The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-04-07
uY REDEccA W. ESrGHnIooKs.

I, was the Grainlcst party OF the sea.
SON. Invitations had 3ren sent to NIL
The country folks within ten miles
round. The OCCASION was Elsie Croft
,ou's twentieth birthtlay-the only
daughter Of Squire John Gro'ton.
county judge. and II man ofno small
influence. He was hale. hearty GEN
,lcuam Of fifty, or Observation-Disclosures l.
ing. perhaps, trinc older thaG he
really was-a wcll-educatcd; refined,
and exceedingly ju>t man, outsids OF
his own household. ."
For successive generations, the Grof:
tons had married and intcrnarricd,
thus Keeping the property. which was
immense. in the hands Of the GrortonS.
The judge. although cmiii$ntly scnsi:
bic in other respects. nhiA sound
ethical scholar and taaSoncr. c6ne mot,
apparently. be brought TO scc thT&this
constant blending OF similar blood was
totally opposed to every natural and
scientific 3rinciplr. The old Squire
would not DC convinrcd: and Elsie.
very much against her will. had been.
for thu two years preceding the open.
in. oi this story. bctrothrd 10 her own
cousin. Charles Grofton.
Elsie. To adopt her own vrrnaculnr,
"coulln't bear him in her sight"
And il was hard to tell whether
Charles WAS in love with his pretty
"nu>in. or really. like all the male
lncmbrrs Of tho Grotton family. more
Infatuated with the hank-s!ocE and
real estate which was to be EtScs por-
ton. il she acted according tn orders.
AZ all events, the cXpcctant bride.
groom was possessed OF little energy.
and less common-srnSc and Elsie grew
every day more obduratc. and deter
mined to step out OF tho beaten track
o: past generations; but she was wise
enough to keep her Q%n counsel.
Poor Elsic's youn.H Hite had been ono
Of absolute bondage: no eveajnS fun
no sleigh rides by moonlight, such rs
tho rest OF the girls enjoyed. No. she
must always be accompanied by her
lover or father. who considered il his
houndcn duty to watch and keep Elsie
from fallni. in love. Let us see il hc
succeeded.
...tn,ans the train there wivS u swain -
Tho hud'shc loved full we'll"
\ Young gentleman, Just commrnc-
ing the practice OF law in Boston. mos,
respectfully connected, and just the
fellow to take 10y storm Young girl :
heart. "T'eni. ridi. rici.' Sometimes
Elsie imagined tho feeling was mutual /:
but how WAS she ever TO know: He
Was familiar with the history Of the
GroftOns--kncw what 4 strange family
they had bccn--and, rs she was inra-
riahly attended by ono or the other Of
her keepers, it was q hard matter to
have even an ordinary interview with
the young lady.
This was her last maiden party. Her
father had impressed TINT upon her
mind very forciblv.
"Charlcs don't feel like waiting your
motion any longer, my daughter. said
nc. so ! havc taken the liberty Of
hurryins things up. Your next party
will be on tho occasion OF your mar
ringr."
Father" replied Elsie. bristlinG up.
"you couldn't dispose Of the cattle on
your farm with lcsa show Of feeling
than You .evincc In tho case OF your
only daughter" And then, as If con-
scious she had said too much to the
old judge, strangely crascible on this
subject. she continued, laughimSly:
" But il this is going 10 be my last par
~, l shall take the liberty Of inviting
everybody want"
"-All right" he replied. with sigh.
shall never rest perfectly easy till
.see you Charles wife; and then l
know the Grofton pride will make you
steady and faithful"
Elsic hummcd a lively ln,lo tune,
and muttcred, Us she dnuccd out OF the
room:
"ChnrleS Gro1on hasn't got me yet,
BY jinso. Oh. If I could only have ten
minutes conversation alone with Ed.
Lee, ! know ho'd tell me just what E
nm dying to have him.
And forthwith, she wrote the young
gentleman friendly little ou'et-eio@e,
Inviting him to her party.
The large, old-fasbioned parlors
.wcro fillod to repletion with the young
Il.