Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-04-13
An Msfy, sAid Edward noar..fslly.

near YeuI am 10 lnnger blindp
The beck she had been reading I'll IN
heededn Vie grolind. she tsrmbled, hereof
or REMAND came. asshe laid her hand tiinid
/ " on Bis arm Understandable tenderness
lreverenee ard eonpassisn we're busy With
| her soul
towards as this new compan:on need no
estrange yen frels Jour oldest aud deares
/ fTissdst-yeur mcs hers friends Let N,
always Be yses phpil, your frieaa, your-
sister N
Susiainsr sonssIor. guide Sister abov,
all. Oh yes, my Sister Best and sweetes
title--say il again. larry, say il again L ant
seizing her land BE Kissed Il passionately
and held il for naoment within bis eva :
( he. sudasnly felipsu;sblug ii he continued
frter IN altered hHc, ii sister ana II,
friend until another comes to claim hirh
er privileges, and Mary shall be for ever losl
to me r
She drew back. and a few inauiiSlc words
died away upon her lips he could not see
her appealing fearful eyes installing the
cause Of her reserve. he made strong effort
70 regain composufe
DO you remember when you we're child.
Mary, how anbisfeusly romantic YOU used
tp be, ard hew you were determined to be.
come dachesS at least =
And how ypu used to tnase me, By say.
inc sou would only GENE to my castle dis
guised al wandering minstrel and would
never siE at the beard between me and the
duke, Edward ? YES, / remember il all
very. well, foolish children that we were -
But |. al least know better new; am not
SO ambitious ini th.t way any long r
In,thht way /; In what direction, then.
do your aspirations tend p
To BE- loved. said Mary fcrvently to
be loved, Edward with all the trust and de.
votednsss Of which noble nature is sus.
ceptibie to know that the heart on which
| lean has no thought save for me--to Be-
certain that, withsll my faults aud way.
waranessl am loved for myself alone, not
for--for any little 81 arm o. face which peo
pie may attribute 50 me
Edward rose abruptly, and walked up and
down the room, swkch from lis leng stay in
the house, had become familiar to him -
Mary lie resumed, stopping as be drew
nsar!her, you DO yourself injustice The
face you set 50 litsae store, must be beauti-
full, as the index Of your soul | have pic.
tured yen SO often.to myself; have coyet.
ed tile blessing of sight. we're it only fer an
instant. that I might gaze upon you
The dim fern Of my mother, as | last be-
held her in my infancy, floats before me
whenl think Of you, encircled With halo
Of heavenly light which fancy to be your
attribute, and a faaianse hovers round your
golden tresses sach IS gladdens our hearts
in sunshine
Alb, Edward. !. IS better you cannot sec
me as | am Yoa would not love-I mean
you would not thiak of mo-so much I
If could u,ssee you for a moment a.
should never re piDa again
Tho bali tonight had quite forgot
ten it'll; / wish MARINA would lot insist up
on my going, do not care for these
things any lepgers--yeu will be left alone,
Edward, and that rsems SO heartless and
unkinhp
Mary said one of her sisters, opening
the library door, hook at these beautiful
hot.honse flowers which has arrived here
for us. Come Edsard, como and see them
too
They were so accustomed to treat him as
one ofItheanselves land were SO used to his
aptitude id many Ways, that they often did
not appear5to remember he was Blind.
TheEfowers we're rare and beautiful. and
yet no adeHpr's name accompanied the gift.
Suddenly one the girls cried out laughingly,
Il have GUESSED, / have guessed It's Ed
ward HI has heard. us talking about this
ball. and must have ordered them on pur.
pose for as Kind. good Edward and
they were loud IN their expressions Of de.
light al except Mary, who kept silently
aIoof
Mary does not Ike her fowersp said Ed
ward ipquiringly, turning in the direction
where She stood
t Not she replied sorrowfully, it is the
ball that 4 do not ike, nor your thinking
about decking us out for it. As if | cared
to 90 7
Look al these lovely roses said the ell
dest sister, as they we're selecting which
each should wear would ret Mary look
well with ! wreath Of these roses in her
hair q
Yes, yes exclaimed Edward eagerly
and lei nae weave it for her You know,
Mary. il is ono Of my accomp lishments; you
we're proud Hof my garlaDds when you were
4 lit.ie igirl? viii yoa trust my fngers fol
the task n
IF You really wish It. If il does not seem
toe triiainr. yes, said Mary gently, with i
troubled expression upon her brow rsnall,
50 serene. - shs moved reluctantly away :
But Thrust appear saeh a raockery to you
moor Edward Band then. without waiting
for reply. She hurgied 10 her room. aud did
not snow herself again until the family as
,embled fol dinacr while Eaward. seated
bstween liz sisters who we're il great de
I-L. ais. ..;.;-..;o, ~ III evan;nr