Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-01-03
BY MUTUAL CONSENT,

more country"
10 intensity this feeling she he
clothed her fresh young beauty in
marvellous organdie, SO sheer that b,
arms CLEANED through it like alabaste
and had pinned on her bright head
great hat dropping with roses. By he
side leaned a white parasol edged wit
lace.
Her companion, young man in ter
mis- fannels, who was stretched at he
feet, had commented sarcastically upo
her rhstiee attire y and q hot discus
sion had ensued, a discussion happi1
interrupted by the arrival of servan
with tray of iced lemonade.
"Ah," said Miss Gresham, he1pin:
herself to one of the frosted glasses. Il
there is one person for whom enter
tain an undying affection, it is Betty
I know we are indebted to her for this
She is one of those rare people who al
ways do the correct thing
"Betty?" repeated MARYLAND, lazil,
slipping his lemonade. "And who is Bet
tyr"
"He has forgotten Betty" cried ths
girl "And he has no more shame thar
to confess it! Betty, who was always
his sworn champion and who has help
ed him out of I know not how many
scrapes. This is the effect, I suppose, o.
college and travel and society,"
"BettyH' again repeated MARYLAND
"Ah pa sudden light springing to bis
eyes-"your old nurse, Of course. Why,
certainly, I remember her; dear com
panion Of my giddy youth! But 1 die
not recognize her by SO commonplace g
title. To me she always seemed benefi-
cent genius, good angel, rather than
an ordinary mortalv He lifted his
glass "To Betty" he said; "may hel
shadow never grow less
"Betty was asking me about you the
other day. said the girl. "She wanted
to know if you still rode and swan and
boated like you used to do. I told he1
you had given up dancing, because OF
the exertion. She looked at him limo,
Gently.
"Did she ask you anything about
your own life?" said MARYLAND, sitting
up. ga resume Of how you put in your
time during the winter season in town
might be interesting to her, and GER
tainly profitable.
Anything do is interesting to her, -
she responded coolly.
"Do you know" he said, 81 have
been marveling over you ever since l
came? I cannot quite realize that you
have been ten days i'll the country with
out being bored. How have you accom-
plished it: I thought that the day Of
miracles was past"
my good Tony" remarked Miss
Gresham patronizingly, ''you must not
judge other people by yourself; it is a
very foolish and narrow minded way of
doing. Because you cannot exist happi-
ly without your clubs and your theaters
is no reason why I can't
81 never knew you belonged to a
club observed MARYLAND mildly.
"Have you developed into that modern
wonder, a new woman?"
ooh, nonsensel You know I was
speaking figuratively! I mean that
am not welded to any particular state
Of thiDgs-that I Can adapt myself to
circumstances and enjoy whatever
comes.
Can you? How delightful! But,
jesting aside, has it not been rather
slow for you here, without any girls for
you to see through and scorn and be
amused by-nor men to analyze and
draw out ana get interested imp
"How do you know there have been
ne menu"
Z has3 50. N ~, word for it. I
Il s you re % four 6 n n
III, IDS permission to visit you
here, and | Inferred that the common
herd had been no better treated
yes she said, "you were right.
My solitudy has been uninvaded. I have
been resti5ig aud enjoying myself thor
oughly Ply the Observation-Disclosures
told you that you could come?'
"No one, but / had to run down to
my place On business, and thought it
would look unneighhorly not to drop in
and find out how you were getting on. -
Very thoughtful indeed! So you
have remembered Your old home at last
How long has it been since you were
here?"
"Fiveyears' -pondering-" five years
this june az,
sis it much changed"
IA good deal; the old willow by the
pond is down; It fell 10 the August
storm, CASTOR tells ne
"Oh,.I am 50 sorry! We used to-
she paused, blushing.
eyes" he responded, $50 we did. ,"
And he glanced at her laughingly.
land the house:" she hurried OH
show does it look?"
"Awfully-everything gone to pieces
dust, cobwebs and mold everywhere
the family portraits white with mil
dew"
ooh, Tony" she cried, chow dread
full! You really ought to do something
about them"
II shall" he said. IT was fond of
the place as a lad, and this trip down
here has awakened all the old feeling.
am tired to death Of society, the exer-
ton Of dancing "--smiling-"and the
bother Of being agreeable to people that
one doesn't care rap about, SO have
half made up my mind to marry and
settle down in the country-that isl
slowly-"if I can persuade the girl |
love to consent to bury herself for MY
sake"
Miss Gresham looked down. Her face
had lost little Of its bright color, but
the pallor was in no way unbecoming.
II thought the best thing to do was
to come and talk over the matter with
you," he said after q somewhat awk-
ward pause. "You always help a fellow
SO with your advice
81 imagine" she replied, "that if q
woman cared for man she would &c
with him anywhere.
Exactly, but that is the question
does she care for me? You see''-gaz
ing at her steadily-"she is a society
girl, used to a good deal Of gayety ant
movement and excitement, and it doesn :
seem quite fair to ask her to come dow
TT