Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-11-04
TURN ABOUT Is FAIR.

by my cousin. John Elder as we sat or
each side of the fire in his particularly cozy
dining room, where the table, with its
lamp, flowers and dessert had been drawn
up to an easy distance from our hands
John was slipping port and was cracking
nuts, for which in spite of my years have
an abiding affection, and behind my chain
was the door from which might, but did
not, come the draft John was speaking Of
John is an elderly gentleman, a bachelor
very we'll off, very comfortable and very
popular, but still rather mysteriously q
bachelor, because he has always liked and
been liked by women. l am an elderly
lady, a widow, and John and l have been
warm friends all our lives. The reason why
l was sitting beside Johns dining room fire
was that l had come to pay him visit,
and as there were no other guests in the
house it was much more sensible for me to
stay and talk with him while he enjoyed
his after dinner ease than to go away by
myself into the drawing room.
''There is no draft" I said; "none at
present, am sure. But there may be when
the wind is north, and a screen would make
all safe'
YES" he answered musingly, as he
looked at the wine he had just poured out,
"a screen would do. but did think once of
altering the door, making a really good
job of it. planned that with other altera-
tions."
"And the plans were never carried out?''
| asked, after had waited a moment to
see if he would say more. "Well, sup
pose know when they We're made, but l
never did quite understand why they came
to nothing"
NO." he answered. 81 don't think any,
body knew but ourselves. 1t was my fault
certainly, it was all my FAULT
He stopped, but l thought he was not
disinclined to 20 on, and l was curious.
Indeed there had been an episode in john
life about which we had all been curious,
and though it was a good while past /
still felt should like to know. So said,
81 fancied it had been Miss Woodroffes
doing?"
Il said it was my FAULT he answered.
Il did not say it was my doing"
"Ohl' l answered rather blankly, and
there was silence
Then John gave little laugh, half ridi-
Guile of himself, thought, and half rueful-
ness for the story that was in his mind
~ may as well tell you all about it," he
said. "You are not likely to tell it to any
of the young ones, and it certainly was an
odd way of losing ones promised wife
You'll see that she was not to blame''
saw now that l was in for the story,
whatever it might be, the catastrophe of
which had left John a bachelor, so I set
tied myself in my chair, put my feet more
comfortably on my footstool and laid down
the nutcrackers.
WELL" he said, 81 dare say you remem-
Der that have always been much fondef
of seeing my friends in my own house than
of going elsewhere for society | don't
suppose I've dined out ten times in the
last ten years; and ten years ago disliked
doing it almost as much as I do now.
Only wasn't quite such an old fogy, and
believe had some vague idea of marry
ing. The difficulty was that l had never
seen exactly the right woman, and very
naturally | wasn't nearly SO keen about
finding her as had been twenty years be-
fore that. 1t is just ten years now since l
met Miss Woodroffe'
"Yes," said, Il remember it is about
ten years since heard of her."
1.-The only house where l ever cared to
dine in those days was Joddrells', and I
used to go there about once for every four
times they asked me. One evening in Sep
TENDER went there much against my will
Joddrell had promised me that l should
meet some old friends, but when l arrived
there was not one present but strangers,
and nearly all the party were young people.
Fancy asking me to meet room full of
young peoplel 1t wasn't till dinner was
announced that | saw the lady | was to
take in; then Joddrell led me into a corner
of the drawing room and introduced me to
Miss Woodroffe, a friend of his wife,
John stopped a little here, and fancied
he was trying to find words in which to
describe Miss Woodroffe. If that were SO
he did not succeed. After minute he
went on again. without attempting to give
me any portraiture of the heroine of his
story.
Upon my word, Mary, can't tell how
it happened All l know is that she was
the most charming woman l ever saw in
dinner. and we talked great deal after
dinner and the more she talked and the
more l looked at her the more thought
with disgust of my solitary existence.
Somehow or other before l got up next
morning l had made up my mind that
would try to persuade her to become my
WIFE All this Of course is very common
place. Plenty of men, suppose-even
some men of fifty-ive- have had the
same sort of experience. Now comes the
part of the story which think must be-
long to me alone. Do you remember how
years ago, persuaded you to let me send
some of your handwriting to lady who
protested to know all about the people
whose writing she was allowed to exam
inc? | sent yours and some others. Dc
you remember"
eyes," l answered, 81 remember very
we'll, and we thought the characters sent
back were wonderfully true"
1--WE did, said John emphatically. ''ano
that was the mischief of it. Some time
after that | had housekeeper whom
suspected of cheating me, and sent note
CT hers to Miss Harris by way of clearing
up my opinion of her. Miss Harris wrote
back that she was civil and plausible, but
not to be trusted, and sure enough after 6
time detected her in downright robbery
Upon my word, Mary, if | did believe il
Miss Harris, l had good reason, and I'n
not SO very sure yet that she doesn't de
serve to be believed in. Well, now, wha
do you think did? l determined to get
note from Miss Woodroffe and send it t
Miss Harris before l took another step i
the affair. Miss Woodroffe, as it happier
ed, was to stay at the Joddrells' for two
three weeks, and before week was over
had managed to get'a note of two or thre
lines from her. This ! sent to Miss Harris
and can show you the answer received.
Here John took from his pocket a lette
case or pocketbook, from which, after som
turning over Of the papers it contained, b
drew out Il much worn letter, and handle
it to me. 1t began: '"The handwriting {
the note of which you have requested m
opinion is a very remarkable one; it es
presses in the strongest degree the quail
ties of noble and refined character. IN
writer has Il clear brain, an atiectlonat
heart and erect reel inde of mind; SD
talks Il. i.,s ;ltiter leo much nor to
little Ti..sre was Il s:ocei ,issn; a3''ae III =
same style, describing suua q p...',soa