with the footman, he would
have said "Well, hope they may be
happy" If she had come down one
morning to breakfast, and had announced
that she felt vocation to be nun, he
would have answered: "Yo know best,
my dear; only beg you won't trouble me
to find the convent"
Persons who wished to see Maj. Ever
green in earnest-terribly in earnest-had
only to look at him when he had pen, ink
and paper before him, and was writing
poetry
This was the employment that he enjoy
ed; this was the occupation of every day in
his life. He must have written hundreds
of thousands of lines, without a single
thought in them which was not unconsci-
ously borrowed from somebody else. Every
form that poetry can take was equally easy
and delightful to him. Blank verse and
rhyming verse; epic poems and sonnets;
tragedies, satires, epigrams; passionate
poetry in the manner of Byron; narl ative
poetry in the manner Of Scott; philosophic-
al poetry in the manner of Wordsworth;
poetry of the modern type appeared in vol
umes (first edition,) and disappeared as
waste paper-and appeared again Second
editien,) and disappeared as before.
One day, towards the end of summer, the
poet had laid down his pen, and was con-
Wh ho writ fp
hundred lines more, when his riece looked
over his shoulder, and asked if she might
speak to him.
'1t's about my marriage, uncle" she ex-
claimed.
"Marry anybody you like, my dear"
There was an interval of silence. Mabel
was considering what she should say next.
She decided on speaking plainly, come
what might of it. ''This is serious" she
resumed. The major was glad to hear it..
s1'm only afraid of one thing-Pm
afraid l shall offend you.'
The major declared that it was impossi-
BILE to offend him. "Your suitor is ?"-
Sir John Bosworth."
Maj. Evergreen-usually the LATEST of
men-jumped out of his chair, and walked
up and down the room transformed from a
pleasant uncle who wrote poetry to disa-
greeable old bachelor who was angry with
his niece.
Aud for what reason? For this excellent
reason: she had mentioned the name of the
enemy whom he abhorred.
Sir John Bosworth was a gentleman who
indulged in the hazardous speculations of
modern life. He owned race horses, and
he built theatres; he was also proprietor of
q weekly journal. In that newspaper had
appeared the only review of Maj. Ever
green's poems which had ever noticed them
at any length. What author has succeeded
in forgetting an inhuman review? To
mention the name Of the proprietor of the
paper was to wound the poet in his tender
est place.
You might have spared me the name,
my dear-you might have said That Man.
| should have known whom you meant"
Mabel accepted the suggestion. 81 wish
ed to tell you that didn't engage to Marry
That Man, she said; 81 only said wanted
time to consider. l don't think l like him.
l rather believe I want to get away from
him, before he calls again"
The major returned quietly to his chair.
every right indeed" be said-and looked
at his pen and ink. He was longing to get
rid of his niece and go back to his poetry
"This is about the time of year," Mabel
persisted, "when we go to the country"
The major was quite willing. 'Just as
you please; they're ready for US at Still
brook"
Stillbrook won't do, uncle. If we go to
your CO intry house That Man will follow
us. Suppose we take refuge at Oakapple
hall"
"With all my heart"
"Then may write to Mrs. Corydon ?''
Certainly. You'd better write at once" !"
Mabel went away to write letter, and
Mabel's uncle remained, to write poetry.
Arriving at Oakapple hall, Maj. Ever
green and his niece encounter surprise held
in reserve for them by their amiable
hostess. They were received at the door
by Mrs. Corydon's son. On the last two
occasions when they had enjoyed the
widows hospitality, Mr.. Cyril Corydon had
been absent, pursuing his studies at Oxford.
Mabel had not seen him since he had left
school.
Cyril had greatly improved in the inter
val. He kept his hands out of his pockets;
his former vacant smile had meaning in it
now; his blue eyes were gentle, and his
mustache was faxen.
The two young people took walk in the
park; Cyril offered his arm, and Mabel
''Have you really left Oxford for good ?"
she began. 'And are you sorry for it ?"
81 was sorry for it until to-day"
Cyril laid a strong emphasis on the last
three words, and ventured ON a look which
sent his artful compliment straight to its
right address. Mabel acknowledged the
look by an innocent little question: "Do
you think | am improved, since you saw
me last ?''
Cyril burst into an exclamation. Ex-
pressed in letters, it was only, ooh % The
manner and the tone made it eloquent; and
ought to be described. But description
requires appropriate words. Where, in
this case, are the words?'' Mabel's in
nocence requiring no description, pursued
its artless way: "Mr Corydon, you mustn't
flatter me-" Mr. Corydon Immediately
proceeded to fatter her.
''Don't call me Mr.! You used to call
me Cyril in the days when was lnsensi-
BILE to that honor and happiness. My one
ambition is to hear you call me 'CryiP
now."
"You were boy then, Mr.. Corydon; you
are young man now. l am afraid it
wouldn't be right"
Cyril hit on a practical allusion which
might have fallen from the lips of the ma
JOr himself. Juliet didn't hesitate,' he
remarked, "to call Romeo by his Christian
name"
This-for shy man-was, as Mabel
thought, getting on at rather too rapid a
rate. She turned the talk back into the
prosaic channels of modern life. 81
thought your mother and you were serious
people" she said. "Have you really been
to the play p
"Only to Shakespeare" Cryil reminded
her 81 was taken to the theatre, in the
last vacation, by man of high position,
and large experience, whom am proud to
call my friend. His younger brother read
with me under the same tutor-and I first
came to know him in that way"
"Who is the remarkable gentleman"
"This remarkable gentleman is Sir John
| Bosworth.''
Mabel stood stock-still. and looked at the