Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-10-26

she's the mistress o this ship jes' as long as
she's mind to be- ST. an l mean it, Miss
Rosamon'."
"Thank you ever SO much"
"Why, Miss Rosamon', I've known of your
family all my life. 1 amt never met nons
of 'em personally, butt But here he
checked himself, remembering that duty
called him on deck. Miss Rosamond bads
him good night very sweetly, and he came
away murmuring:
''God bless 'er little hearth I'd tell forty
seven dozen lies before I'd let her find out"
When Miss Rosamorld opened her door
next morning. the ship was still roughly
rocking, but Lorne told her that the blow
had not been as severe as the captain had ex-
pected; the sea was too heavy, however, for
them to leave the ship in their boat that
morning-possibly they would be obliged to
wait until the next day. The young lady
was hosrihed at the prospect, grieving to
think of the anxiety her friends would suffer;
but oddly enough, as she thought, the young
man appeared to think that few hours
more, or even a day, made little difference,
now that they were fairly in for it. When
they went to him the captain told them that
it would positively be dangerous for them to
leave the ship that day; it would be far wiser
to wait until the following morning, and by
noon it was seen that this course was not
only best, but necessary.
''Oh, how is your wife this mornings" in
quired Miss Rosamond of the captain, when
the three were at breakfast.
"Who? Oh, yes-yes-my wife. Ahem-
she-she amt so very well; she's worse if
anything"
Miss Rosamond noted his confused manner
.1e xr,1,x In
gay Mr.. Talcott Lorne stared SO soberly into
his plate and made no remark whatever for
such long time.
"What is the matter with herS' she asked
further.
''What ails her? Why-oh, she's got the
rheumatism dreadful bad, and-and--well, I
don't know but what she's got almost ever
complaint women folks is liable to have"
The old man put down his knife and fork
and wiped his forehead, as though he felt
warm.
do you think the ship rolls as much as it
did early this morning?' interrupted Mr..
Lorne.
But Miss Rosamond was not to be diverted
from her charitable designs. Couldn't go
In and see her?' she persisted Il might
be able to do something for her; should
like tor
Mr.. Talcott Lorne seemed unable to swal-
low his mouthful of food, and the unhappy
old captain looked desperate. His wits did
not desert him, however.
"Well you know he stammered, "well,
rayly, you're very kind, but Polly, you
know-well, don't think she'd really like it.
She amt SO fond of company when she's
sick; sorter cross, you know"
This was enough for Miss Rosamond. The
invalid Polly was discussed no further, and
her better half heaved long internal signs of
relief
Lorne's opportunities for the exercise of
his talent for pleasing (which usually ulti-
mated itself in whispered nothings and num-
berless small attentions) were during that
day without limit, but, although he was
man of imagination and exerted himself with
singleness of purpose quite admirable, Miss
Rosamond did not always appear to be
pleased. When the day was over he looked
back upon it with sense of failure that was
annoying; it. struck him that somehow his
talents had gone undera cloud-for the time
Miss Rosamond had certainly failed to be
impressed, and beneath her exquisite tact he
detected what seemed to be an unwaver-
ing desire to keep him at q distance. Even
when he had prudently retreated from more
delicate topics and talked of persons, she had
disagreed with him; when he rema rked that
his friend Lee was ono of those ''dreamy
literary fellows" who never came to any
thing, she had rejoined with some warmth
that, in her opinion, he came to great deal
as it was. After due reflection, many other
men would have decided that it was a mis-
take to consider Miss Frail already won; not
SO Mr.. Lorne, he was merely annoyed
And even this annoyance was dissipated
in the sunlight of a friendly smile from Miss
Rosamond next morning. As they took their
seats in the little boat, a few words uttered
by a laundering sailor led to the dis
closure of the little stratagem which
had been resorted to in order to keep the
young lady IN ignorance of her real position,
and after the first moment of disagreeable
surprise Miss Rosamond turned to Lorne
with sweetly, genuinely grateful eyes.
'It was very kind of you and Mr.. Barns to
do all that" she said
After this his feeling of annoyance gave
place to quiet confidence and he was en-
boldened to make a delicate proposition,
which he appeared to think the situation de-
manded: Why shouldn't they say they were
engaged when they reached land? To him
the idea seemed capital. Inconvenience
could hardly arise from it, as neither of them
would be at Eastport more than two weeks
longer, and it would effectually silence those
gossiping people who they had reason to fear.
He put it very delicately, and certainly not
in way to give offense, but Miss Rosamond
colored family and showed that she thought
him wanting in tact. Without even an an
swer she adroitly changed the subject, and
Lorne thought she was offended because he
1 za1.o,. .,.1%
ment.
But when they rode in among the breakers,
and Miss Rosamond saw the staring crowd
of people who awaited them on 1.-THE beach,
she drew in her breath with gasp and her
heart failed her, 81 accept your PROPOSE
tion," she said hurriedly, turning upon
Lorne her frightened eyes
Then the boat was run in and the unhappy
young lady knew the agony of being stared
at by hundred wildly curious people. Mrs.
Frail and her sister, Mrs. Potts, were in the
crowd, both of them half frantic, scarcely
able to restrain themselves from hysterical
exhibitions. At the last moment the eager
ness of the former to receive her lost daugh-
ter back to her arms was such that she
stepped forward heedlessly and allowed an
infowing wave to deluge her ankles
cried Mrs. Potts, in a stage whisper, when
they had the young lady between them, and
all the people were straining to see and hear.
Now was the dramatic moment for Mr..
Lorne. ''But it doesn't matter SO much as it
might, Mrs. Potts, as long as we are engaged
to each other"
Whether they understood him or not does
not appear; the elderly women merely
treated the ready young man with looks Of
angry suspicion, and hurriedly bore Miss
Rosamond off between them.
Miss Frail is said to have declared after
ward that the arrangement was the acme Of
absurdity, and that her position as the sup
posed fiancee of Mr.. Talcott Lorne was NOR
tifying in the extreme. In her own words,
it made her feel ''silly." She was anxious to
quit Eastport at once and free herself, and it
was only through the efforts of her match
making aunt, Mrs. Potts, that she was pre-
vailed on to remain until the appointed
time.
There could be no doubt of the engagement
at Eastport, for Lorne was more assiduous in
his attentions than ever, leaving hardly any
opportunities at all for Lee who seemed to
take a quiet, friendly interest in the young
lady himself. The latter knew all about the
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