Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-01-18

Epathy then he would kiss me gently OF
1.-THE forehead and bid me leave him, a
Eif the sight of my added fresh fuel to hi
Igrief.
"a. saw no one but the tRo old domes-
tics, Bartolo and hisEwife-and wither-
ed. monk, my fathers confessor who
taught me toread and write. He usedztc
get very angry with me and scold me
whenever I made mistakes, and make
me very unhappy and miserable. Often
in the agony of childish grief 1 would
| steel into my fathers chamber when he
was absent, and kneeling before the por-
trait of my mother with clasped hnnds and
streaming eyes, implore her to take me
to the heaven in which she dwelt"
Jose felt something tremble in the COR
ner of his eye, she raised his hand to
brush it away, when, that hand was mois-
tened with q tearT7the7 first he had shed
for vaaTs i1!t; -gp So 5H" Fiiis
Alneda, after a short pause, continu-
ed 81; ,u d., s8 az LsE .fai
SAT the age of thirteen the great mis-
fortune Of my life overlook me-my ia
ther. died. Its needless for me to weary
you with description Of the grief that fell
upon me. For months lived in a kind
OF stupor-torpid with despair. When l
recovered sufficiently to understand what
was passing around me, learned that l
was beggar-that my fathers property
had passed into the hands of Thomaso, the
usurer, to whom it had been mortgaged
and unredcemed. l was also told, for l
was too distracted to remember, that, on
his death bed. my father had left me the
ward of Thomaso. Then did discover
that had neither relatives nor friends
Thomaso sought me, told me 1 should
dwell in the old house-be it's mistress !;
but must be good girl and be diligcnt
at my studies, as great fortune was in
store for me-"
Z" Your beauty softcned the finty heart
of the old man, as sunshine mclts ice. -
"Three years" pursued Altneda, un-
needing Josc's remark, did Thomaso
leave me in quiet possession Of my home.
passed those years i'll comparative hap
piness. grew accustomed to the seclu-
sion in which lived, devoting the greater
part Of my tiBle to studies, and succeeded
in winning commcndation from the crab
bed monk who still held the post of my
tutor Though at times an ardent long
in g would enter my breast for congcnial
friend to spend my leisure hours with, to
be the sharcr Of my hopes and tears--the
longing died away; never had africnd. ;"
It'll now" whispered Jose softly.
A smile parted her lips. lighting up
her face as the sun brightens April clouds.
She placed bcr hand conhdingly in his
and echoed
It'll now"
Jose kissed the fair hand with rapturcs
Again Almcda proceeded without prompt
ing: a.
,"At the end of three years Thomaso
brought me hithcr, to Madrid TO receive
the fortune that was in store for me. What
do you thinkothis great fortune was %
i" cannot sUrmiSe."
ITO become HIS wife"
"The wife Of Thomaso 2"
cay; the wife Of. that old grey-beard." !"
"What said you to his suit?'
"f scorncd him from me. told him
that he was Sixty, and l was but sixteen
that age and youth shouldnever min
gle in wedlock.. He called me a roman
tic. foolish girl told me that had not a
maravedi in this world; that l was depen-
dant upon his bounty that l must be-
come his wife or he would thrust me forth
to slRrYe."
4" Inhuman wretch and what was your
reply ?"
That 1 would sooner starve than mar
~ him.
"My brave girl"
g Since then he has kept me prisoner
within this chamber, with the vain hope
of curing my folly. as he calls it, by soli-
tude and scanty diet"
| "Why have you not appealed to some
Passer by from your window and &C
! quainted him with your situation"
'' [ could not, my pride forbade it
Often when on the point of doing so,
shame has intcrposed and tied my
tongue" ls
a. AImeda, it is time your sorrows were
| at an end, and l fondly hope l have the
power 10 end them. Krfew that the. sto-
! ~ told thee when first / entered here is
! false. l. was but an excuse 10 remain in
thy sweet presence; for it was you
sought, when at the hazard of my neck, ]
cIambered in at the window. My friends
had told me of your marvellous beauty,
and l wished to verify their statements
with mine own eyes. Need say how
short description falls when. striving &c
picture thee? Almeda, you desired &
friend, offer you something more-a 10
vera husband
AImeda remained silent, overpowered
with conflicting emotions.
If am not deceived By my own con
ceit," continued Jose, " am not indif
ferent to you"
"Indeed you are not p cried Almeda
ingeniousIy. "Ihave known thee but al
hour. and yet it seems as though We hnv,
been friends for years.
And will you not be mine? Consen
and will bear you quickly from thi
abode of unhappiness.'