Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-02-01


would moi have obliged me to do il. lis
mean, and il alters sll my feelings 10.
wards YOU. Take back This hesri. do
not want il"
My hand lrembled, and so did his
and the heart dropped TO the ground.
He picked il up.
You don'l want my hear. Katie I"
was silent.
katie, speak 10 me-"
But would not speak.
Good nignt." said he, and turned
away. dropped my head down and
sal there. sullen. for an hour after he had
gone down the hill road.
At last the clock in The kitchen struck
nine. ! was damp with dew, and arose
10 60 into The house. jus! then ! saw
some one riding up the hill on horseback.
Pretty soon saw who il was, Bradford
Terry, who owned the tract Of land on
The other side OF the hill, and more woods
than any other man in the county. He
drew up his horse al the. gate.
Good evening, Miss Katie are you
waiting for your lover 3
don't know what made me say il, but
| answered:
mo; / haven't any lover"
Bradford Terry was a little, gray,
shrewd, business man, with small body
and more insignificant soul. knew ii
very well. yet waited for him 10 speak
again, sitting there on his fine iron.gfay
horse.
Haven't! well, I'm glad 10 hear it.
was afraid you were going 10 throw
yourself away on some poverty stricken
fellow-John May, for instance"
My cheek burned a, his words. but he
wa, looking a. me shrewdly, and | tossed
my head.
mo. indeed ~
TOO pretty for that. All, these hand.
some gills know their value. Miss Katie,
would you marry an old fellow like me if
he was rich and would make lady Of
you :"
laughed coquetlishly.
"You are no, very old, Mr.. Terry"
"Only ff,y-square ffIy-and you
are sixteen. Is that to much difference =
was silent.
He had dismounled and standing beside
me was trying TO take my hand.
"Preuy one" said he, "will you be
my wife You shall dress in silks and
diamonds"
diamonds !"
"Yes diamonds on your white neck,
and on your little hands, and around your
wrisu. They will glitter like your eyes.
Will you have them"
"Yes," fred with the dazzling vision
Of myself which arose before me, "Ill
marry you if you'll give me all | want
IL will. You shall have all the money
you want, and spend it as you please.
You may buy what you like"
81 will marry YOU"
lie looked atme in the moonlight.
"Now, you wont change your mind TO-
morrow !"
mo"
81 shall hold you 10 yonr promise.
See here, will you wear this =
He slipped ring from his finger.
caught the glitter Of splendid diamond.
Yes"
He placed the ring upon my finger.
Now you are mine. Beauty, good
night"
bent my head in silence. He mount
ed to the saddle, and looking steadily
back a, me, rode slowly away.
Invent up 10 my chamber and retired.
1t was strange after all this excitement
that could sleep; but fell into heavy
slumber, and did not awake until morning.
1t was lale, and the sun was shining into
the room. A title cup, qusinly formed
Of birch bark, which John May had IDLY
fashioned one evening, as we sat together,
stood on the stand q! The bedside. | put
out my hand, smiling, 10 take it, when
the diamond glltiered in the light. Then
all the work Of the previous night flashed
upon me.
For an hour lay still, thinking. as !
had never thought before. Al las. l had
decided 10 abide by my decision. | would
keep the diamond. | would be The wife
of Bradford Terry, snd have more dIa.
monds, and luxury without stint.
After this did not see John May for
months. The news Of my engagement
10 Bradford Terry, the rich landhoider,
spread like wild6re. The girls, my OLD
schoolmates, looked a, me with sort OF
awe my mother was in state of con-
slant agitation and surprise at the honor
10 be conferred upon the family, and |
laughed carelessly at all, and though. Of
the diamonds.
don't think | was myself all the win
ter. My mother wondered why was so
wild and restless.
"Wby don. yon ST, down, Katie =
she would say. "YOu must learn TO bs
dgnifed and composed"
I'd run away from Them all. and walk
the hills, 10 come home reled by storms
liked them. I'D rush, in the face OF The
lightnings, over the crags. and standing
on dizzy heights, sing wildly, with the
thunder for chorus. would scream
recklessly until the woods would ihrob
with echoes. Then would come home
and &C, nationally for day or an evening.
Spring came. The river opened, and
the lops. which had been bedded in the