Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-12-25

.ul lH.J
the son Of the wealthy Doctor HoprTSeil .
the village of A., near which the it'll;
country town Maplewood; was sithated. Ht
was of medium height, slight and graceful
His face was so frank, so intellectual, anC
Withal, possessed such an indescribable ex.
pressien that one could not say what it Has
that was most pleasing. 3f9en -
Round his pale, high brow clustered mass
4 es of wavy brown hair, soft and silky, and Iii,
sdulrlit eyes were clear and blue as the un.
clouded azure Of the summer sky. They
seemed to gaze down into your soul, and, with
their truthful light. win their way to your
! heart. Yet theirs was not all a gentle light
Tor they could fash and sparkle with all the
ire OF an untamed spirit, piercing as the ca
gle's, yet soft as the dove's," at least SO said
Ed.th. His mouth was small and ciiimiirpied.
yet ltwore a look of firmhess when in repose ;
but.when he smiled--ah after all, that must
have been where the charm lay. 1t was so
bright and beautiful, SO like CLEAN of sun
shine. He possessed a well cultivated mind,
ready wit. aud heart filed with all the no.
blest traits of humanity. No wonder that
Edith loved him
Mr.. Hopwell had met pretty Fannie Nor
wood ma0ytimes for she Was the belle of the
village; but it was not until one pleasant au>
tumn evening, when he in company with sew
eral young gentlemen of A., stood be-
meath the cottage windows of Meplewood, to
honor Miss Fannie with serenade, that he
met Edith. Edith was inclined to be silent
and reserved, many even called her naughty;
but those who knew her well knew that her
heart was too loving and tender to be the
abode of a naughty spirit. Her heart was
ike garden surrounded by high wall any
could Gull the pretty trailing flowers that
clung around its bright stones. but ouly the
cherished could enter the closed gate and ga
ther the sweet unfading flowers that grew in
endless profusion within its walls
They met and Mr.. Hopwell, with his frank
and genial manner, soon dispelled Edith's re-
serve, and ever after his smile was the open
sesame to her heart. Edith possessed none
of the dashing poiguance Of her sister, yet,
in her happiest moods, there was something
sweetly winning in her low, pleasant laugh and
sparkling wit Sc that the imaginative ideal
artist found pleasant, sympathetic comDan-
ion in the dreamy, poetic Edith He came
often to Maplewood, and many a moonlight
evening found him seated on the vine clad
porch with guitar or flute, with Edith by his
side, and the merry Fannie flying in and out
like u gay humming- bird.
Thus would they sit, he singing snatches
of favorite songs, accompanied by the sweet
tinkling music of the guitar, and now pictur,
ing bright visions of the future, while Edith
looked into his eyes and dreamed not what a
sad future awaited her. She never thought
of asking her heart if she loved, or if it was
returned; she only knew she was happy, and
asked no more.
Thus it was, when at the request of dear
friend, she left her home to spend few
months in the city of u. She parted
with Mr.. Hopwell With many kind words and
promises of writing. During her stay in
T. she received one letter from him; but,
although she replied to it soon, she did not
again hear from him, and often wondered why
it was.
Owing TO the i'll health of the friend whom
she was visiting, Edith prolonged her stay
somewhat longer than was anticipated and it
was after her return home, on the first even
ing spent with Mr. Hopwcll that the words
that head this little sketch were spoken A
few weeks before her return she received u
letter from Fannie, which contained the fol-
lowing paSsago:-
"Dear sis, you know handsome Tom Hop
we'll of A.; we'll, thought for while
that my sober old maid sis had really made
conquest, which, of course, she had no right
to do, being the youngest and, eIcus6 van
ity, fairest. Well, the provoking fellow
seemed to be totally oblivious of my presence.
uht4 after you were gone, and you see L was
determined to have my revenge, and capti-
vate him-;sso. now, he is the most devoted
but come home, and zee. Now don't 90 to
looking -prim andrdrawing down your mouth
ready to give me a lecture. Oh, he is so
handsome-and you oughtkto see how des
perately he is smitten.
All! fannie, little did You thin K What pain
these words would give. Edith read and
awoke from her blissfnl dream with the bit-.
ter consciousness of knowing that she loved
deeply, truly loved one whose heart was an.
others. Yes, she loved him, and She had
dreamed that She was dear to him. True he
had never spoken of love; could il be that
her heart had been given nnsought2 She
could not believe it. Surely Fannic was Jest
ing she must go home, she would see.
Alas, poor Edith she did see. Yes. he
loved Fannie; she could not blame hinl-oh
no after all he had meant nothing more than
friendship he did not dream OF the deep love
she had given. and he should never know
! 1t was right that he should love Fannie she
is bright and winning; besides, she was older
than he-it WAS very foolish for her to dream
of his love; she might have known how 1t
would be. She would forget it all, it really
&as foolish.
So reasoned Edith but of what avail was
it2 Love had5liehted a.fre upon the altar
eof her heart that would burn on unouencbed
until it.should go out with the last faint flick
ering fame of life. - nix
Thus days passed; Mr.. Hopwell loved Fan
ME with all the passionate warmth of a good
true heart. Fannie knew it, and laughiosly
boasted of her handsome captive But Edith
soon-noticed with pain that she did not love
him with depth of feeling that his noble
nature deserved. Several times she would
have spoken to Fannie, but when the subject
was broached, she. wild and gay, would ructnn rctn
of. saying, "a lecture, if you please, Miss