Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-08-05

"Wby shouldn't l go" demanded
Bob, deiautly eying his sister.
"Because your fancee won't be there. y
"Don't be too sure of that"
al am sure of it; who would invite
district.school teacberl And the Talia-
ferros are so exclusive and aristocratic,
toe"
"Mabel will be there said Bob,
briefly; but that was all he could be in
duced to say for the qualification OF his
sisters curiosity.
The evening of the much talked OF
party finally arrived, with a full moon,
and the lovliest of September nights, to
do ali due honor to its festivities. Rosa
arrived rather late-impatient as she was
to view the internal arrangements of the
stately old stone mansion she would
sooner have cut off her right hand than
been unfashionably early. She was
dressed in the white grenadine, with the
wreath of pink blossoms encircling her
lefty hair, and had the agreeable con-
seriousness that she was becomingly at
tired, and looked very well. Harry
Leslie met her at the door of the already
thronged drawing room, and offered her
his arm to conduct her to her host and
hostess.
Major Taliaferro, a fine-looking dig
nifed, elderly gentleman of the old
school, stood at the head of the room,
with his wife beside him-a stately lady
in rustling white brocade, and such dia-
monds as almost dazzltd Rosa's eyes
with their blaze. AS she inclined her
head to them the major took her hand
kindly.
"Miss Vernon, allow me to introduce
YOU to my niece, Miss Markham" "
Yes, it was Mabel Markham, dressed
in white tule, with pearls and simple
white roses in her golden curls of hair;
and Bob stood beside her, holding her
bouquet with conscious pride in his far
companions winning beauty.
Rosa looked so bewildered that her
brother burst out laughing.
81 though: Miss Markham was the
schoolteacher ~ stammered Rosa, scarce
ly knowing what she was saying in her
confusion.
"You were perfectly core ct in your
surmises, Miss Vernon" answered Nh.
bel, quietly; ''nor was | ashamed OF my
vocation. But was only temporarily
occupying the position on behalf of my
school friend, Miss Claremont, whose
illness incapacitated her from at once
taking her post. l am happy to say
that now she is we'll enough to relieve me
from my labor of love. "
A fresh group of arrivals were now
announced, and Rosa stepped aside. In
the same instant Mrs. Wylie's laugh
ing eyes met hers.
$50 YOU have been introduced to Miss
Markham, after alll" she said, with a
spice of playful malice in her tone. "If
you would only have allowed me to ex-
plain to you last week that Major Talia'
ferro's niece was officiating in her friends
place, how much embarrassment it would
have saved us all! You were shockingly
rude, my dear Rosa, but think
Mabel has forgiven you, for Bob's sake.
Rosa, surely you are not cryingl'
But Rosa was crying-the bitterest
tears of modification that she had ever
shed. They we're soon over, however
an April shower, succeeded by sunshine
once again-but the tears did our little
Rosa good.
She had received a much-needed
lesson. In afte, years her brothers
wife became very dear to her, and Rosa
acknowledged more than once that
Bob had been right about Mabel Mark
ham.-New York Weekly.