Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-02
TOO CURIOUS:
A NEW PAUL PRY.

NEW PAUL PRY.
Kate and I were not engaged, but we un-
derstood each other thoroughly. and 1 was
only waiting for an opportunity to settle
the matter forever. In the meantime !
was absurdly jealous of every mans atten-
lions and looked forward to the day when
our engagement might be publicly announc-
ed.
Kate was visiting her Aunt Hathaway
when an incident happened that came near
wrecking my life's happiness. Just as
was going away she handed me letter,
requesting me to deliver it to particular
friend of hers on my return home. Curios-
lty prompted me to look at the address
when l was out Of her sight.
The discovery was not a pleasant one.
She was writing to Mordagnt Kenneth, who
was at one time chum of mine, but whom
of late | had avoided because he seemed at
times too attentive to Kate. Turning the
letter over thoughtfully in my hands l saw
that the flap had not been properly gum
med, but was fariug open.
OF course in my calmer moments l should
never have thought of opening message
addressed to another, but was mad with
Jealousy and in moment the letter was
read.
The words it contained were few, but
they sufHced to crush my heart. They were
these:
''Meet me at tomorrow morning IN
der the elm at toe turn of the road, with
carriage. Everything Will be in readiness,
and we can drive at once to the village
church, where the clergyman will be IN
waiting. KATE "
fairly ground my teeth with rage. l
would have torn the tantalisiDg billet to
fragments, but the shamefulness of the act
Of which had just been guilty broke up
on me. Iquickly replaced the note and
closed the envelope, and putting my horse
TO his utmost speed | hastened to deliver
il.
closely scanned Mordaunt Kenneth's
esee AS he read the letter. 1t beamed with
JOY.
~ ou have brought me glorious news?'
he cred, wringipg my hand warmly. II
can eGplaio just now, but you shall know
all al 0rtly."
ammered out know not what con-
8nsed reply, and hurried from his presence
Ehlt night / could not sleep. Wild pro-
j9cta haunted me of flying from home AND
coal ry, rushing on aud on, farther and
farbaar, as if the victim Of unhappiness
coui6 ever leave himself and his misery
behT1 II
y ct morning before the sun had risen
was the saddle. l rode without think
ing whittier. It was not till lofty elm at
aHl OF the road drew my attention that
On ogered that some mysterious inf1u
snea had led me to the TWISTING place
mans in the hateful letter.
/ ould have fled from the spot and did
galop off a little way, but the unaccount-
ab.g pell which was on me forbade me tC
foka i 4 n,
ed MOTTO spare ms the pain of witnessing
my val's triumph. l stopped amid a
elnst'r Of small trees, whence, unobserved
/ could see whatever might take placs
beneath the elm.
il vas not long till Kate MorlaBe ap
pesEed, coming by an almost hidden patti
leading through grove of evergreens. |
vas not without an effort l restrained my
sell rom flying to confront hor and tax he
vim my misery.
next moment a carriage drove u
rapidly, and Mordaunt Kenneth spran
CRIT
Kite turned and waved her handkerchief
sud third actor appeared on the scene Ii
sae erson of the pretty cousin had seel
EAe az before.
N time was spent in greetings, but a.
ttIse entered the carriage, which was i'm
Eisdately driven off.
know not how long remained 10 tn
moody reverie into which 1 fell. Whel
srefNed at last the same resstless spel
4rc me to follow the road taken by tn
Ii s.tge. l rode on heedlessly till tn
souu-f(af wheels checked the painful curren
81 ~ thoughts. The carriage was return
lag nd had already been discovered
Be4roat was impossible, for I heard m.
n.pe called, and Kate was signalling IN
Tom the window. y
Ia another moment the carriage stoppe,
sud lIordsnnt Kenneth was at my side.
Congratulate me. my dear fellowp h
cried Sane come and be introduced to 10,
wife Yo& II understand now the goot
new You brought me yesterday
~ Ny tongue could frame no answer, an.
Mord4unt looked up surprised.
:" E'on my word, med, yon look a
duinpsy as if I'd carried off and married
yonT weetheart instead of mine! But COM
sleug it's not polite to keep the bride wait
ing
il vras only one more pang to suffer, 30
alieh ed and followed Mordaunt to tn
caIEis ge, who in due form presented me-
not Kate-but to his pretty cousin, a
his VI fe!
] me out of the dumps with a bounce
anu as straightway the most hilarious o
Tho party.
ou see," said Mordaunt, s'Aunt Hath
away whom Flora here has always livec
with, was rather down upon me, and VI,
had q play Oft a little russ, in which oul
ariana Kate was kind enough to lend I
hand
Il as not till Kate and l had been sew
sral aars married that ventured to con
Tess that l had opened and read her note
and When told her how much 1 had suf
1ered Tor it she only said it had served mt
right.