Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-01-25
Mary's Answer.

"No, Charles-it cannot be- As a friend
shall respect aud esteem you but | cannot bt
your wife. Have compassion on Inc, ut dc
not press me further"
Mary Granville stood before me IS 'h' thus
spoke with her hands clasped and her head
bowed, trembling like an aspen and iancied
that there was tear in her eye She was q
beautiful girl, and | had thought her as good
and As pure as she was beautiful and fursh-
er than this, had believed that she loved me.
She was an orphan, and had been engaged
during the past ten years in teaching one ol
our village schools.
Of her early life had known nothing, save
that she had been we'll educated and had
moved in good society and | had reason to be-
lieve that at some time her parents had been
wealthy but her father had failed in business,
and it had been told that the sad reverse had
killed him. | had known that Mary was
poor-that she WAS dependent upon daily Ia
Dor for support-and the thought that could
offer her comfortable home, with the ad-
yautages of moderate wealth, had given in
crease to my prospective happiness. But this
unexpected snswer had dashed all my hopes
to the ground. ..t.
q" Do you mean" cried vehemently, that
ycu oismiss me Am csss OH =
a. cannot be your wife :" was her reply.
Then" said |, with more warmth than
ght have displayed under other circum-
stances, " leave you to yourself and while
strive to shake. off the love that has bound me
to YOU only hope that ere you lead another
into your net, yeu will keep him after you
have caught him2" .....
She ga1ed upon my face with painful
frightened look but did not stop to hear her
speak further While she stood there pale
and trembling, turned aud left the house.
remarked, that under other circumstances
might have been more cool aud collected iu
my speech aud what do you suppose, dear
reader, the ttending circumstances were?
will tell you caudidly. was a little heated
with wine. had drunk just enough to warm
my blood, and give to the brain extra impulse
aud my words were not chosen as | would
have chosen them bad the spirit Of wine been
absent. As | walked towards my home
sought to persuade myself | had fortunately
escaped the snares Of coquette aud that
might be better enabled thus TO reason, stop
ned at the hotel. where found few Of my
companions aud helped n dispose Of half a
dozen bottles Of wine.
On the following morning awoke with a
headache. aud when cal ed to mind the events
Of the preceding evening was any thing but
happy. began to realize how much had
loved Mary Granville There was an aching
void in my heart aud fairly wept as | con-
tempated my loss. 1t was my love, and its
Influence had permeated every fibre Of my be-
ing. The beautiful girl had become more dear
to me than | could tell, aud groaned in bit
ter anguish when thought that she was lost
to ms forever. had resolved that would
feel very angry and indignant but when the
sweet face as called up 10 mental view, such
feelings melted away, leaving me sad aud desc
late.
On the following Sabbath attended church,
where saw Mary once more She played the
organ as she had done for years past, and as
her fingers now swept over the keys | fancied
that could detect tremulousness which
nevsr noticed before Was it only my imagi-
nation, or was there really plaiutivene's-s
sadness in the expression Of her music2 TC
me it seemed as though, at times, the organ
groaned and wept 1t was like the waline OF
the daughter Of Zion by the rivers Of Babylon
When the service was over aud we went GU
from the church, saw Nary's face. 1t wac
pale and wan, as though she had bssn sick -
What could it be2 Was she suffering as
suffered ? The thought flashed upen me tina
some one had been telling her something to my
disadvantage. had enemies in the village
enemies who enYied NE because had inherited
some wealth and fancied, enemies who en-
We'd me the love of Mary Granville.
Another week passed, and became NOR
sad and lonesome Ny business was irksem
to me, aud my books and papers afforded m
DO respite. In fact could not read, for m
mind was never upon the page before me-
Another Sabbath at the church aud saw Ma
~ again. 1t seemed to me that she was pale
than before, and her eyes looked as though sh
had been weeping.