Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-04-02

golden brown hair. Her large deep. dark eyes
formed contrast the most striking with her
wreath of chestnut hair, on which tho dying
sunlight fingered glimmering, as if twould
rest always there.
A few hours later servant knocked at her
room door, handing in small package with
papers, letters &c. With a strange trembling
at her heart, she closed the door, recognizing
the bold free hand of Edwin Graves. Tearing
the paper off, she opened the box hurriedly,
exposing a tiny bracelet, glittering among tho
folds of rose-colored cotton Opening this she
found encased a pale, faded moss rosebud she
had given Edwin, and on the opposite side
Nina. farewell" beautifully wrought from
lock of bright brown hair with that Of mid
night darkness-ker orn and Edria's. Un-
closing her writing desk, she quietly wrote
few lines, and ringing for a servant she dis
patched them, then resumed her seat by the
open window, with the precious memento held
tightly in her hand The fat went forth =
The General was--reiected.
Exactly one month from this time, We SEQ
Nina the star in the ascendant Of large ball
room. Always graceful in her style, with q
vivacty of thought and expression. she had
appeared brilliant before. Now she was Sc
renely beautiful She wore white robe, with
soft lace, and opal ornaments. The clusters
Of prisoned sunbeams "rppled low on her fair
brow" shading her eyes which were strangely
earnest sometimes. Yet among the gayest
dancers none moved with lighter step than
the radiant Nina Lisle.
Late in the evening. as she was leaving the
crowded room for breath in the open air, she
was attracted by stranger in earnest conver-
saton with her brother. She saw her brother
grasp an extended newspaper. turn deadly pale,
then look eagerly around as if in search Of
some one. AS the light fell upon them, sho
at once recognized Ned Evans of Baltimore
her brothers intimate friend. In au instant
she was at his side saying
Brother, am here"
Presenting Mr. Evans, he said: Nina. dar-
ling, get your things. We must 60 home
was looking for you"
"What is it brother? Tell me what has
happened"
81 cannot tonight. Don't ask me. To-
morrow you may know"
But if you love me, you must tell mo now.
/ can bear any thing better than this suspense;
tell me, brother implore."
In stern voice he replied, al Nina. you can
not know tonight. Come home"
They rode home in silence unbroken, save by
the voice Of the driver. Ascending the house
steps he kissed her fondly, telling her TO go to
her room and try to sleep. Early morning
found her making enquiries for her brother
She was told he had taken stage for Baltimore.
In an agony Of suspense she passed the long
summer day, dreading she knew not what
On the following morning she entered her
mothers room and asked for the papers.
al don't know where they arc Nina. ex.
pect Your brother took them. He left orders
that no papers were to be removed from tho
office during his absence. don't understand
what It means"
Calling for her horse, spirited bay, Nina
had the morning papers and was securely lock-
ed in her room within a half hour. With uer-
vous hands she unfolded the National Intelli-
gencer. Almost the first column gave an acs
count of a military commission already sitting
to try the consprators in the assassination
plot and there she read the melancholy fate
of Edwin Graves How crushing the thought
to her And must it be so2 Is "thc young,
the beautiful, the brave, in a few short hours,
10 be
"a thing
Der which the raven flaps its funeral wing"
Horrifed. stunned she could read no more.
Without a moments warning, the blow had
fallen upon her with a withering blight, crush
ing. almos. driving reason from its throne
Wearily the days sped By. At last the brother
came He saw that she surmised all, and an
swercd the look which spoke palmer than
words, with simply lie il dead"
She heard or seemed 10 hear, feeling the sun
of all her hopes go down in starless night
From that hour Nina Iisle was no longer Nina
Lisle. Changed, greatly changed--sadder, yet
wiser-better, perhaps, that her one fatal mis-
take cost her life Of settled gloom. She learn
ed 10 labor and TO wait, knowing Il is
"well for us some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes,
And in the hereafter angels may
Roll from its grave the stone away.
As Coon As A Cow.-Tb Cincinnati Ga
zette remarks, if it should turn out that there
49,. t,.,,o Jsnos;.es Of eiephants tusks in the