Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-19
WHAT WAS IT?
BY SHIRLEY BROWNE,

| at that, Zuleima what I've cleared thil
summer, free of all expenses!'
"But it wasn't altogether your idea
mother" said Zuleima. cit was Cousin
Maria's."
"Well, p'r'aps she did suggest it." said
Mrs Maydew; shut carried it out-and 6
great deal better speculation found it thar
sewing on shirts or taking in shoes to bind
and I've made the Durham cows price
and I've bought Deacon Doubleday's sec
ond-hand wagon, and new stair-carpet,
and I've got hundred dollars to put in the
bank, besides all thatv
Zuleima listened with sweet, abstracted
smile. Durham cows-second hand wa
gons-bauk accounts-what was that to the
greas happiness that had come to her
through this city boarder experiment?
"Ought to tell mother now, or ought
to leave it to hlm?" she questioned herself;
and while she still delibersted, Mrs. May
dew's sharp, high-pitched voice broke in
upon the current of her thoughts.
sand r. ally, now / crme to think ont,
don't know but whatI like young Fairgrave
the best of anv boarder we've had. Didn't
you, Zuleima?"
The soft food of carmine rushed to the
girls cheek, her eyelids dropped.
eyes she answered, almost inaudibly;
"I-I liked him very WE'LL"
.'And them pictures be painted were very
good" went on unconscious Mrs Maydew,
Though they wasn't as bright colored as
the chrome of Abraham A-sacrificin' Isaac
over Miss Parker's parlor mautel and them
views of ruined castles that Ruth Chicksey
bought of the peddler for dollar and half
each, gilt frames and all. They were sort
O. dim colored, yon know, and the sun did
MT seem to shine real bright in 'em. But
it's strange, aiu't it, about his bein' eDgag-
ed?''
Engaged" Z1leima started and GRIM
soned more intensely than ever, a shy smile
broke out upon her lips. Her secret, then,
was outl Who could have betrayed it?
Perhaps Vernon himself.
81 didn't believe word of it at first, !"
added Mrs. Maydew, rolling up her bills
and placing them in discolored leather
pocket book. Zuleima turned her face
age, at least" went on Mrs Maydew.
''She? Who do yon meau?"
sMaria, of course" said Mrs. Maydew.
'T've always heard that there's no fool like
an old fool, and begin TO believe it."
"Mother," cried Zuleima, "what do you
mean?"
"Lar said Mrs. Msydew, sis it possible
you hain't read that letter that came this
mornin'? She's to be married to Fairgrsve
in November-the poor, silly old goose
and she wants you to come up and help buy
her wedding clothes. l couldn't have be-
lieved it if hadn't seen it writ and signed
and sealed under her own name. And she
five and forty if she's a. .dayl"
Znleima stood bewildered and amazed
The walls seemed to be whirlipg around
her; the ticking of the old clock grew faint
in her ears. Vernon Fairgrave engaged to
Miss Maria Denham after all the sweet
words he had whispered in her ear, all the
tender hand press.res-the unutterable
looks of love that passed between them!
But, after all, now that she came to look
dispassionately back on the past, she could
not recall that be had ever said to her in so
many words, "Will you be my wife?" He
had never placed a betrothal ring on her
finger; he had contented himself with va
que words-glances which could not absol-
utely be interpreted into sentences, aud a
horrible sensation of shame and anger
seemed to fill her veins with fire instead of
blood as she thought of how she had been
duped.
"He has been making game of me-" she
thought. "He has enjoyed his summer in
'no "h"oo''S', t'"N ~" o 10 soue ""y
Ito leave me without pang OF remorseI
Oh, Heaven! and how am I to endure it?"
s'Ain't you we'll, Zuleima?' Mrs. Maydew
asked, with rather frightened glance at
her daughter. 81 knowed you hadn't
ought to go ont into the hot SUI to pick
them last Lima beans to dry. Lay down,
and let me get you the camphor bottle to
smell tor
But Z1leima recovered .herseIf with an
effort.
II m wen enough, saio sne. mere
is Marla's letter, motnerF want TO read
1t. Well, l never should nave suspected
Mr.. Fairgrave OF oeing 1orsune'n nunter.
It's grest tnlng 20 nave Ittie
money, snra%uiy remarked MIS- Mayue"'
Ihougn Malls amt oau-'ooRln, neiener,
for woman OF her years; not sence she got
them new false teeth o hern."
FOR MISS MARIA Dennam vas tne QUE
wei 10 90 memoer OF 'ne iamiiy' owing 20
lucky speculation IN coal-m'ne shares, on
the part OF the iste Doctor Denham' whose
only descendant she was-a plump. high
compiexioned OLD malo with sparkling oiack
eyes Ike jet beads, and loud, CHEEKY
voice.
1t was nearly noon the next DAY wnen
Vernon Fairgrave stroiled up to the home:
Mrs. MayueW gree6eu hiin WIFI uroao
smile.
"Znleima? She amt home," said she
'sShe is gone to the city to Maria's, to buy
weddn'-clothes. Aha! you see know your
secret"
''She has told you, then?"
'Of course she's told meP' said Mrs. May
dew, shaking the yonng artists hand as il
it we're pump. handle. "And wish you
all happiness, I'm sure. She's good girl,
if she amt exactly beauty, aud"
sBut think she is beauty, Mrs. May
dew"
"Tastes differ" said the matron, with a
shrug of the shoulders. Sand I don't
doubt she'll make you good wife. Hand
some is as handsome does. that's my motto
Eh? Going to the city? Well, give her my
love-"
Meanwhile Zuleima, seated among the
splerdors of her Cousins troussedu, was
looking with unseeing eyes at satius, silks,
tulles, gloves, aud bonnets, while Maria Den.