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

tn an easy Gt Of his easy prnporii rs aud
while they wcrc handsome and becoming
they avoided the dandyism Of extreme fash
ION.
But it must he admitted the stranger
was decided shy. Thrown suddenly into a
sea Of beauty and fashion, igding himself
towering above the heads e the entire COM
PAM, aud ell eyes turned upon him. he fel,
his face crimsoning with confusion: his
hands aud feet seemed TO swell Ia twice
their usual size, and he would have Given
all he possessed for good excuse to run
away.
The introduction 70 bis aunt and cousins
did not mend the matter. They but thinly
disguised their reluctance to welcome him
and after the merest civilities of greeting,
left him to himself. Mr.. MONTAGUE was
surrounded by old friends 10 a moment.
and supposing his family would entertain
his nephew, bad also deserted him.
CHARLES stood at one end of the large
room, looking down the long line of hand
somely dressed guests moving gracefully
to one of the most inspiritiDg values of the
band, feeling interested and amused. vet
hurt at his chilling reception, when sweet
voice spoke his name, and he started and
looked round, to see CLARA VESTS beau
tiful face beside him.
"You and | are both strangers here"
she said, with a wish put him at Lis ease,
and if possible to make some amends for
the rudeuess of her aunt aud cousins. "and
L imagined you felt lonesome, as well as
myself"
Scarcely lonesome" he answered. smil.
1 m Nhul
Minnesota bulls have more of the social ell
ement, imagine, Miss WEST or perhaps
it is because know every face in the room,
! there"
"DD you live at Minneapolis ?"
"No. We are country folks, compared
to the people of Minneapolis or St. Paul.
My home is large farm-h house, nearly half
mile from any other habitatiop, aud four
miles from the nearest village. But we
chOerfnlly drive four miles for merry
making"
Questions, skillfully put, soon reused the
young farmers pride in his Western home,
and he gave eloquent descriptions of the
scenery, the hunting, the bitter winters,
when the fnow lay piled upon the ground,
IN an atmosphere so clear and dry that one
could walk miles in moccasins and not feel
any moisture under-foot He told his list
ener of the hunting expeditions the young
men joined in, and CLARA found her own
pulses quickening as he described some of
the Wild scenes and hair breadth escapes of
his adventurous life. Suddenly, he pulled
himself up with short laugh.
81 am wearying you," he said.
mo, you are not" she answere d truly :;
"you must tell me more, another time"
Might | venture to ask you to waltz ?"
be said 81 cannot sec any difference in
this step and ours"
Withou: hesitation, CLARA put her little
hand upon his shoulder, aud with grace
fal movement he led her to the floor. She
was surprised to fnG the tall, grand figure
could rIove as easily as WALTERS own,
while the strong arm held her firmly, yet
deIicatey, giving her perfect support,
while allowing her graceful freedom of mo-
tim.
How beautiful you waltz ~ she said as
the music ceased.
"There was German dancing master in
Chicago, when wespeut winter there. some
i've years ago, and | took lessons Of him
We are not quite savages in Minneaot, Miss
WEST, Tor most Of Va remember homes fur
ther east"
81 never supposed you were" she re-
piled.
II think ny cousins imagine ! would
scalp them upon small provoca'ion They
looked absolutely Mortified at the sight Il
me-"
81 see many bright eyes looking this
way iha'havo no horror Whatever in them )"
said CLARA, pleasantly. Let me intro
duce you to some Of my new friends"
For week the young heiress fouud her
self self-appoiuted companion Of The
young Western cousin, whose position in
tho house was far from pleasant Nj
MONTAGUE, absorbed IN business, left bic
NEPHEW to the mcrcies, far from tender, Of
The family, aud tho family voted him an in
trudor.
WALTER was jealous Of him. Mrs.
MoNrAGUE heartily wished him back in
Minnesota, aud the girls voted him stupid.
lie could not talk small talk, could not in
tcrost himself, as WALTER did, in fashions.
operas and parties, and they could not fol-
low him into the regions Of literature, or
sympathizc with bic enthusiastic love Of
nature
But CLARA, aiming only at a good-nat-
ured endoavor to put the stranger more at
ease, found herself repaid by q companion
ship far more ooDgenial than any she bad
found at C. The young farmer had
been q student in a Western college, and
bad love Of reading equalled by keen
appreciation Of tho best literature Of sbo
day. Loving deeper studies, he could en-
JOY also the beauties Of poetry and fiction,
and meet CLARA in many on animated dis