Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-04-11

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brilliant. And Brought every art that had
learned, to lure this silent, grave youth to my
feet 1t was triumph to bend bis glorious in
tellect to girls will, and liked him, too, liked
him moro and more as time--that lovely sum
mer-time wore on. But am sure no thought
Of the future or the consequences of my acts
ever intruded upon me. had been taught to
look upon life as game, and forgot that all
players were not skillful like myself
And yet suffered, too, for | was not destitute
of sympathy, and my heart not wholly untouch-
cd, either by the profound devotion Of this ST.
lent, grave man-with all his learning and
mental discipline. powerless to keep him from
my feet-when listened TO his declaration Of
love, and spoke the words that separated us
forever.
went up to my room hslf angry with my
self, listening to some smothered reproaches OF
my conscience, yet repeating that |, heiress and
be.uty, with the honors of beilehood not yet
fallen into tradition. could not marry poor
country clergyman, whose sole'estate was his
bands and surplice, and a pittancc these villa
gers paid him for those wonderful sermons, and
all his heavy pastoral labore,s. And yet bad
been struck and panied with the psllor that
overspead that noble face as il bent toward me
in farewell Something told me that had
been hard and cold with him. even while my
heart pleaded for him. But Stiiled the silent
monitor, and ordered my maid to prepare for
the journey was about to undertake to Join
my friends at Newport.
The morning left hotne my father mention
ed, casually, that he had heard that Mr.. Fletch-
er was very i'll. | felt myself grow pale and
cold, but l stfed my emotions, and in con-
strained voice expressed my regret az these IT,
dings, and begged my father to provide the in
valid with every needed luxury from Verdhill
and to inform me in his letters Of his state.
Two years later was in Italy with my hus-
band-the husband of my Aunt st. Clair's
choice. had made grand match, but wa,
not happy. Diamonds bound an aching brow
and flashed above a throbbing heart. was
c, Id and unloving TO my husband, and he re-
turned my indifference with scorn. 4 few
months had brought us to this pas,-that he
lived out of doors, amid pleasures in which
had no share and which shrunk from even
guessing st. mark, in my beauty, for conti-
mental gossip.
One night saw my husband making his
way toward me through crowded saloon. /
pressed forward felt need of protection from
advances that were insults. though perhaps not
intended for such. lie drew my arm in his,
but did not speak until we reached the ante
room. Then he told me he had been summon
ed to the bedside of dying countrymsn, and
that he had come from this melancholy visit To
conduct me ethither: He would tell me no more,
and when refused to go. he compelled me, a.
: most by force to accompany him.
II was to Mr.. Fletcher we were going. We
found him in humble lodgings, for he had spent
his last dollar. and was reduced to die in the
, midst of poverty and deprivation. He had
heard Of us, had seen us when he crawled forth
upon the piazza, and had ventured to send for
us in his extremity He uttered no reproaches.
though he told me in hollow accents, that my
rejection hsi been his word of doom that he
had struggled with his illness, using, as in duty
bound, all means of restoration, but without
, hope. And now that he was dying he desired
only to look upon my face, best loved on earth,
ere he committed his soul to his Creator.
knew then how had loved John Fletcher,
and if the sacrifice Of my life would have saved
his, most gladly would have died that hour.
But God willed otherwise. saw my VIC
tim fall sweetly asleep. He held MY hand in
> his, but his last words were not Of his crushed
hopes, but of those that reached beyond the
rending veil Of flesh.
told my husband all, as we returned in the
purple Italian twilight, from John Fletchers
funeral. We had hated each other before, but
now new antagonism had arisen. We felt
that the false aud hollow bonds that bound US
together must be snapped asunder left bin
in Naples, and returned alone to America, thus
I, voluntarily renouncing the station Of wifehood,
ana com peIuS ny SCH 10 scCIuoiOhui Soii'u1Si
. for scandal strove to find cause for this unpre-
cedcnted act, and made itself busy with ny fair
' fame
Years have passed since that hour. My IA
ther has long been dead, and should live quite
alone at Verdhill, but for the sweet presence Of
fair young girl-John Fetcher's sister. ]
found her--s mere infant-on my return, a
bandoned to poverty by her brothers death,
and she has been with me ever since--ny a.
dopted child an inezpressibe comfort and
consolation has she been to me- ever. In my
care Of her have striven, in some little meas
: ure 70 repair The great wrong OF my life. And
when the terrible blindness tina. shuts cut al
external life from eyes tia. weps themselves
into darkness, fell upon me, she became my
stay and my support. But for her, life would
be all dresly, and no gleam Of pleasure would
light the passage Of sorrowing penisen. 20 the
grave.
e 4 merchant who lately advertised for clerk
: who could bear confinement, has been answered
Q by one who has lain seren years in jail!