The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-12
Captain Russell !

|
Rhoda shrank on one side. Her aston
ishment was perhaps the greatest of all
How did Captain Russell come to know
her mothers name2 She had expected
an Altogether different greetlng.
There was a silence moment on two
and then the old gentleman was the first
to recover, rI.
l never expected such gust of wind
as that. 1t quite knocks one over by
the
Please do take a seat, Hand Captain
Russell a chair, Topsy.
Topsy exclaimed Captain Russell.
why that is singular.
What is that? said Mrs. Seryvenour as
the captain threw himself in the chair
shown him by Rhoda.
What is itY-that you call this young
lady Topsy. She sald her name was
Rhoda.
So it is, but as my name is Rhoda. my
poor husband, Mr.. Scryvenour, called
her Topsy as pet name, and she has
kept it ever since.
Oh, that's not singular at all. The sin,
gularity lies in the fact of that young
deg of a Waldemar--my nephew, madam
having fallen in love with a bit of
grill mean young lady named Topsy.
Mrs. Scryvenour took up an album
which lay on the table close by her hand
and, hastily turning over the leaves,
found the portrait of young sailor, and
passed it to the captain in spite of Rho
da's exclamations Of;
Don't Please, mamma, don't
do not like to encourage secret en-
gagements, my darling. You know that
was always a a sore point with me,
The young deg l would pull his ears
If had him. That is my Wademar
Are you Waldemar's bride?
He turned toward Rhoda, and fixed
his piercing eyes upon her. She shrunk
to the sofa, and, covering her face with
her hands, replied sobbingly:
Yes, sir. Forgive us; we did not
mean any harm.
Harm cried the captain, rising from
the seat and approaching the sofa. Who
said you did II I'm only rough old Jack
Tar. Forgive me.
And he then took Rhoda in his arms
and kissed her, ......
BY Jove that WaldemaI shows good |
tastel fell in love with you myself just |
now as had you in my lookout. Yes,
he shows almost as good taste as his |
uncle who fell in love with your mother
years ago,
Mrs. Scryvenouf was weeping with
Joy at the reconciliation which had just
taken place, and could not speak.
Yes, continued the captain, l showed |
good taste, but your mother-she was
Rhoda Mainwaring then-did not seem
to think so. And perhaps she was right.
She was but nineteen and was thirty
four.
Rhoda gszed first at one, and then at
the other.
Yes, Topsy, my darling, this is quite
correct. will tell you about it another
time. AS for you, Capt. Russell, l will
not say anything about taste, either on
your part or mine. loved my dear Har-
old, Topsy's father, and and that is the
sole secret in the matter.
Never mind, madam; you made the
best choice no doubt. But if ever get
hold of that rascal of mine, I'll trounce
him. To love such darling little girl
as you Topsy, and not introduce her to
me is objectionable. Next time you
write to him, Topsy, just tell him so.
I'll have him married and done for my
dear. And I'll punish him by settling
every penny on you. Just see If don't.
And the old man kissed Rhoda heart
ly, and would perhaps, have kissed her
mother in memory of old times, only
seeing so much widows cap, he thought
it better 10 kiss Waldemar's bride again,
-[London Journal.