South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-11-21

lite rendering of Mendelssohn and Beetbov
enc ming in from wslsias, one morn
Z ing, when her cou~os were GU. CLARA
heart the grand piano swept by "a master.
hand toa Il arinr- march quite new to her.
So entered the drawiog room softly. ani
t'ok seat unpsrccved in far rnsr.
from which nook she watched CHARLES
EAsToN, as he took one after apoth n. the
sheets Of music fram her portfolio. and
played tue ais with a grand touch ,h,, in-
vested them with new power and beauty.
Ii was like a trumpet blast after the nutc.
TO hear his rendition after her own.
Then he played other pew music from
his Own memory, till suddenly rising he
crimsoued as if detected 10 a theft
"How long did you propose to listen To
me without doing your share - CLAIR,
asked, very graseiy. az hope you admir-
ed the Jenny Liud polka and Uncle Ned as
much as you sid you did, the morning az
ter you arrived %
81 will tell you what | did ADMIRE" he
answered, earnestly II admired the gen
tie Kindness that prompted the fugers to
play what was presumably suited TO an ig-
norant ear, instead of trying TO dazzle the
country's mind with grand display of bril-
liant execution"
What more might have followed can on
ly be imagined, for at that moment the
MoNTAGUEs entered the room, and the be-
wildered CHARLES found himself the CEN
ire OF most smiling attentions.
Mrs. MONTAGUE, sweet and gracious.
paid him more com pliments in five minutes
n hnH e
previous week The girls found cousin
CHARLES was the very man they wanted
for series Of future festivities, and IRENE
was already sketching scenes for the intro
duction of q blonde giant in a Forthcoming
tableaux party.
WALTER, meantime, was lowering around
CLARA, trying to regain some of tho ground
lost by certain sneering criticisms of his
cousin by loudly declaring he was a "frst-
rate fellow" aud be "wished he had his
inches and strength"
That was the introduction for the Gee .
ond week.
CHARLES accepted the overwhelming at
tention5 OF the family az coolly as he had
their rudeness, making himself agreeable
while in the house, but finding much en-
pIoy ulcuI outside.
While CLARA WEST had been listening
to the music of the piano Mr.. MONTAGUE,
IN his Office, had been signing a check for
family shopping. and as he presented i,
TO bis wife, be said:
"Did you know CHARLES is negotiating
for the purchase of tho WILLS place"
"What | thought it was worth fifty or
sixty thousand dollars"
"Qnite correct. lie talks of settling in
c."
"Bu' the money! gasped Mrs. Mon
TAGUE.
ooh, he can we'll afford il. His father
gave him a start in the business two years
ago, and be is worth two or three hundred
thousand dollars. Besides, being an onl 2
child, he will fall heir to ell his fathers
immense wealth. The old folks talk Of
coming here 10 year or two if CHARLES
concludes to stay"
"And you never told me !" cried Mrs.
MONTAGUE. "Have you no interest in
your own girls ?"
"Ob,' said pap1, grimIy, that's the idea,
is it am afraid, my dear, you are too
late"
And Mr.. MoNrAoUE was right. In
spite OF WALTERS elaborate compliments,
rare bouquets and devoted attentions to
CLARA, her interest, in the Western Cou-
sic could not DE shaken. In spite If ''tho
girls sweetnoss and new dresses. their rea-
dinessto chttwi'h "dcar Cousin CHARLES"
to play for hin, dance with him, rido, drive,
walk with HIM, his allegiance to CLARA S
violet eyes was firm.
And when the willis place" became
"EASToN 5 place" j, was refuruished deco
rated aul beautiird, the ma ter thereof
brought home a wiling tridr, whose name
was CLARA WEST, but who bears now the
lille oi Ms CHARLES EAsToN, wife Of the
Western Cousin.