Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-06-20

lines a little oppressed by the calm and
wished it would not make itself quite SO
obtrusive But on this May morning no
such rebellious thoughts were in her mind,
for she entered into the gently beguiling
mood of nature, and her heart was full of
sunshine.
AS they neared the rather stately look
ing brick church little groups were seen
coming from all directions. For every one
IN Framleigh went to church. Although
The congregation was not large, it was, on
the whole, well-to-do one, for the inhabi-
tants of this little village, most of whom
were descended from few aristocratic
families, prided themselves on this fact
and kept up their good name.
As Dorothy from her place in the choir
looked over the familiar faces which showed
over the high, straight pews
her attention was caught by an unfamiliar
kdCo LII OcdCOA OIdy pow. ooAOAJ, hOfSA
before had she seen this tall, elegant young
man, with the pleasant eyes and sunny
hair. And as she looked from him to her
good natured awkward brother, it seemed
to her that Andrews coat had never fitted
80 badly.
Occasionally, during the service, she
glanced demurely over her hymn book at
the new face beside the staid old deacon,
and as she was singing in her sweet So
prano voice, "Sweet fields beyond the
swelling food" she looked over toward
the deacon's pew to see if the new occu-
pant was singing, and finding his dark
eyes resting on her with calm, interested
gaze, this simple country girl blushed and
nearly lost her place.
At the various dinner tables in Fran
leigh that day this young man was spoken
of with more or less interest. 1t became
known that he was a cousin of
the deacon's wife, and had been studying
at the medical school in Cambridge, but
was obliged to give his eyes rest.
The blooming damsels of Framleigh, who
the young men of the village,
were especially interested in the stranger.
Rebecca Thompson, a good natured, red
checked girl, who was Hospitality inclined,
was much grieved that it was too late in
the season to have sugar party, that she
might invite Mr.. Deane, but finally decid-
ed to content herself with gathering"
which meant social meeting Of the SWANS
and maidens of Framleigh, in the large old
parlor, where they played "fox and geese"
or 'around the chimney" and ate apples
and cake or popped corn. The gathering
would break up at 10 o'clock, when those
of the youths who were not too bashful
would ask their favorite Mehitables or
Abigails if they might see them home.
This kind of gayety was quite new to the
Young Harvard student, and, although he
went in rather superior mood, thinking
to be mildly amused by the harmless gam
bols of these country people, yet he felt a
thrill of interest as he wondered if he
should see the sweet faced girl who had
sung in the choir on Sunday. And when
he entered the parlor almost the first per-
son he saw was Dorothy, looking very
charming and pensive in dainty figured
brocade dress which had belonged to her
mother.
Rebecca, the hostess, ushered him in and
introduced him to every one in the room.
Then Robert did something which quite
shocked the feelings Of Framleigh society.
On one side of the room all the maidens
were sitting, while on the opposite were
all the young men, looking awkward
enough in the straight backed chairs and
dressed in their best clothes. For this was
the way in which the guests were always
arranged at the gatherings" until the
games began. But Robert, with an easy,
graceful manner, took a seat on the girls
side of the room, between Dorothy and
little Ruth Hawkes., and began to talk to
them as If very much at ease-a proceed
ing which caused surprised futter on
one side Of the room and struck consterna-
ton on the other.
But when they began to play games the
,billy air of reserve which seemed to encir-
o,o the company was changed to one of
e ~ good humor. From the moment
wben ,1orothy's clear, shy eyes looked into
- &C. he took the cats cradle off his
h;s hands Robert had a feeling Of exhilara-
ton and kn, w that he should enjoy him
self And wheu he left Dorothy at her
own door he felt very joyful as ne walked
home to the deaconss, ana 1t seemed TO MN
that there was nothing mors charming
than country village IN May.
Dorothy came down to breakfast next
looking very trim and domestic
in a light print gown, and wren andrew
spoke in joking manner about her new
CITY beau she blushed up to the little curls
on her forehead and looked rather con-
scious.
That afternoon she thought she would
90 into the woods to see if she could find
some late arbutus. When she reached the
TOP of the hill she found a beautiful bed OF
MAY flowers which had come out late, as
they were under pine tree which had kept
off the sun. AS she was bending over the
flowers, pulling off the dead leaves which
covered them, she heard deep voice hum
ming:
"Oh, do you remember sweet Alice, Ben Bolt?
Sweet Alice, whose hair was SO brown?'
Looking up, she saw Robert Deane not
VERY far from her. just at that moment
he saw her and came toward her. So to-
aether they gathered the arbutus, and
when Robert said that picking Mayfowers
seemed to be the most appropriate thing in
the world for her to do, she was so like
them, she turned pinktr than the pinkest
of flowers in her hand And then he added,
~ never knew how beautiful the arbutus
WAS before" After they had gathered all
the blossoms under the pine tree, Robert
wanted to 60 up higher on the mountain to
s.e If there were not some flowers there. So
they did not get home till supper time, and
Dorothy, who was usually very capable
about the house, seemed rather abstracted
that evening.
AS the days went on Robert Deane still
STAYED at Framleigh. The simple old dear
con. in speaking to the minister about him
said: 'Tt does seem mighty queer about
Cousin Roberts eyes. The doctors told
him he wouldn't need to rest them fol
more than week or so, and here he lsn'i
able to go back to Cambridge yet; but DC
does seem mighty contented here"
May changed to June. and still he stayed
He acquired great interest in walking
and he and Dorothy used to take long ram
bIes on the mountains or by the quiet ut
tie river. He told her about his past life
his hopes and ambitions, and to this coun
try girl, who had no interests outside OF tn
little village. it seemed as IL new worlc
had opened.
One morning when she was working II
the kitchen. the old knocker went in sucf
a vigorous way that she hurried to thu
door with her apron on. She found Robert
peane there, looking pale and anxious