South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1868-02-07
Mr.. Earle smiled,

,
weather, in all my wanderings by land and
sea, would be likely to leave me rather
black and rough looking
Il do hope, Will, that you have now had
enough of tramping about the world, and
will be content to settle down among your
friends, where you can live in a civilized
manner. And, to make sure of this, am
going to look you up wife
MIR. Earle smiled again, but rather more
gravely.
What young lady friend was that that
passed in tue hall rs came in 2
a young lady friend 2
Yes; she. was attired in deep mourning.
Her fuce looked strangely familiar.
1t must have been Miss Mulberry, Jen-
MES goveruess. You used TO know the
Milberrys, l believe though Florence must
have been n child when you went away
is it possible that Florence Mulberry is
a governess7 thought her father was con-
sidered to be one of the wealthiest men in
the place p
And so lie was, but he lost all his prop
erty in some unlucky speculation, and then
killed himself; and his wife did not long
survive him
1'ub 4 SlSlCT DuNdU married
a wealthy man-could she not have q home
with herY
Il believe Florence did stay there a few
weeks after her mothers death. But she
never liked her brother law She is high
spirited, and declared that she would soon
er 60 out as govern ess than be in any way
dependent upon him. Very foolish of her
for, though Squire Akers, by all accounts,
is not very agreeable person to live with,
he moves in the first circles and, as Flor
ence Is really very pretty,-or would be,
rather, if she dressed like other girls, and
did not wear such grave, sober look, if
she had stayed there she might have got
we'll established. But that now is, of course,
out Of the question:
| poor child y was Mr.. Earle's involuu-
tary ejaculation.
Low as it was it caught Mrs Eaton's car,
who looked rather sharply at her brother,
as she said
Yes, she IS to be 7itied, or rather would
be, if she were not so headstroag. / I'M
derstand she had two or three unexception-
able ofiers-indeed far beyond what girl
with no dowry had right to expect; but
she rejected them, for some foolish scruple
or other
Mr.. Earle replied by half smile and
/ sigh for he was too well acquainted with
hs gay, worldly minded sister to waste time
in discussing points upon which they differ
ed 50 widely.
Mrs. Eaton, who had her own plans for
her brother, had invited a young friend to
spend a few weeks with her. and she ar
rived the next day, together with the trunks,
bandboxcs, etc, usual on such occasions.
At hint from his sister that it would
be expected of him, Mr. Earle went to the
depot to meet her; and Ne could not help
acknowledging that Anna Denning was Il
! finc-looking girl, though he was not long in
discovering the shalowness and insinceritv
of her character.
( He was too familiar with his sisters hab-
its and ways of thinking to expect to meet
| Florence either in the dining or drawing.
room; still he was saDguine as to being a.
bic to renew this acquaintance through the
fundamentally OF lis little niece Jennie,
who eyiuced great deal of fondness for her
newIy-found uncle, and soon succeeded
Tue color in Fiorcnce's cheeks, which Of
late lad grown very faint, deepcned as be
accostcd her; but otherwise her quiet, re-
served manner led him 10 infer that both he
and the childish affection she had evinccd
for him had passed FROM her remembrance.
, you 90 not remember meY he said, re-
greifully. And yet | ought not to have
expected it. Ten years must have greatly
charged me. And you--'
Here the ndmiring glance that rested
upon her couutenanco told more plainly
than thc most eloquent speech how much
the iOyeliness If the maiden had exceeded
that 81 the child.
But twas quite lost npon Florence whose
eyes were hxed steadily upon the rose in her
hand.
Il remember you, Mr.. Earle. and all
your kindness 20 me when a child but
remember, too, how greatly my circums;an-
ccs have changed since then, and which you
seem to have forgotten. Anything ike IN
timacy between US now could not fail to be
misconstrued, and would result in making
my position here a very painful one.
But, Miss Floreuce--
q do declare. VIII, what are you think
ing Of" exclaimed Mrs Eaton, stepping
out upon the portioo 1f you arc not the
most forgetful Of mortals You made an
engagement last evening to ride with Miss
Denning, right after breakfast, and tho hor-
scs have been standing at the door this half
hour
Nexcd as Mr.. Earle was at this intorrup-
ton, he was TOO conscicnce-snitten at his
forgeifulness not to do all ia his power to
atone for it. But Miss Dcuning received
bis apologies very coldly, and her displeas-
ure was heightened by his evident pre-oc-