Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-12
Jntutstilg stprp.
THE OLD MAIDS STORY.
A wARwICKsHIRE TALE.

You will, perhaps, smile at an old wo-
mans vanity, when | tell you that this
face, now so wrinkled, was once fair
this white hair once golden these sunk.
en- eyes once brilliant that | was the
beauty and the pride of the borough
which you just 20 passed. In that vii
lage my father was a wealthy farmer, and
| was his only child. His gold, and my
fair face brought many %suitors. l chose
one, whom, with a woman's penetration
in love, | knew wooed me for myself
alone but unfortunately, my lover was
the one of all others, that my father dis
approved. Ny father was proud of his
wealth prouder still of the antiquity OF
his family !; and it was with rage ana
modification he learned that Frank Stop
ford, the son of the gamckeeper at the
hall, was the chosen lover of his daugh.
ter Jessy.
The story Of our love is brief,-'tis but
the history of a day. | with many of
my village friends had started in the
morning, to visit a spot dear to every
English heart, the birthplace Of Shakes
peare. We wandered through the time
worn rooms, and spelt out many a name
upon the walls,-some lowly and I'M
known. others noble and kingly. At
length it was proposed that we should
separate to seek amusement for ourselves.
Frank Stopford begged permission to
show me the church yard, and the tomb
of the great poet. We soon reached the
row of noble trees that oyerhang the
A ,rIou 4Ia,. choAo vro croIIol
while Frank, with eloquent words pic
tured to me the life Of England's noblest
son, mis- wild youth, his love, MS genus,
his life in London, his end SO sad and so
inglorious. Then he proceeded to speak
of himself, and to tell me that the solici,
tor in Warwick, to whom be had been
articled through the influence of the
squire, had spoken favorbly of his abili-
ties and that in two more dayshe would
leave for London, to try his fortune in the
great city, where so many hopes are
blighted, SO many hearts crushed.
My quivering lips and starting tears
emboldened him. "Jessy," he said, l
go without fear, if | go armed with your
love it will be a beacon to guide me in
time of trial, to cheer me in moments of
dependency. I shall some day win a
name worthy for you to share-we are
both young-tell me, Jessy can you love
and waltz" With a wildly throbbing
heart, but clear firm voice, l replied,
:" For you, dear Frank, | will love and
wait, and hope" Taking my hand in
his, with a look from his fine blue eyes,
that sank into my heart, he spoke to me
in falteriug tones of his deep Astounding
love. | could not reply, for my heart
was too full. There are moments into
which the feelings of a life seem com
pressed, and this was such to me. l
would have given worlds to have told
him how long, how ~passionately l had
loved him, but the words died upon my
lips, and in silence we left the spot, and
r~ejoined our companions.
During the homeward ride, we %coniur-
ed up bright visions of our future life [
spoke with hopeful confidence of talents
and success. He, with a lovers enthusi-
asm, declared that possessing me, he was
already rich. AT parting be pressed up
on my lips a kiss ; and that night, as |
laid my head upon the pillow, the world
seemed to me to overflow with Joy, my
path through life to be strewn with roses.
The following morning, when my faith.
er and | were seated at breakfast-I
should have told you that my dear mother
died when | was quite young-I noticed
that a cloud rested on his brow. Pres
emily, he said Those Shepherds are I'M
bearably pr%esumptuous. Yesterday ave.
ming that young upstart lawyers clerk,
asked me, for you Jessy, and when | fat
~ refused to hear him, be dared to hint
that you loved him. | told him that my
daughter, Jessy Flower, was far too hand
some and sensible a girl, to marry a man
like him, and that if you had given him
any encouragement, it was because you
were ignorant Of his circumstances, which
l should take care you should be ~acquain.
ted with soon enough SO Jessy, in fu-
ture you should take no more notice of
that fellow"
Father" I cried, what have you
done driven him away, and insulted
him too him with his sensitive mind and
noble heart 2"
Trash about his heart" broke out my
father, in a towering rage is it posi-
bic you are such a fool as to care any
thing about him 2
Care for him." answered | through
passionate tears, " l love him dearly, bet
ter than any one, more than life."
I'm q cold, calm voice, as he left the
room, my father said, " Mind girl, if you
have anything to say to Frank Stopford,
you may die in a ditch before a shilling
Of my money shall save you"
All that day hung heavily upon my
hands, ! longed to see Frank, and won.