Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-04-20
IT WAS A DREAM.

AAAASSe W
and her feet i'll coquettish blue and
white canvas slippers idly prodding the
lazy old Maltese tabby lying just out of
range of the rocker
Mrs. Warrenton sighed deeply and
looked at her guest sideways.
"Good gracious, Bob, you are enough
to provoke saint" she broke out, with
sudden petulance.
eff you were anything but the great
dull boy that you are, +" continued his
hostess aggrievedly, 'syou would see
that am dying Of stagnation. You're
the only interesting person know, and
now you come here and talk about the
hot weather and look out Of the window
and DOM offer an original suggestion Or
new idea when I'm fairly verging On
intellectual starvation. Do something,
say something or go homep'
''The weather is too warm for much
mental energy, but think if you famed
me for five minutes I might evolve a
thought. I'd go home only it's shut up
for the summer, and I'm sick of the
club, and you are the only available
amusement. y
Mrs. Warrenton arose majestically,
possessed herself of large palm leaf fan
and began tanning the thinker.
you're sure you re thinking? Don't
dare to go to Slept" she exclaimed as
the brows unlimited into peaceful Sc
renity. ''Times upH'
N:,+o-, ,,,,oloco1 I,ic oxyac o.,I COT
bolt upright.
'tYou look" said he irrelevantly,
"liIze Dresden china shepherdess in all
those white ruffles and pink ribbon. Put
on the big hat with pink roses and you
can play Phyllis. -
SIS that all you've thought out?''
'sNo," continued Bob radiantly
GIVE thought further. You play Phyl-
lis, and I'll be Strephon, and We'll go
to Arcadia
''Suppose, Bob, you should tip me
'over''-
"Strephon, remember, StrephonH'
prompted Bob as he padded out slowly
into the stream in the red glow of the
sunset Skies
"Well, Strephon, then!" and Mrs.
Warrenton dabbled her finger tips in
the water and forgot to repeat her ques
ton. ST didn't know the Charles was
SO beautiful What's all that green bank
and bridges and shady nookery up
there?''
Arcadia" said Bob sententiously.
Mrs. Warrenton leaned back, nestled
her pretty head against the shawls and
looked picturesque.
Mr.. Vinton padded industriously and
gazed straight ahead toward his destina-
tion.
t'You look ever so handsome i'll your
shirt sleeves Ialways like men better
more picturesque. Why don't you paint
your next hero in shirt sleeves, pad
ding a canoe with pretty girl-that's
I, of course" looking sentiment at him.
''Look sentiment at me, Phyllis, and
WILL" said Bob lightly.
''All right, Snephon, but what shall
we talk about?"
edo you remember, Phyllis, the aft
ernoon I taught you to skate out on the
dark winter afternoon you slipped on
the ice and hurt your ankle and cried
you were only a girl Of 10 then-what
apretty girl, though and 1 put my arm
around you and helped you home and
kissed you sweetheart kiss in the base
ment vestibule. That was a good many
years ago, Phyllis.
''You were a nice boy, Strephon, but
you were always bold" said Mrs. War
renton And then she added, with
touch of coquetry, ''Would you believe
it, I've the valentine you sent me-the
one in box with pink roses and Cupid?''
II used to think you'd settle down to
marrying mo when you tired Of flirting
with Jack Warrenton. That's why
didn't shoot him before he ever married
you, Nell'--
''Phyllis, Phyllis" she interrupted,
smiling But he did not smile.
''Phyllis, I mean-but my going off
to Rome that summer was fit Of pique.
You said you didn't care, and when I
came back you were married, and I'm
sure I've acted like an angel ever since
I wonder if sou ever did care?"
81 wonder!' nurmured Mrs. Warren
ton dreainily. 'And now, =" she contin-
ued 'syou're going to marry that nice
little girl of yours down at Newport and
be a steadygoing Benedict and never
any more spend afternoons in Arcadia
with Phyllis"
'Fact!'' returned Bob little bitter
II, and as streak Of dying sunlight
struck across his face through the
branches he seized the paddle viciously
and padded into q little inlet oyerhung
with shade
Mrs Warrenton leaned over and laid
pne hand timidly Oh the brown muscu-
lar one still grasping the paddle.
People are never cross in Arcadia"
she murmured.
ST wish you'd be in earnest" he
broke out passionately, land not treat
me as if were boy. You're too con-
foundedly cold blooded No-well-
that doesn't sound pretty-but mean
make believe you're human. You've al
ways kept me at arms length-~just far
enough SO you could pull at my heart
strings when it amused you''-he broke
off suddenly-sI'n a brute.''
ssNo, straphon, you re true hearted,
hot headed boy, flying off on tangent
one day and repenting the next" said
Mrs. Wa1renton gently.
"As it is, Phyllis, why don't you offer
70 be a sister to me?' he suggested
whimsically, smiling. HWould you
mind if talked to you about myself a
little? Or maybe you won't care to hear.
But this is the last time We'll be in
Arcadia together. and though it will do
no good ! wanted you to understand.
sIf I'd had a mother, maybe I'd be
better man I don't think you ever
knew how much you have done for me,
boy and man. loved you when you
were slip of girl in short dresses and
braids, and said to myself: She is good
and pure. Twill try to deserve her, and
then I will WIN her
''But I didn' t win you. That was a
hard time with me- was little reck-
less afterward,A and drifted into the
fast set for time, but l had my art,
and that kept me from forgetting my