Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-06-03

the place of the bitter feelings. All hate, u
you had but then and there banished forever
the desire to trife, all might have been well.
Encouraged by the hattering attention be-
slowed upon him, young Lee called often at
the residence Of Kate, and one afternoon, shortly
after the night of the ball, the two seated in
superb carriage, drawn by splendid pair OF
prancing bays, drove by the young lawyers
Office
Halo look there exclaimed Ned Thomp-
son. friend of Vane, who at that moment
happened to be in the Office, " that looks as
though young Lee intends to storm the castle
and carry off your lady love right from under
your very eyes. But have an engagement TO
FILL" he went on as he noticed the panied look
that came over his friends face, :" and must
therefore bid you good day"
A long while the young lawyer sat in deep
thought after his friend left him-the look OF
pain still visible on his face. Long and deeply
he pondered. Then change came over his
countenance, and rising, he took down his hat,
drew on his gloves, and with long rapid strides,
set out for the residence of his betroihed.
Kate had not been long in from the drive
with young Lee, and answered Vane's energetic
ring in person. She ushercd him into the hand
somcly furnished parlor, taking seat beside
him. playfully asked him why he looked so
grum.
al hardly know how to approach a subject
so delicate" he answered, but you know,
dear Kate, that love you fondly, dearly, and
that my chief desire is to make you happy,
therefore you will excuse me if | talk rather
plainly, for rest assured it is my love for you
that prompts me to do it. You are young and
thoughtless, and do not take note of your ac-
tions as others do. For the past few days there
has been considerable gossip aRoat concerning
Yourself and Mr. Lee, and it grieves me sorely
to hear your actions publicly commented upon
Do not think me exacting when / say that 1t is
nv wish and | think it for your good that in
the future you should be less free with Dir.
Lee"
Asvane finished speaking Kate angryly rose
from her seat. and snatching the sparkling en-
gagemcnt ring from her finger, flung it at his
feet, exclaiming:
"There, sir, take back your ring, and with
it the VOWS you made me. From this moment
I will bc-frce to go with whom | please with
out being lectured by you. And there is the
door, sir. Go, and never trouble me with your
presence again"
A moment Vanc stood rs if struck dumb,
and then turning his eyes, full of sorrowful re-
proach and tenderness, upon her, said;
"Farowelll and may hcavnn's choicest blss-
sings rest upon you-may you never be called
upon to drink of the cup that | amnow drain
ing to the very drcgs!" and with one last ling
ering look at the fair being, he turned and lett
! the room.
A moment she stood and gazcd at tho spot
he had lust Quilted and then sank weeping to
the floor. Bitterly, indeed, were the hasty
words of moment before repented Of, but re-
pentancc came too late.
The next day Kate sent tiny note round to
vane's Office, begging that he would forgive
her for the shameful conduct OF the day before
that she had, oh how bitterly, repented OF,
and that she would be pleased to have him call
that evening. ms she could never rest contcntcd
without his forgiveness.
The word brought back by her messenger,
who also brought her unopened note, sent the
life-blood receding from her heart. Nanc had
sailed for Europe.
Three years passed by, during which time
Kate heard often through her friends OF the
distant traveller, her once scorncd lover, Morton
yanc. From the time Of Vane's departure
from the city, Kate was changed being
Immediately after her rude conduct drove Vane
from her presence, she quietly, yet firmly dis
missed Mr.. Lee, and from that time forth she
never once resumed the old habit Of trifilpg.-
The third summer after Vane's departure, Kate
spept with Miss Ettna Raymond, who lived at
the homestead in an adjoining county, and
while there she learned that there had been
regular correspondence carried on between
vane and The heiress ever since the formers
departure abroad.
A month after Kate's return TO the city, her
father brought in the daily paper and pointed
the following paragraph
"Home Again.-We learn from good authorl-
ty that Morton vane, former resident oil this
place, who for the past three years has oeen
travelling abroad reached this city late last
evening"
Kate read the paragraph through, gave the
papcr to her father, and without word lett
the room. She could not bear other eyes to
witness her emotion at that moment
A few weeks later as Kate was standing IN
the doorway, the newsboy came along dlstrl-
buting the morning papers. Kate ran out and
picked up the paper the boy flung in at the gate
and carelessly glanced over its columns until
her eyes rested upon the following notice:
Mdrried.-Ou the evening Of December
ID. 1856, at the residence Of the brides cousin
BY the Rev. E. P. Smith, Mr.. Morton Vane, to
Miss Ettna Raymond"
With many sad and bitter thoughts Of the
past and of what might have been, Kate read
the marriage notice, and bowling her fair head