Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-12-08

the village 10 their hiE acqaaintanccs, and
her absepcs from which might be remark
ed
Emily was little used to deception; ii
was, moreover, yepngnant to her nature ).
accardiAgly she lever had more difficult
task than 70 seem happy on this occasion,
when IN reality her heart was almost break
ing Yet she succeeded j. hen task so
well, that at frst, lie Clefe, Who narrowly,
watched her. thought her still heartless
flirt ! but, Is the ds1 advanced, he noticed
that her gaietY was otten extrayagant, and
that the lsok of sgony visible III the cor
IaeFs Of her mouth when she was silent, be-
he'd mirth Could It he, he asked himself.
that she suffered IS well as himself ~
Was it possible hat some one had niisren-
resented him. and that she thought him
TRis iksssls hsiipg once in,ruaed Il
self into ~ Eleee's naiad ,.eoald not be got
rid Of With what emotions Of I,iety he
now gazed on Emily's altered looks, and
how he pnged to fy to her side and ask
an explanation. But pride interposed;
and turning away, he joined Miss Balfour
Emily could sustain her part no longer
when she saw this; and unable to remain
with the party, she hastily retired TO SCI
cluded part of the wood, where unobserved
she could indulge her tears She had
not long been gone, when LesClere noticed
her absence, at the same moment m act
guaintance Joined him.
aAh r said he to our hero, $50 Miss
Balfepr j. to be the happy one used
10 think It would be sweet Emily Melton !;
but faithl they say, you fell in love with
her rival ut first sight, and were engaged
before the week was out" 8 Z
II don't understand you,n said lie CIerc,
coldly, for this was the first time he had
heard his name associated so seriously
with that of Miss Balfour II have only
known Miss Balfopr far-a fortnight, and
for the first week Of that period | was in
New Yorkso you may see my name has
been used rather too freely
:, COIL / beg pardon, my dear fallGw,n
said his companion, an easy good-temper-
ed, careiess man, but I'm sure / heard
of the engagement week ago and it
was all over town, now that come to
think Of 1T before night of the very, day /
recollect seeing you land from the steam.
boat
Al new light broke upon lie Clesa.--
Could this report have been the cause Of
Emily's naughty couduct2 Sheeught not
to have believed ii, but il was evident she
suffercd as muchg as himself IIe deter
mined to waive his pride, and seek again
for nm explanation.
II was not long before he found the
weeping girl Emily started up at the
sight of him and would2hsge fed But
he gently detained her.
Il have only one question to ask, !" he
said, "and then You may 60 if you will.
Did any false tale.bearer tell you was en-
gagged to Miss Balfoar, and was that the
reason you refused 10 see me last week ~
Emily looked up with surprise through
her tears. His tones were those Of indig-
nant innocence.
Il did hear it p she said with difficulty
..And you believed IT, he Eeplied,- half
tenderly, half reproachfully.
Again those appealing eyes were lifted
to his soul read soul and assured Of his
Innocence, Emily fell sobbing on lie clere's
bosom.
sIpish there we're ma spch thing as gos
siping in the world" said lie Ciere, after al
had been explained, aRd Emily, lcsaine
on his arm, was walking slowly homeward
Iabut / will ferret this affair ont, and fore,
thase Who have made the#selyes 50 bus,
and done so much harm, to retract theil
assertions A little more and their fou
tongues might have estranged us for life
lie Clere kept his Eord lie traced VI
the rumor to its source, and the mischief
they had done for a time cured the guilty
parties of their tattling habits Bat WI
fear the benefits were only momentary, fol
the gossipihg is ~ bad as i ever wasin the
village of which We write, though neither
Emily nor her husband have allowed
themselves to be affected by it SINCE their
hrst and last lSsrR ANGEmENr.
III. T