Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-09-03
"All that's bright must fade,
The brightest still the feetest,
All that's sweet was made
But 20 be lost when sweetest"

(As this is The first poetical quotation, | have
been guilty Of hope | may be forgiven.>
She was so frail breath Of air might have
blown her away, if it had tried hard.
And then her eyes were so soft, so melting,
and so blue-a sort of an indigo blue.
And such form and such foot! and
such nose
She had one Of those noses which can smell
from afar of for she turned her head as Henri
followed, aud threw such glance at him that
he dropped his .canei and as he stopped to
pick it up hO slipped on a piece Of banana skin
and came near falling, which was very funny.
But spoke of her form, All whata lovely
form twas The most fashionable ofn0disteS
this is French too could not have got it up
better.
She wore the smallest of shoes number one,
ladies' size and-had heels on them.
She had slight attack of Grecian bend,
but no. much to speak Of She would have
had more, if the boys hadn't laughed so.
Aud her name was Rosa
Henri followed hor until shv rooohcd her
home. The witch knew he was there, and as
he stood looking at her, she turned and kissed
the tips Of her dainty little fingers to him, and
vanished. 90.
Imagine his feelings lie didn't know
whether he stood on his head or his heels. lie
gradually recovered himself, however, and
found that he stood on his feet
o o
That night there was fre-a confagration.
1t was at Rosas house Henri happened to
be passing just then.
The house was cnveloped in flames, when
suddenly there appeared at one Of the upper
windows, a figure clothed in white.
And, Of course, below there was an old man,
exclaiming in tones Of the utmost anguish,
My child my child Oh, save my child"
Henri seized a ladder about seventy-four feet
long, and placing it against the house, soon re-
turned with Rosa in his arms, half dead
When she recovered (which was immediate
ly afterwards she drew her night dress closer
about her, and sighed in low whisper, "My
delyerer !" ,a.... ....
And then looked at him so tcnderly 3
The father grasped Henri by the hand, and
asked him if he could do anything for him.
"Give me the life | have saved. Let me
hencelorth protect this sweet flower from all
tie rude blasts of this cruel world"
Which was very pretty-wasa't it? What
could the male parent do but give his assent ::
thought of losing bis little cherub gricved him
bitterly, it always does.
o; o o,
Time passed on, which Time has got an in-
voterate habit of doing.
Henri and Rose loved each other deyotedly
at least they thought they did, which amounts
to about the same thing. l..r
The wedding day was fixed, and Henri
thought his fondest dreams were soon to be
realized.
But Rose had an older love who would per-.
sist in calling, though he must have known he
wasn't wanted
One morning, a few days before that fixed
for the fatal ceremony, Rose didn't appear at
breakfast. .... 30.
Upon investigating her room it was pretty
evident she had skedaddled, taking with her
all her best clothes.
And from certain documents she had left
behind her, it was quite evident she bad eloped
with the other fellow.
Henri was inconsolable for time, but final
". concluded be couldn't undo what was a.
ready done.
OF course Rose, wrote home repentant let
ter, asking everybody, including her father and
mother, to forgive her, which, as matter Of
consequence, they all did.
This happened several years ago and now
Rose has 90: divorce from her husband, and
is 50 happy. He smoked too many cigars, and
she couldn't stand it. 3D.
Henri became hermit and inhabits a cave.
He lives On roots and herbs and-old Jamaica
rum. He is writing book too. You've no
idea how bad Rose feels when she thinks about
(which isn't often, however.
Young men, don't be too sure of girl until
you've got her. They are dreadful slippery