Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-04-18
MISCELLANY.
MAUDE's ORDEAL.
BIZ AMY RANDOLPH.


It was rather an embarrassing thing to do
hut Charley May had done it well and brave
". like man. He WAS nothing but a clerk
at eight hundred dollars year, nevertheless,
he had bodily craved audience of the portly old
millionaire, and asked him for his daughter, as
ha might have asked for the pennilcs' girl round
the corner.
Mr.. Bryant cooily wiped his pen and laid it
in the carved bronzed rack he moved back
his chair pace or two, looking Charles May
full in the face as he did so, with a curious,
hooking light in his cold blue eye
$50 You want to marry my daughter, eh p
al do, sir" said Charley.
Provokingly handsome he looked as he stood
there. with the reddish brown hair thrown back
from his square, white forehead. the hazel eyes,
clear and confident, and the perfectly cut lips,
a little apart Somehow, in the midst Of his
wrath and derision, old Richard Bryant could
not help thinking taat @ere he a girl of eigh-
teen. he might possibly have fallen in love with
such young man as Charles May.
lis there any other little tride could let
YOU have ?" sneered the caustic old man.
"a block of houses, or Broadway lease or
so, or any other small favor?"
"You are laughing at me, sir" said Charley,
colorng. vet speaking with a certain quictdig-
nifty. al have asked You a simple question
surely have the night to frank answer
"Then listen to me, young man, said Rich
ard Bryant, with sudden abrupt sternnesS.-
You are aspiring altogether too high-you
can no. have my daughter Maude Now you
have your answer-go"
Charles May stood f,r a moment like one up
on whom th,nderbolt Lad fallen with sudden
blightning power, then he turned AMI walked
quickly out IF the handsome Gothic library,
where the blue aud gold circles Of light from
the oriel windows culver over the deep crimson
of the Wilton carpet, and tie pure marble
E,ces of Pallus and Venus De Milo watched him
as he went.
"Maude, my love. my darling, what is the
matter?"
The red glow of the November sunset coald
scarcely pierce the folds of ruby velvet that
hung over tie platcglass windows yet in the
odorous twilight Mr.. Bryant saw his daughter,
with her face hidden in the satin sofl-pillows,
and the heavy, bluish-black curls dropping low
over the carved rosewood.
Tell me, little daughter, whattroubles you,
whispered the merchant, bonding fondly over
the girl. Maude had never known mother
and there was a tenderness in the old mans
tones at that instant that was almost maternal.
She looked up, with the stain Of fresh tears
on her crimson cheek.
"Ee has gone, papa-he has gone and left
me"
"Ho? Who?"
"Charley May"
And Maude Bryant, who had spoken all her
life long TO her father as if he had been loving
mother also. bid her face on the kindly breast
and cried afresh.
"Whew-w-w!" was the merchants softly
breathed comment.
81 have been trying to convince her how
very absurd all this is" said Aunt Eloise, a
portly widow, in garnet silk and caFbuncle
iewelry. who sat by, alternately qnoting tru'sm
at her neice, and shifting at a gold cG'so!effs
-. L,pr, a. ber waist
"Maude." said Bryant, gravely, "do you
mean to tell me that you actually care for that
young snip of clerk"
Maude sat up Indignantly, with lightning IN
her black eyes.
care for him, papa, love him "
"very improper groaned Aunt Eloise.
4" Aunt. l wish you'd hold your tongue !.
sputtered Maude, growing prettier every mo-
n,ent in her bright indignation. +" do love
HIM papa, with all my heart and soul !"
Aun, Eloise uttered a hollow sigh, aud Mr.
BRYANT looked at his daughter with face thai
was half trouble, half amused.
"My little lily-aower, he said. gently, al
this sounds To me like eirl'sromance. Maudt
BRYANT is scarcely fitted to be the wife OF
Young man like Charles Nay"