Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-05-11
wavs hitherto nut faith in her iudg-

JOhn. But give nlm up! Never
never! She would write to him-dC
anything and everything. But go she
must. Aunt Paulina was making pre-
parations; Sarah was packing; and
Marion looked off toward the rolling
surf with a distressed and somber gaze
her red lips a-quiver.
l She did not see her Aunt Paulina
again till 8 O'Clock that afternoon
which was agreeable both to herself
land to Aunt Paulina For her aunt's
plans went like clock work Trunks
were packed and bills were paid and a
cab engaged, and at 3 o'clock Aunt
Paulina saw her niece into it and sat
down herself, and drawing sigh of re-
lief folded her hands.
Ripley, Mrs. Dawson rites she be-
gan cheerfully, lis liveliness itself. The
Cheevers are there, and the Longs.
Henry Cheever, yOn know, has Just re-
turned from abroad-a very pleasant
young man. And that young Long
must be twenty-six or seven by this
| time And there will be others, of
course. I am sure you will be glad /
thought of going. All young girls have
their foolish moments, Marion, and you
have had yours and you will be CRATE
full
| The station was close at hand, and
Aunt Paulina's reassuring remarks
We're interrupted.
The 3.10-is it on time ? she said to
the station agent, as she sat down in
the waiting room.
responded. IT'S Just gone, ma'am, this
minute The $50 is the next, ma
| Who told me it was 8. .10?' said Aunt
Paulina, sternly. But nobody had.
| Forty minutes! What an aggrava-
tion! Sarah, get the tickets
| She settled into displeased silence
displeased and uneasy. Her brow was
furrowed and her eyes roved toward
the door apprehensively. She was i'll
at case, quiet Marion reflected, for fear
poor John Gordon would put in an ap-
| pearance. John Gordon did not, but
| what was almost as bad, Mr.. Lamb did.
Mr.. Lamb, in a very thin suit, but
tperspiring still with the combined pres
sure of heat and hundred and eighty
pounds came putting in, bought a
ticket, and sat down and famed him
self with his hat and newspaper.
'Ah, Mrs. Field and Miss Taylorn he
exclaimed. Whittier away? I'm
bound for the city for half an hour
Hot day, but I've something l can't
neglect. John Gordon promised to go
with me. Where is the rascal? Train
in ten minutes. Where is he, Miss
Taylor You ought to know
He came over and sat down beside
them, large, cheerful and smiling.
Aunt Paulina frowned, but she might
as well have smiled; Mr.. Lamb behav-
ed as though she had.
You ought to know, young lady, he
Insisted JOLLY. Keeps you informed,
doesn't he? How do you like him, any
how? Nice fellow, eh?
Mr. Lamb ratified his paper, and look
ed at his audience beamingly.
Fine is the word for him One of
the brightest young fellows l know.
Good company every time, John Cor
don is Haven't you found him SOP
Yes murmured Marion, though
Aunt Paulina looked like q thunder
cloud
Jolly fellow, Gordon And that isn't
all of him. He is clever-that is the
new word, amt it? Smart is what |
mean. First class business man, but
he goes deeper. He's what you might
call literary. Unsuitable reader-up to
everything. Even published an article
once You know he ranched it for a
year, for fun, and he wrote it up for
the 'Artic Monthly and it made rather
a sensation. Clever fellowr
Aunt Paulina raised her lowering
brow with cough. Literary qualities
had always been admired in her fami-
lv. Her grandfather had been minis
ter
We'll, he ought to be- said Mr.
Lamb. He graduated at Yale and
spent year or two at Heidelberg after
11..y ~ l.
everything in. You've noticed how
well informed he is on all sorts of
things, Mrs. Ffeld?'
'Um-m? p said Aunt Paulina, clearing
her throat
He's practical, though He isn't all
for theories and notions. He means to
be rich man yet, and he's in fair
way TO he. It's one of the greatest
glass and csaina businesses in New Eng
land, and the income is pretty big. 1t
was a fine business when his father
died. but Gordon has built it up Won
derfully. He owns good property in
Boston. too. Well, l suppose Gordon
is worth seventy-five thousand, any
how
How much p asked Aunt Paulina
About S75,C)0. The Gordons have
been rich family since the flood, l
reckon, Good cid family, the Boston
Gordons. He's Higgins on his mothers
side She was Philadelphia Higgins.
Lets see-you're from Philadelphia,
Mrs. Field?'
Yes said Aunt Paulina, nervously
She was, and knew the Higginses to
be blue-blooded and exclusive.
We'll, here I'm blowing about him
like a house afire. But there's ample
excuse for it, Miss TaylOr-exeuse me !;
Pm rough old customer-butift if things
do come out all right, accept my con-
gratulations. He's the finest fellow in
the country.
Silence for moment, which the rat
tie of Mr.. Lambs paper-ho was fan
ming Aunt Paulina-alone disturbed.
There he is now ? said Mr.. Lamb, as
footsteps sounded outside. Here you
are Don't care bit about going in
without me, do you? Well. it is hot.
Guess I'll have to let you Off
John Gordon bowed low to Aunt
Paulina, and smilingly to Marion, and
sat down beside her. He had red
and white cap, and red sash instead
OF the black one, and he looked hand
somer than ever But he looked alarm
| ed and astonished.
Where are you goingT he said to
tlNarion, anxiously.
TO Ripley she answered, her eyes
Go> vncast.
r. 'pley!' cried Mr.. Lamb mot for
GOOD. | hope, Mrs. Field? Why, ty-
oh old ever is raging there. There are
six cases already. It's lower land than
here, Won know, and there's standing
wate- ont, 'ide the village
IT'S ma lignant form Of it, under
stand. Mrs. Field said Mr.. Gordon,
Ripley. " hat have you got to &c
for?' asked M- r. Lamb. What's the
matter with III ,h9 osash wit5 Its trnhog holly
fever m tbere-. why. this mornings
paper said every body's leaving the
place
Mercy, Au Mt Pau, ina p Marion oI 11ana mur,
twitching.
his stout legs with no small 1e enort, u {,
along Gordon It's too warm; and