South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-07-23
FORTUNES CAPRICEs

~ moved ut the sight of distress so he
stopped and addressed the woman.
You seem to be in trouble"-that
was what he said. The mourner lifted
her face, and he saw that she was n very
young woman, scarcely more than Girl
in fact. But this did not lessen his pity
at all possibly increased it. for his
heart was human as well as kind.
Trouble? All, yes; have come such
long, long way! Iwent to the people,
doors, but no one said anything only
$50 way J" We have no room for stran.
gers. Go to the hotel. why do you not?''
$50 L went to the hotel. but the land.
lord was worse than all the rest. o,
how he frightened me, he was so fierce.
so loud He called me tramp-a thief
because he found had no money. No
money, yes, that was it; and he babe
me go about my business; but | have
no business, and so came out into the
woods to die, alone"
"Cheer up, then. if that is all" said
John land come with me. NV mother
won't drive you from her door, you may
! he sure
And John spoke truly. for his mother
heart was like his own. She only need.
ed to know that the girl was a stranger
and i'll distress, to give her cordial well
come.
Take Off your things, my dear" said
she removing the girls shawl with her
own hands, and sit here by the fire
How you SILVER, poor child! You're
chilled to the bone"
"iou are so kind-so very kind :"
said the visitor, taking the rocking
chair offered her; and then John saw
that she was not only young, but singu-
larly beautiful, though thin and pale, as
If from recent illness.
You're out of health. You're not fit to
he abroad" said Mrs. NJ. "IIow your mo.
Their would feel to sec you looking so -
"Alas. l have no mother! sail the
girl, and her tears began to flow afresh.
| will tell You my story"
"There, there, I'm sorry said tim
such blunderer Never mind the story
now. but after supper, when You are warm
and comfortable, you shall tell us about
yourself, that is all that you wish to tell"
So, when the three had eaten their
evening meal, and Mrs. Mallory had
cleared away the table and taken ont
her knitting work, the young girl told
her story.
She said that her name was Estelle
lie Roy that her father was n French
refugee. but that she herself was born in
Canada some years after he had left his
native country, he having married n Ca
madam. After the death of her mother.
he had come to Boston. hoping to be a.
BILE TO support himself and her by teach
ing his own language; but just "a he
had found situation which promised to
he permanent, he became very ill; in
fact the climate of this country had
never agreed with him. and he was al
ways mourning for ia belle France"
He was sick a long time, and when he
died he left her penniless.
''Of her relatives in France she knew
nothing; and although since her fathers
death, she had written more than once
TO her mothers friends in Canada, no
letters had ever been received in return.
She believed she could find them, how
ever, if she could get there. and that was
now her aim. What she had suffered
since she left Boston, she said she could
''never, never tell"
Its all over now, my dear" said
Mrs. Mallory. 80 try to forget it. and
just try to make yourself contented with
us till you are better able to travel than
you are now"
For whole week Estelle stayed with
the Mallorys, gaining in health and beau
ty every day, and developing careless
lightness of spirit, greatly in contrast to
her first depression.
That John was not insensible TO her
attractions, may we'll he imagined and
what the consequences might have been.
| can not tell. if his heart had not been
already preoccupied. That being the
case, there was no room there for the
fair stranger. save I'm the way Of friend.
ship. and he showed his friendship by
bringing Mary. his betrothed to see her
Curious It was TO see the two together
Mary, the staid New England girl,
with her rosy cheeks. her calm blue eyes
and yellow hair; her plain dress. and
steady Northern tongue and Estcllc.
with her olive skin. her hair and eyes rs
dark rs night, her fanciful, idiomatic
speech, and her airy figure which gave
grace TO the worn garments which cloth.
ed it. IL was the brown thrush and the
canary sitting side 10y side on an apple
tree bOugh.
Still, they got on we'll together-these
two--and kissed each other when they
parted. But when Estellc parted from
Mrs. Mallory, she hung on her neck rs
if it had been her own dear mother she
was leaving.
John saw her safely on her journey,
and whom he took her hand 20 say fare
we'll. Inc left in it n small purse contain
ing sum sufficient 90 pay her expenses,
II shall not forget you, ever-evcr-
no. not till my dying day come" said
Estelle with tears in her eyes. "Thc
good God bless You for your kindness
TO poor stranger-you, and the dear
mother. and the pretty Marie"
In n few weeks tho Mallorys received
n letter from Estelle, saying that she