Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-02-07
SELECTED STORY.
MARY MOORE.
CHATTER I.

cnArrrRr
All my life long had known Mary Moore.
All my life had loved her.
Our mothers were old playma,cs and FRS,
cousins. My hrst recollection is of q boy. in n
red ffoek and morocco shoes, rocking a cradle
inwhich reposed sunny -baired bluc-eyed baby.
not quite year old. That boy was myself-
Harry Church that blue-eyed baby was Mary
Moore
Later still, / sec myself at the little school.
house, drawing my little chaise up TO the door.
that Mary might ride home. Many n beating
have gained on such occaions, for other bo,s
besides me liked her, and she I fear was some
thing of firt, even 10 her pinafores. Hor ell
egantiy she came tripping down the steps when
i called her name how swesily her blue eve.
looked up Mt me how gayly rang out her merry
laugh That fairy laugh! No one but MARY
could ever bring her heart sp soon to her lips (.
followed that atiaush from py day. OF childhood
till grew an awkward tlnshing YOUTH fol-
lowed il through the heated noon Of manhood
and now, when the fros's of age are silverinQ
my hair. and many children climb my knee AID
call me father" I find that the MEMORIES of
youth are strong. and that. even in grey hairs.
am following its music still. When / vas 6f.
teen the fret great SORROW Of nv life came upon
my heart. ] was sent ito school and was obIig.
ed TO part with Mary. We were not TO see each
other for three long Years This, % me- was
Ikea sentence Of death, for Mary was like life
itself to me
] But hearts are tough things after all.
| left college in ali the flush and yigar ofmy
nneteen,h year. l was no longer awkward
and embarrassed. Lad grown into "a tall, slen-
der STRIPPING. with good opinion of myself
both in general and particular. III thought Of
MarY Moore, it was 10 imagine how would
dazzle and bewilder ber with my good looks and
wonderful a'ta'nmen,s--De,er thinking abe
might dazzle and bewilder me still more.s I was
aeoxcotnb. / knew but as youth and good
looks have fed. trust may be believed, when
j say that self-conceit has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made to me
at this time, and. accepting il. gave up all idea
Of q profession. and prepared to 60 to the In
/ dies. In my hurried visit home Of two days,
saw nothing Of Mary Moore. She had gone TO
boarding school at some distance and was not
expected home I'LL the following May. Iu,ter.
ed one sigh to the memory Of my little blue
! eyed playmate. and then called m, self "a man
again.
in year" thought, as the vehicle whirIed
away from our doar-''in a year. or three year.
at the most, I will return. and if Mary is ~
pretty an she used to be, Why then, perhaps.
may marry her"
And thus settled the future ofa young lady
whom had not seen for four years / never
thought Of the possibility Of her refusing me
never dreamed that she would not eondescend
TO accept my oTer.
But now know that, had Mary met me tfen.
she would have dospised me. Perhaps in the
scented and affected student. she might have
\ found plenty Of sport bui ne for loving me, or
I feeling the slightest interest in me, | should
Z have perhsps found n,yself mistaken.
| India was my salvation, not merely because
Of my success, bot because my laborious indus
/ try had eounteracted the evil in tny nature, and
/ made me better man. When At the cod of
thrcs years prepared "a rstSFn. ! said nothing
Of the information In myself which knew had
taken place.
| They loved me as ! vas" ] murmurcd IN
I
myself -snd tssy si'aii and os' for themselves
vhetssrT am better weSth loving than former
d."
! packet up nsny tokrn, frusa thas land Of
ruuianos sod gold. for De friends ! hoped 70
! mset The Rif Or May Move selected With
a besting hsari u vas = ring af roaeh virain
/ gold. with my nsuse and hers engraved inside,
tlnt va All. aad yet the sieht of fl,s kttle toy
Strangely shssliai nc ~ bAl-sueia % he Up
- ~ suees
To the syes Of oshsrs, ii vas busa ssaa,i plain
cirulst suagsssiaG sbsughts, PsFAAps, By ia
slszsaos, of tAs boautifai white hnssi that ras
% vess it Boz - mellow @ueh was en-
bodied thsrsi loving sspil- o. ssauiiful
Fas.--lov words q vslcou.s--a fssars sous,
s.d q sweet saiiliaE fase-'All these dsi,shts
~srs bfId.n wiihin Ira, l''tis Fiag 81 gid