South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-07-08
ST Cannot Afford IT,
BY GRACE TERRY.


Aud, Withdrawing to an obscure corner
he stood watching, with half amused.
half comical look upon his handsome face
the streams of gaily attired women that
foated past him, gazing with euvious aud
admiring eyes upon the rich fabrics of eve
ry hue and texture, that were suspended
from the ceiling and spread out upon the
broad counters. Many of them were not
unknown to him, but he was 10 no mood
to meet the sparkling glanccs and gay sal
lies that would be showered upon him if
he made them aware of his presence for
Mr.. st. Johns was rich, aud bachelor.
and had been so fattered and besieged by
ambitious mammas and manageable daugh.
tiers as TO make him almost resolved TO al
ways remain SO.
SO be stood back in the shadow, mark
ing with curious eye, unconscious betray
ais the natural dispositions, little Gimp
scs OF feminine human nature, and which
tho dear creatures would not have him oh.
serve for the world.
AS he stood there, the two Misses Par
kers came in, charming and brilliant girls,
in whose society he had passed many a
pleasant hour.
They were lavish in their purchases.
And, as Mr.. st. Johns contrasted their
smiling counteDances with the care. worn
face of their father, whom he met in the
street scarcely an hour before, hurry ing
from one friend to another to borrow mon
ey to pay note on the point of being pro-
tested their lively chatter Jared harshly
on his ears.
isn't it lovely?' exclaimed one of the
sisters. Il suppose Pa will scold when
he sees the bill but SO he would if it were
only half as large
10 be sure no would responded the
other and I'm not going to let the Day.
ton girls outsbine me, you may be certain.
Its my belief that they give the party sim
ply on account of St. Johns return from
Europe. L suppose they are trying to
tch him for georgiana Did you ever
GssS N IN - ridiculous p
<~Nevcr J such h6ftid taste as that girl
has in dress, too She showed me the new
silk she is going to wear. Would you be-
lieve it P? 1t is blue And she as dark
as an Indian =
That is for the benefit of Mr.. ST. Johns;
1T Is his favorite color. / met him on the
}
he has grown y
Yes; and he is so rich Pa says he is
worth half million, if not more
Here the two girls passed along out of
sight and bearing, quite unconscious of the
proximity of the subject of their remarks.
Good Heavens was Mr.. st. Johns in.
ward reflections; fare all women so heart
less, so wrapped up in vanity and display ?
lie was about to quit the store in dis.
gust, when bis attention was ARRESTED by
a low and gentle voice, which aroused a
host of vague but pleasant recollectious.
tie turned his eyes eagerly in the disrec-
ton whence it proceeded; and as they res.
ted upon slender, neatly attirod lady,
they lighted up with pleasure
a woman would have noticed that the
bonnet, though neat aud fresh. was not of
the latest style, and the mantle of last sea.
sons fashion but men rarely observe such
things. All that ST Johns saw was the
graceful form, the fair and gentle face of
the wearer
Sweet Rose Lonnox' he thought, 'she
looks as lovely and fragrant as her name
Can her fresh and guieless nature be so
perverted as to care for nothing but out
ward show /?
In the meantime Rose made few sim.
pie purchases, quite unconscious ofthe eyes
that were following her every look and mo-
ton.
is that all, Miss Lennox2 said the
clerk.
'All to-day
1f you wore thinking Of getting dress,
can show you something that will just
suit you
CAS- | cannot purchase, l will not trou-
bic YOU was the low and quiet reply.
mo trouble at oil, Miss said the CLERK,
unrolling the goods and spreading it out
on tho counter.
10 was a heavy, lustrous siik-brown, with
a CLINT Of gold in il, not unlike the color of
the soft hair that shaded her forehead.
1t caught The eye of the Parker girls.
who were passing, and they gathered ca
gcrly around it.
III is just the swectestthing ever saw p
the Oldest, enthusiastically
why don't you get it Rose2 You have
nothing for the party next Thursday, and
It's just what you want
only four dollars a yard, suggested
the clerk, gathering up tho silk in heavy
folds, SO as to display its lustre and beauty.
There was not the slightest touch Of envy
OF regret in the soft blue eyes that rested
upon il.
It is worry pretty, and quite reasonable
too but cannot afford IT,
These words were spoken quietly, and
with such an entire inconsistencies that
she was admitting anything painful or
humliating, that with the wonder il arous.
ed in the hearts Of her companions was