Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-06-24


1ishman-a tall, heavy man, with dark
beetling brows aid loud, arrogant voice,
handsome in the manner that noun
tain bull is handsome. from the ap
pearance of great strength and courage.
describe him to thee as he really was,
not as my youthful fancy saw him, fo1
l thought him q god, in my heart, and
would have married him, perhaps, ex-
cept for the manner of his wooing. He
was remarkable in several ways. He
was the only one of all the men who
paid court to me to marry before did,
for which I owe him grudge. He was
also the only man against whom my
mother warned me, though her warning
was Of little avail to me. There is q
heavy responsibility, my child, upon q
parent in the matter Of choosing suit.
able husband for a daughter. A young
girl cannot know her own heart-but
why dost thou smile? Is it because I,
who eloped from my fathers house with
the son of my fathers enemy, have nc
right to speak upon that text? Well! ]
will spare thee the rest of the lectures
Miss Prue, seeing that thou hast taken
the man chose for thee.
Mr.. Wallingford had arrived in this
country after peace was concluded with
England, and, though an Englishman,
he was more enthusiastic about 'sfree
America" than we who had fought for
independence. He was~not possessed of
any estate, but received or pretended to
receive remittances from England.
Well! Both these gentlemen were, of
course. my lovers. Mr.. Spencer was the
first in the field, il, point of time, though
l never entertained serious thought
for him until after the duel, while, as
said, came near marrying the other.
Mr.. Spencer's wooing was like himself,
a delicate compliment or few lines of
poetry was all that he ever permitted
himself. I wish had kept some Of the
verses he wrote mo now for q memento,
but I foolishly destroyed them, and cam
not remember any, except that he made
my name. Theodore, rhyme with 81
adore her"-a very popular coup1et
with my poetic admirers. He was my
devoted slave, which was the greatest
fault found in him, for my heart was
seeking master, not slave, and SO,
when he summoned up courage enough
to lay his heart and hand at lny feet, 1
had no compunction whatever in telling
him he might not hope.
He bore his disappointment bravely,
and we continued to be good friends,
for which was glad, for he was an in
innate friend Of the Saxbys. pretend
ed to twit him concerning his Quaker
friends, and he ncver failed to respond
to my raillery by telling of some good
action done by one or other CT them. I
listened eagerly to these stories, for I
was deeply interested in the genial look
ing elderly gentleman, and 10 less in
his handsome silent son, who was to be-
come my husband, but from whom I
could neither cntice nor provoke a
glance Of admiral on.
Mr. Wallingford, Oh the other hand,
usually treated me as old, except
when he and were apart frc.. the 9TH
ers. when he would sink his voice into
a rapturous whisper in addressing me.
He hovered about me for three months
before declaring himself, bat I could
see that his policy was to warn off 9th
er admirers, gradually taking the posi-
tion of my sole cavalier.
He chose an evening when few
guests were informally gathered at my
fathers house to unmask himself After
supper he and [ wandered into my
mothers private sitting room under
some pretext or another, I being moth
ing loath to give him the opportunity
to make love to me.
"How hard it is," said he when we
were alone, "to have word with you. !"
81 think you say a good many words
to me. " replied, with smile.
We were staining, and I permitted
him to lead me to sofa, upon which
he sat down also, next to me. He still
retained my hand, and waited, with
downcast eyes, fcr the declaration ex-
pected. I sat few moments i'll silence,
to give him time 10 collect his thoughts,
for I had received many declarations,
and was calm, while this might be his
first attempt thought.
4 am glad to see you now," he went
Oh. 81 would rather see you il your
grave than net at ALI"
The selfshuess of his words struck
me, and / looked l.p to meet has eyes fix
ed upon NE with burning light in
them. ] grew uncomfortable under his
gaze and tried 10 withdraw my hand,
but he would not let it go. Instead, he
clasped Ele round the waist and tried
to kiss me was now quite agitated.
[ had 10 brother to chastise his rude
ness, and I knew that my father would
only laugh at me if I complained to
him. At this moment heard step in
the passage.
"Unhand me. sir!" I cried aloud,
struggling to free myself.
A figure appeared in the doorway. l
was disappointed to see that it was Mr.
Spencer, the last champion l would
have chosen. Mr.. WallingfoTd released
me. at once and turned angrily to the
intruder.
"Why this interruption, sil'?'' he ask
ed, not trying 80 conceal his passion.
"They arc making up {; party at
cards." replied Mr. Spencer. "lu
you take hand?''
I had risen, and now slipped out OF
the room, but paused at the door to rs
ten. "You came here to dog mel' erled
Mr. Wallingford :.
ssLet us go and play cards, replied
Mr. Spencer. "We can easily find cause
for quarrel in our play-if you play as
you played last night, when you won
SO heavily from young Sutton. .
The last words were. uttered clearly
and deliberately It was the deadllest
insult that could be offered III those
days, short Of calling man Il coward,
to accuse him of cheating at cards.
waited with bated breath for the an
swer.
"Iwill break every bone in your body
for this roared Mr.. Wallingford'
There was bullying swagger in his tone'
not the righteous indignation OF an IN
nocent man wrongfully accused.
ssMr. Marriott will receive any mes
sage YOU send," replied Mr.. Spencer.
s'He shall have it" cried Mr.. Wal
ingford, without delay. l have long
wanted to smash you!'
s'You are perhaps stronger than I,