Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-09-28
MISCELANEO
.Dissolving the Old Firm.

Now, Jane Austin, it is not bit Of us
for you to sit at that window aud watch Cap
tain Arden as he passes. He will never MARI
YOU or any other woman. His life is devote'
to his daughter And as for being lonesome,
expec, for the little time he is on shore he'll
find enough to employ his mind and time. 81
you need not feel bit uneasy about that, re-
turned sister spinster, who at one time haC
spent many hours watching the handsome cap
tain, bu, long since bad adopted the prevail
ing opinion that Capt. Arden would never
marry again, lie never having been known t(
spend an hour in woman'S society since BIZ
wifes death. ......
\ few moments after the above conversation
Capt Arden entered the reception room OF {
young ladies seminary. Scarcely had he seat,
ed himself when his neck was encircled by
fond clnsing arms, and a sweet childish face
pressed close to his. After returning his dar-
lings caresses Capt. Arden looked earnestly
for moment into her beautiful eyes, then ask
ed, with great anxiety: r...4
"What is the matter, ny love? Something
is troubling you, see. Why are your eye;
not dancing as usual and why is the music all
gone from your voice? Come, tell papa what
is the reason"
Oh, papa, yeu love me better than any
body in the world, do you not?' the child
sobbed.
Indeed DO, my own"
"Ob, papa, papa, will you always do so p
"Why, Flory, little girl, what DO you mean 2
her father asked, amazed by her agitation.
Oh, you DO not say you always will. And
it is true what the girls all tell me. You will
find somebody else to love- Oh you cruel
papa you will marry somebody some Of These
days. then your poor little Flory will only
have little mite Of your heart"
You silly little love to let these girls tease
you so. Come, we will make solemn COM
pact, Flory. Now give me your hand, and
look right into my eyes. Ipromise never tc
wed any woman, or to seek to win the love oi
any, as long as my daughter remains true to
her father. While you are with me, giving
me your entire love, ask for nothing more
We will live for each ether, Flory. What say
you? VIII you promise this too ?"
"Gladly, gladly, papa" FlOry answered
with another fond embrace.
Then with doubtful look she asked:
But papa, you only mean that must not
care for any man save you? That is it, is ii
not ?" bright flush mounting her fair brow
because papa, DO love Ada Foster dearly
She was one of my schoolmates last year now
she is one Of our teachers love her very
much, particularly now that her father is dead
That i9 why she stays here to teach. She is
an orphan, papa, and so sweet; and she is Sc
good aud wise, too older than by nearly
FIVE years-aud-"
VERY well, Fory, you can love your friend
Ada as much as you choose; but do not let me
hear OF any other love. And this voyage
shall make to sea will be the last, my child
BY the time get back, two years hence, you
will be old enough to preside over our home
then we will be separated no more So you
must learn all ycu can, little one, against that
happy time. Now rest easy about your faith
er's heart. It will never wander from bis dsr-
ling"
Fory was very beautiful, and numberless
brothers and cousins of her CON mpanions cast
admirng eyes, and sought to win some sign of
favor from her. But all to no avail So when
the two years had passed by, and Capt. Arden
returned to his child, both, after an inquiring
glance into each others eyes, were fully salts
fed that no other love had entered the heart Of
either.
A year passed By and nothing happened to
mar Capt Ardens or FlOry'S happiness. At
the end of that time young man came bring
ing letter of introduction from his father, one
of Capt. Arden's dearest friends This young
man was not only welcomed with great cordial
ity, but Capt Arden insisted that during his
stay in the town he should become his guest.
Thus it was that Fred Fulton was thrown
into the constant society of tlory, who had all
her life passion for black eyes and raven
locks.
And there was Fred, just such hero as all
blonde girls are sure to dream about. Then he
had such a touching, taking sadness with him
that went right straight to Flory's kind, sym
pathetic little heart. But to do her justice, it
must be told that she fought bravely against
the spirit that came stealing over her, and re-
ally either would have kept herself away from
him or sent Fred off home had not the duties Of
hostess prevented.
The next best thing was to get some one
else to come aud help to entertain her guest.
Ada Foster had few weeks previous to
Capt. Aaden's taking his daughter from school,
been sent for by an aged relative to come and
live with her. Thus the friends had been sep
arated.
Often FIory wished that Ada could be with
her, saying:
Then I should not think so much Of this
dark-eyed stranger"
Just then Ada's aunt died, leaving the or
phan girl in possession of quite large fortune.
How FlOry rejOiced, not only in her friends
good luck, but more in her freedom. How
she could come to her, be again her daily ad-