Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-10-12
SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
l. detest Celia.

ouesC nAt-A cetN1h p poppy eiiNA WIN LIZ
was spelling him. OF course it was nc
business Of hers if were-she admitted
that-but she was SO fond Of me that
she felt she must speak, being older and
more experienced than I, and implore
me to remember that it WASH t only my
lover I was spelling, but my future hus-
band and if I let him have his own
way in everything now should never
be able to have mine by and by when
we were married.
So Jack and I quarreled at the Hornes'
dance last night.
hardly know what it was about in
the first instance, but it grew and grew
until it seemed to me there was nothing
we weren't quarreling about, and Jack
was soon terribly i'll earnest. Though
we had been engaged for three weeks,
I'd no idea he had it in him to be SO
angry. And of course I lost my head
and got angry, too-really angry-and
said horrid things, and-and-I told
him that our engagement was broken
off, and there must be an end of every
thing between us, and-and-Jack took
me at my word. never thought OF his
doing that.
ssAs you please he said, speaking
quietly all of sudden. We.were in the
conservatory, and the dance music in
the drawing room must have drowned
the sound of our voices half a dozen
yards away. "Youwish our engagement
to end, Maud? So be it. Your letters
shall be returned to you tomorrow, and
will at once leave you free to resume
your filtration with Frank Horne
"But-Jack"--
His face was set and white. He never
even looked at me. The music ceased.
Cecilia and several other dancers strolled
into the conservatory, and he left me-
Yes, he went away and danced with
other girls, and he never spoke one
word to me or came near me again the
whole evening.
Harkl Some one is crossing the hail.
Surely Jane won't be so foolish as to
show any one in here now!
In another moment "Mr. Dayton" is
4 announced, and Jack himself stands be-
fore me.
"Jack!'' I started to my feet, and all
his treasured documents fall rustling TIC
the floor, but l never think Of them.
Who thinks Of love letters i'll the pres
ence of the writer? Jack is here, my
Jack, and
But is he indeed my Jack?
The first glance at his face recalls NE
to myself and reminds me that he is nc
longer my Jack, or Jack at all to me.
I told him I wished our engagement tc
end, and he remembered it evidently,
though for one brief moment have for
gotten. Oh, Jack-Jack!
He waits till the servant has left the
room, then takes a small packet from
the breast pocket of his coat and turn:
to me-
This must be my apology for dis
turbing you,' he says very formally.
81 thought 1 had better bring itmyself,
in case of accident. %
t'For me?' 1 speak vaguely and
without Offering to take it. I want to
gain time.
"Yes-your letters. have no right
to them now"
''How-how beautifully you have
packed them!'
He turns away, with an impatient
gesture, and lays them on the table.
st need not detain you amy longer,
now my Grand is DONE" he says quiet.
ly.
"But-there is something else Oh,
you forgot!' as he looks at me question
ingly. "You have returned my letters
promptly enough chow can I thank yor
for such promptness?>, but you forget
your own. AS you say, I have no right
to them now"
'You wish me to take them? Very
wellu' -
= But do not wish him to'take them
Anything but that. fwant to postpone
the moment Of parting. That is all.
''Will you be good enough to fetcl
them?'
s'They are here on the floor. Will yo1
be good enough to help me pick then
up?"
He does so without word. Together
we stoop and collect them. Togethe
we lay them on the table. Together TO
the last time!
I bring paper and string and proceed
to pack them up while he watches M
in silence.
81 fear this will not be such a nea
parcel as yours l say, speaking a
steadily as I can and bending over tn
table TO hide my troubled face. 'Yo1
Oh t1,i, n
thing"
81 know" shortly
81 can't do it!' And great tea
splashes on the packet. ''I'm sorry
Don't bother about it. :" And he lay
his hand OH mine suddenly. mo neet
for such fuss. Give them to me a
they are
"What are you going to do will
them?' as he takes them from n.
trembling hands.
"Put them in the fre!' And he turn
TO do So
''No, no. no''' I cry, springing for
ward and laying OBTAINING hand OIL
his arm. "Oh, don't, Jack!''
"Why not?" pausing. "You DOM
want them, and I'm sure don't. -
"I-I do. Please give them back tt
me-
''What for?''
"To keep! 70 remind me-
stOf my folly:''
'EOf my own. p
"Ycur folly is over and done with
Our engagement is broken off, p" he say
modify. Better forget it ever exist
ed'
IT cannot do that" with an irrepress
ible little sob 81 am waiting for thos
letters
''Take them, then" And he throw
them down on the table. keep the,
to compare with Horne's if you like.
don't care
'tHow can you insult me SO? Wha
right have you to think me SO mean, S
heartless?' I cry Indignantly. ''An
you cared for me once, OF pretended to.
II did care, care now. though
know I'm only fool for my pains,
bitterly. "Heartless, do you say? Ho
can help thinking you heartless aft'
your conduct last night"
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