Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-11-21
TWICE LOVED.
DY v1aC:N:AF. TOW IsExI

DY VIRGINIA F. TOW SsEND.
Flcmning had cady lived through tho Olive
Agc.-lIYPz !:AI.
Wilton. don't you ever intend to get
married? I declare, I'm quite in despair
about you. Here you are, thirty-six years
old next February, and confirmed old
bachelor Why, you ought to have a
wife and two or three fine second editions
by this time. Just think of all the trou-
BILE I've had about you, too Rides in
the country, and Promenades in the city
visits at home, and parties abroad, all to
no purpose. 1t provokes me to think OF
it. Once for all. Wilton Hughes, do you
intend to live and die an old bachelor ?''
And the lady, still young and blooming,
put down with an air of desperation the
jewel case with which her fingers had
been playing, and confronted the gentle
man who sat opposite her.
He, too laid down his paper, but with
an air of languid sang .troid, which was
particularly irritating, for dinner was just
over, and Wilton Hughes always devoted
the next half hour to politics and bank
stocks.
Really, Sarah," he replied, and his
GOODNESS was in strange contrast with his
sisters vehemence, 81 cannot answer
you, for whether shall depart from this
world in a state Of single or double bless
edncss is still an indefinite matter to my
self You shall be apprized of my de-
cision when | make it. Meantime, my
dear sister, l recommend that you give
yourself no further uneasincss on the
subject"
"You are the most provoking being
alive, Wilton," calculated the lady as she
rose up. 81 bvIieve you are rs heart
less MS you are sarcastic, and shall nev~
cr put another woman in danger of break
ing her heart for you" And the rustic OF
Mrs. Hill's brown silk was an emphatic
preoratiOn of anger as she swept indig-
nantly from the apartment.
Wilton Hughes leaned back in his
chair and half closed his eyes. Now he
sits there all alone, his face brought into
fine relief by the dark velvet cushioning,
we will look at it for his countenauce is
something more than ga book with a
date"
1t is not handsome face and yet il
will win upon you strangely. The fca,
lures are too long and thin for masculine
beauty, the forehead is broad and high
with thick masses of hair about it the
| lips are thin, and in repose stern and grave
but you should see them when they are
in the light Of one Of his smiles. " Thir.
ty-six next February p his sister said
ou would never believe he was more
than twenty-eight, look into his face.
But as the man sits there, his thoughts
wander off on long journey. Itmay be
his sisters words-it may be the din
quiet of the room-have started them or
path which reaches over the graveyard
of many dead and buried years, to FAR
countryside land of his youth.
1t is an old red farmhouse that he
sees now; the slooping roof is covered
with moss, and in the spring the weeds
take root among the caves and make 6
long green fringe on the edge of the house
Ho has not seen the the old home since
that night when he learned-----
look how the cold, proud mans mouth
qulvers, and his fingers clutch the paper
for that night has come out to meet him
1t was laid away, and locked up" b.
thoug ht where it would never find patl
into the present; but now, as some ole
friend-over whose death We have wep
and prayed-comes back and takes ou
hand and the scat by our side, and look
into our eyes with the old smile, AMI