South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1867-10-25
YOU'RE YOUNGER THAN AM.
ny AMY GRAHAM.


brother, viii, laughing girls always want
to gop
| l did want 20 accept that invitation, 50
| did not dispute Wills assertion. There
was something very tempting. to a city-bred
girl, just released from boarding school, in
III invitation to spend some weeks in
country farmhouse, and, added to this.
there was still another indictment, to know
my Aunt Fanny.
| was motherless from my very infancy,
aud had never known my relatives on my
mothers side. My father had married We
ry young, the mother of his four boys, and
had been left q wiiowcr when viii was two
years old for Eve years he m ourned truly
tho wife of his youth, then he married a
young girl who was visiting one Of his
friends and in one short year she too died
leaving M pale, sickly baby. My nurse
was succeeded by my schoolmistress, and |
was not at home, except for few short
weeks in the summer holidays, until had
completed my seventeenth year, when |
came home to remain my father providing
masters in music and languages, that |
might not lose my time. And now, in the
first month of this homc-lfe, came an invi-
tation from an unknown Aunt Fanny, who
| claimed to be my mother oldest sister, ana
wished to have visit from her niece =
The letter was dated Days Corner, and |
was directed to send word to Woodtown,
and should fad there an escort to my
aunt's farm. My father debated the mat
ter for some minutes, then looked at my
pale checks, and no doubt sent loving
memory to my mother which opened his
heart to her sister, and said -
Pack NJ, them When can you b.
ready"
'On Monday; but am to go alone?'
'No; Willis shall take you
Willis was my fathers old confidential
clerk, who had escorted me to and from
school in all my holiday trips, so was
quite prepared for this answer, aud pro-
cccded to pack up Immediately. My four
brothers, whose pet and playthng | had
been in ali our holidays, were loud in their
complaints at such shabby trcatment;' but
the country and that unknown aunt were
too tempting to be resisted, and persisted
in my resolve tn 60 t. Dlvy's Corner. The
hou,ekceper, who had lived with my faith
or since his first widowhood, packed up
cakes aud sandwiches enough to maintain
a garrison in state of siege, and had a
breakfast that was "A treat for an cpicure
ready for me when | came down on Monday
morning dressed for my journey. Father
file my pOrte-monnae literally, kissed me
warmly, and exactcd promise of frequent
letters, and then Willis limiting at the vir-
tue Of punctuaity for railway journey, |
left the iiye tall, manly figures standing on
the steps, while | drove off, half doubtful
already about my anticipated pleasure.
The journey was an uucventtul one, aud
on the afternoon Of the second day We came
to the little station at Woodtown Willis
had decided 10 remain there for the night
and return home by the morning train, SD
we looked about for some vehicle to take
our trunks aud carpet-bags to the hotel
The only wheeled article in sight was a
large canvas-covered wagon which stood
down on the road, below the arch which
had been erected for the train to pass over.
We were still looking discons,latcly at
the little cluster Of houses below Us. form
ing the village, when heavy tread IN de
the wooden higbt Of stairs leading up to
the platform creal,, and shock Of light
hair, tall white hat, and sunburncd face
appeared, followed by pair Of broad shout
dcrs, aud finally by two very substantial
feet, clad in muddy boots, whose solos were
about two inches thick. Heavy corduroy
trousers and gray funnel shirt made the
costume of this tall figure, and large rid
ing whip was hi' only weapon. lie looked
at us from a pair Of bright blue eyes, and
then said in very pleasant though loud
voice -
are you my cousin, Amy Graham p
Ills cousin. All my fnifed boarding
school ideas, and all the high-brcd refine
mcnt Of my father and brothers, rose up
in defiance Of the tito. Willis, however
saw only a fine. stllwartfarmcr with a good
honest face, aud a hearty, chccry voice, and
Willis said -
Mrs. Browns son 2
Yes, sir Gerald Brown is my name.
Gerald my own brothcrwas named Ger
alb AID looked with interest at my
c5u sin Oh, dear me Before bad time
% scream or exert any other feminine de-
fence, this tall countryman put bis great
hands under my arms, lifted me mp a. If
bad been n baby, and deliberately kissed
me then putting me down, he shoullcrcd
my big trunk, and with a steady, heavy
tramp went down the wooden steps TO the
canvas-covered wagon, and showed The trunk
in. Up again, aud the little trunk follow
, cd the big ono, and Willis's carpct-bag was
seized, when I've said -
} Not that Mr. Brown, shafts mine
'Wcll, you are coming over to the Cor
ncr, arc you notY
Thank you, no. I return by to-mor-
{ row mornings train.
b AL fbo ontroofios fbof r-,rr, l,,-r.t.t:t.