The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-01-01
STANTON VIRGINIA, THURSDAY. JANUARY 8, 1874 4

| Henrietta simpered and hung her head
and Looked SO very conscious and gratife
that knew she had misun derstood me agai
before she opened her lips.
She looked as if she expected somethin!
more, some way, but after a moment sh
said in her sweetest tones, DWELL, dea
/ Charles, if your devotion is so great, don
think your friends ought to be too mucl
considered. As you say, it is really none o
their business, and you are capable Of atten
ding 70 your own affairs and if they DON
invite US to their houses, why, I hope ",
shall have a pleasant house Of our own. N,
i dearest.
| How should [ make her understand that
was only talking Of commonplace things
and not making lovo to her.
I began again, despesatsly 81 did no
expect to see your father tAe other evening
l was pleased to find him SO we'll and cheer
full When do you expect your niece, Miss
| Stuart ?" t.s II
| Yes, I think father will be pleased.
have no doubt you can see him this evening.
| AS for Fanny, she is only, a little girl you
| know, but think she will like it.. She al
ways seemed to think a great deal Of you,
and would not believe word Of your at
tension to Belle Smile, even when I feared
it was true.'' | become determined to end
the Misunderstanding. and yet wanted to
| do it gently, for thought it would be a
dreadful modification to the poor thing
when she came to see mistake.
thought | would speak Of things as far
as possible from the subject Of her thoughts.
These are serious times abroad" said.
'Franoe and Germany are not likely to have
their troubles settled very soon. The suffer-
ings ofour country in the late war make US
feel for these poor people. They haven't
had much to say about the political affairs
which led to the, disturbances, and suppose
the common soldiers are rot actuated by the
interest and patriotism that our armies felt. !"
I thought I would keep on long enough for
her to get the drift of whatrI was saying -
Shelistered, intently. ! did not know tken
that she never read the papers
"It was very good Of you to think ofspsnd
ling some time abroad she replied, But
I'm told told it isn't safe to go to France
this year on account Of the var, and as you
say, We shall be the sooner settled. I quite
think under the circumstances, I should pre-
fer, the trip in our own country, and, as you
suggest, it shows patriotism"
The cold sweat stood % my forehead, and
I groaped. TO be sure, [ was nearing my
thirty.second year, but didn't want to, get
married yet, and if did, I did not want to
marry her. I thought if I went away, she
would think it all ver,apd know by my man
ner that she was mistaken. So rose and
said must be going.
'sGiyc my respects to your father on his
retun,'' I added. Il bid you goodbye for a
short time only, for shall call next week to
see him and pay my respects to Hiss Fanny
IF you could stay little longer" Hen
rietta said, rising too, and Coming up close
to me, "he will be home to dinner; and you
need not return to see him. But what a.
hurry youyre in, laying her head on my arm,
''to talk about a very short time. You know
will have to get ready. I will do as we'll
as can, since you urge it, but next week is
entirely too soon. Yes I'll give your re-
spects to Fanny. She is>coming home in a day
or two, SO she will be at the wedding. She
is sweet child But, oh, Charles to think
that you loved me all this long time, and
stayed away, trying to forget me, when al
ways liked you SO much and as started to.
cross the room she threw herself right into
my arms, and put her own SO tight, around
my neck that I could not help her kissing
me. And just then the door opened and old
Brown walked in. asa
Never mind Charley Parker, never mind
he shouted. "pve seen such doings before
in nv life. It's all right, all right, my boy.
Don't look SO confused. You're q steady.
sensible fellow, aud Henrietta IS good girl,
aud will make good wife. if she is a little
the oldest. You want my blessing, Of course
and you shall have it.. Now cone in to din.
ner, and we'll hear tho rest Of it. if you have
got anything to tell me- s..#ss 9TH
Y "Charles was coming to tell you tonight,
father" said Henrietta, hanging to my arm
with both hands. 'sand ne says he has loved
me so long and did not dare to let me know
Through dreadfully embarrassed began to
feel relieved, for he was not deaf. and I
should be able to make him comprehend the
terrible metake.
"Mr Brown began, stammering awk-
wardly, "can | see you few minutes alone
There are some things | must say to you,and
Miss Henrietta will eycuse.us.'
ooh. no, Charley, never mind, he inter-
rupted q know you and your family and
about what your chances for the future are
Never mind the formalities; it's all satlsfac-
tory to me if it is to Henrietta, and | judge
~ ha ha !-by what I saw awhile ago that
she is agreeable"
s.But Mr.. Brown" exclaimed, horrlEed,
81 don't want to get married l had of
thought about it! never was much aequain-
ted with Miss Brown. She has Mt quite un.
dcrstood me. I'LL did not ask her to
marry me T.
His sountenance changed-frst to per-
plexity, then to dignity and severity
ssDo understand that you have been TIL
fling with my daughter, sir? If you have
not asked her to marry you'll should thnk e
about time. at least, that you arrived At that
formality-zounGs,s sir do ut understand you,
either! A father has a little legal redress In
such circumstances, sir !. sJ
began to despair of finding any way to
make them understand M
Henrietta still chung to me, hearing about
half we said, smiling, self-satisfed, and affeo-
Tomato. At the change in her fathers man
per she said, coaxingly !; Now, father, told
~, ,-.,,ld ho nloasnd thOuOht