South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-11-14
Aunt Clara's Story.
BY DEBORAH.

~ oJstei o"PPefJ "h"ous Tying Ofun-
ksrd'
Thus spoke Edward Hall, whose flushed
cheeks and bloodshot eyes were evidences
that his aunt had some reason to feel anx-
ious. After a few moments silence he
murmured to himself Il wish Aunt Clara
was here; she's not a fussy old maid, who
fancies u boy on the highway to destruction
if he has little fun once in while
He had hardly ceased speaking when
Miss Hall observed her from her seat beside
the window:
Edward, your wish is granted. see
Clara coming up the walk. | will meet
her aud send her here
She quickly rose ard left the room, but as
she passed the sofa on which Edward was
lying, he noticed that, quietly as she had
spoken, her whole face was quivering with
emotion, which she was striving to suppress
Angry and impatient as he was, the sight
of that sad face, trembling with grief at his
unkind taunt, touched his better nature,
and he earnestly wished he had been more
gentle 10 his replies to her close question
ing of his co companions and whereabouts on
the previous evening.
His thoughts wandered over the past,
and memory pictured many scene in
which bis aunt's untiring devotion to his
happiness seemed to be the aim Of her life.
81 interested was he in his retrospect,
that he forgot his aunt Clara and all things
else, until he felt her cool hand on his burn :
ing brow, and heard her kindly say:
Does my boys head ache so badly that
he has no welcome for me, when | came
through all this snow to congratulate him
on arriving at manhoods years, and wish
him many happy returns ?
why, Aunt Clare, so this is nv birth
day. | had forgotten it. | do believe that
was what Aunt Emily was trying to make
me understand, when | got angry aud an
swered her like heather. I'll 60 this
minute and ask her forgiveness
He sprang from the sofa to seek his aunt,
but Mrs. Preston, gently laying her hand
on bis arm, detained him, while she said i:
Not qnite so fast, my dear. Stay with
me-Emily has gone to lie down. She
needs rest after last nights vigils. This
IS sad anniversary 20 her.
'Vigiis ! Surely she was not up all
night on my account' hastily said the con-
science smitten boy.
No, Edward; not on your account does
she keep this anniversary with tears and
prayers though doubt not she has been
that this should have been the anniversary
OF Emily's weddiug?'
AUNT EmiIy's wedding? Why, was she
not married Did he die I?
'He-, my dear, be died by his own hand
Poor Emily-her kind heart was sorely
'ricd.'
Tell me the story, please do ? Poor
aunt Emily she must think me a brute.
was tormenting her with being an old
maid, just as you came in.'
'Slt dlwn again, and will tell you sal !
his aunt, who had been arranging his Pill.
lnw', and had drawn an easy char near tho
sofa.
Il hardly need tell you that Emily was
beautiful, our darling aud our pride, when
first Harvey Bolton met her He was a
class maze of your father, and accompanied
him home for the summer vacation On,
how well | remember the day Il lward
was our only brother, and Emily iGolized
MIN. HIS return, which was the occasion
I ~ great JOY to all, seemed TO fill her cup of
hoppiness TO overhowing All day she was
busy filing vases, wreathing garlands and
tesioous, To decorate the house, cumming
his favorite tunes now and then bursting
into full gush Of melody, as if her happy
beart could not keep silent Edward will
soon be here Edward will soon be here =
she kept repeating, until replied, SO will
Alfred Preston aud Cousin Tom. My
wreaths and flowers are for them Our
mother had always made the return Of the
absent members Of the family an occasion
Tor great rejoicing. The whole house was
decorated to do them honor. | want my
children 10 feel that to no one, or at no
place, are thoy so welcome as at their moth
er's heart and hearth
This was ever her answer whey question.
ed 80 she spared no pains to make il the
brightest, bappiest place on earth to each
| OF US No trihe was too small, no trouble
too great that might add to our pleasure.
| How beautiful our Emily looked 10 her
simple white dress, with a cluster Of hearts
ease 10 her hair; they were Edwards ia
vorlte flowers, aud she always wore them
whom he was 10 be with her.
| - We had jast approached father, to ask
/ When The carriage should arrive, as the
door opened and Edward entered, followed
/ by Harvey Bolton.
i cannot describe Harvey, but thought
him the handsomest man | had ever seen,
and so be was. can SEQ him now as be
gracefully acknowledged mothers remark
that she was pleased that be had accOmpa-
MED Edward home.
'Oh that happy, happy summer; Har-
Vey was The life OF our circle. Not a pic.
ME Was rlannnd nnl an nunnr.snn r-nr.n.nl