Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-04-15
NO. 80.

WOlic, uiel CpuiV hV- tNiiA HtStUlS' s'Ip
quiet was the ciulcrvicw--ycryoold even, those
present thoughtit. Aicw public inquiries a
few commonplace remarks, and l perfectly
composed dcmcanor on both sides-this WAS
all. 1t was plain to be seen ist each was per-
iectly indifferent to each other.
Several times again they met, with even less
interchange Of remarks than on the first inter-
view Some paoplo thought that there must
even exist feeling of dislike between ihcpi.
One evening when it would have been .twi-
Ugh. but for full moon, Mary Morrison stood
resting upon the little cato Of her front garden,
enjoying the beauty Of the hour, and the sweet
breath cf the flowers around her. The house
stood 1T the end Of The village street, Just
where !. commenced to be pretty, shady
country road, and Few passengers. passed hero
ut THIS hour
Suddenly, as she leaned pepsivoly on tho
gate the sound Of an approaching step caused
her TO start. The thiclllaurcl hedge concealed
the person, bat she kpew by some rare instinct
.hat the step was l;hat Of Hugh Shirley; and
the next moment he stood before her.
On seains her he lifted his hat. and seemed
inclined to pass on, as Mary hoped he would
but this, under tho circumstances, would haSo
seemed almost rudc-so no hositatod, aud IL
pally stopped, with commonplace remark up
en- the beauty Of tho evening. IIo looked
very handsome as he stood.therc-a tall, dark
man, bearded and moustached, with his broad
brow barred to the evening breeze. So Mary
thought. What other thoughts she had, or
what were his thoughts Of her VIC cannot tell,
but after ., while almost silence fell upon tho
two, though Hugh still fingered. .,..
llp made on effort 70 break the consiralut.
-" The laurel is still your layorite perceive"
he observed, glancipg at the shrubs whose
glossy green leaves aud pure white blossoms
CLEANED brightly in tho moonlight. r.t.,
Yes" she answered, simply and coldly.-
For this allusiQn brought bacl; the recollection
of that,cy?ping teu years ago, when she had
last ccsn him. and of the eft. Of tho laurel
blossom the cold, cruel parting.
"And |, he answered, " of all tho flowers
and trees on earth most dislike the laurel"
She made no answer, but lifted her eyes Gs
If expecting him to give reason. i., ,.i.
Because he continued, in lower voice,
because cannot forget how the fortune Of
my whole life once depended on laurel BIOS
somc--and how lost IT," ...r .ta
There was Just the faintost tingo Of hitler
ness in his tone yotho looked down with calm,
cold eyes into her own as,hc spoke.
How was it ?" she asked r l.,
fayc yuu rhcn forgotten Has IL ali-,had
even ], so entirely passed away from your
memory7o ..t-
"lfis is to this to which you allGdc2 said
Mary, slightly coloring in the moonlight, aud
speaking yet moro coldly, al remember you
giving me laurel blossom on the evening
when last saw you, at the piC-nic,F,
Ycs-a laurel blossom. So slight ching
to be an arbiter Of mans fate. A Laurel
blossom which you refuscd to ,weaI."
81 did not refuse. I'll did DO. know
that you wished me to wear it, she replied, in
embarrassment.
But the paper-tbo nQ,o2"
What noto-wha. papcr2".
His eyes grew suddenly larger aud brighter
as he looked down into hers in the dark
ness. .r ..l
Mary" he said, quickly and hoarscly,
1" there was note concealed within tho flower.
Did you not know it? l requested you to
look" ......,
She stood breathless and very pale. Slowly,
there dawncd upon his consciousness the
shadow Of great calamity great mistake
which had hung like cloud over their two
lives.
81 did not know it," she murmurcd falter
ingy. 49,.
"oh, Mary" What a bitter pain, what an
eager trembling Joy was there in those two
spoken words. 90.
." Come with me-" she said. And he fol.
lowed her into the house.
She unlocked little rosewood cabinot
which stood in the parlor, and opened small
drawer within. From this she took 4 li.tle
box, containing some tissue paper, which sho
unfoljed, there lay the blackencd ard dried
leaves Of laurel blossom.
This Is what you gave INC" .itSe said "i put
it away as you see it, on that night aud have
never since touched it,"
%LoOk within, he said
She trcmblingly parted the withcrcd petals.
Yes, there was something Wilma narrow
slip ofpapcr, closely foidod, stained and old,
yet on which she could still trace the words
written ten years before.
"ohTshc cried passionately, "IfI had but
known this :"
Would you have worn The flower, Mary ?"
he asked, as anxiousIy as though bis fate still
depended upon it,
She only bowed her face upon ber bauds;
but he could 30 tho Gush upon her forehead
and temples.
He took ono of the hands aud gently re-
moved It,
a. Look at me, Mary-look up aud answer
mo-"