Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-01-07

/
Felix was joyfully fearful, and bust
lingly glad the grandmothers, while
Martha, all white from her travail,
lay nursing her babe to her bosom.
Don't you think the little dear is
wrapped up a little heavy?" whis-
pered Mother Danbury to the widow.
"Too heavy" shifted the widow;
mo, indeed. Why, when my Martny
was two days old / had her wrapped
in twice that amount of stun"
but Marthy was born in the win
ter"
THAT don't make no difference;
baby's q baby. I've had one.
Eve had three" was Mother Dan
quiet. There was nothing rude about
it, but it was the clearest tip to take
his leave that a man ever received
but would you believe it, Hall, that
blockhead Of Parsons never TOOK tne
hint, even though it was REINFORCED
by glance gave my watch. he re-
NAMED full Is minutes longer, ana
when, to my great relief, he nnaiiy
rose, Mrs. Langston saw him 10 Inc
outer door as If to be sure OF his oe-
parture. Even then the fellow, IN
spite Of all Mrs. Langston's efforts TO
speed the parting guest, kept ner IN
the draughty doorway quite quarter
of an hour.
81 shall remain only five minutes,
Mrs. Langston.' said when sne AZ
last came back into the room. AS
spoke met her weary glance Win
sympathetic look, and sat down by ner
on the SOFA
my hour had arrived, and assure
you appreciated the fact. The house
was deadly still, the noise on the
street had lulled, and the footsteps Oh
the infrequent passersby only pune
tuated the silence. The situation was
enough to rattle any man, but, HAIL.
old boy, I kept my head.
"'Mrs. Langston,' said I, solemnly,
7 believe that great crisis has al.
rived in my life, and want your KIND
counsel and guidance
"She gave me quick look. ! mad
: aroused her curiosity.
e "T am not quite sure, Mrs. Langs-
tom I continued, not too rapidly, but
r l suspect that am in love-in love
for the first time, and wish your op1n-
8 ion of my CASE
e "'How interesting, Mr.. Willett!
e Tell me your symptoms
I "She spoke in low, kind voice, ner
It attitude was one of alert sympathy
s and a pleasant twinkle in her BLACK
e eyes seemed to say Don't be down
hearted Noting the fact, tooA
n courage and went on:
"'Mrs. Langston, what is love-?
k "Love? Why. love is-love is
'e She hesitated moment. What
ot strange question:
ut "The widow was bit confused.
N "To my mind said, love Is tn
d. most mysterious Of emotions, and tn
lr most varied in its manifestations
in "'Quite true, Mr.. Willett, and We
there are certain unfailing signs tina
Mt enable most lovers to read thei
* hearts,
as THE widow was trying to regal
ed the conversational reins, and I let he
or think that she had succeeded in dom
[e- SO, for all was now moving better tina
had hoped. drew little nearer {
er her on the sofa.
IN, "Tell me some of those infallibl
es signs and I gave her a fetchin
)m glance.
lily "A short. pause ensued, during whie
,r" appeared anxiously expectant.
,ar "'Well, Mr.. Willett, if one is fallir
in love for the first time. a premoI
- tory uneasiness, in most cases, is
his perienced such as one has never fe
ow before; at the same time the mil
for begins to dwell constantly upon Of
Ter person, and the haunting vision ca
not be banished from the fancy
of s-r fort whatever-or at least one
lie convinced that it cannot be banishe
led 80 the result is the same-lt stays
n,s eco on, Mrs. Langston,' said
rch drawing still nearer.
re. "By consummate flnesse made t
civ beautiful creature describe her &C
ception Of the feelings Of her ide
,++v lover. The clock of my fate b
' ~. struck. It was time for the gra
~ coup, and, throwing all the eloQuen
~ Of tenderness into my tones,
.oa- claimed:
,on "'Mrs. Langston, you have read
~ heart like a sibyl. That is just
nd. way feel for you'll"
One "By George! Willett, let me G.
his graduate you on your success. Y
ars deserve all your happiness. for )
q q managed the affair like Talleyran
ave said Hall, extending his hand. Il
hat tell me, did the widow surrender W
a whispered yes or did the traditi
a., al silence give consent?"
~ Neither. She just looked at
M with that bewitching twinkle in
and eye anu saAu
tory lndeeo, Mr. wAte..' "m
sorry, for that is just the way
for Mr.. Parsons
a Great Scott! man, but I thou
anu Won said it was all settled" exclai1
- ~ Hall, aghast.
they "ei' 1en ~ A.,