South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-07-09
Romney, Hampshire County, West Va July g. 1875


ply / saw an insurmountable objection
to chance acquaintance. She spoke no
more. nor smiled, save at some happy
fancy of her own, but tapped neryously
on the window pane, and watched eager
ly the vanishing landscape. The train
fastened on, and presently stopped at
the station which Bigby told me was
short distance from his house.
To my immense delight the fair young
stranger gathered up her bundles. and
went before me to the door. leaped
from the car, held out my hand to her.
but she threw herself into pair of stur-
der arms than mine; and looking in
the face of the intruder, found it the
honest, beaming face of Bigby himself,
my magnanimous tailor!
lie lifted her from the ground in his
close caress then looked over at me
with the happiest, the fondest, the most
exalted satisfaction l ever saw i'm any
one in my life.
Oh, the delicious sensation of finding
myself close by her side in the comfor-
table little carryalll The evening sky
was rosy red, all the wayside hedges
were budding afresh in the glad new
spring, multitudes Of birds swung and
swayed in the dry stems OF the trees,
and daises, white and red, studded the
wide green pastures.
The dinner was perfect. We spent
the night in mild but paradisaical dis
sipation. We had little music, some
of Hattie's Italian to please her mother,
few ballads for her father, and any.
thing and everything for me.
As / went down with my worthy host
III the morning. Ipromised him would
visit him often. And / vowed in my
heart it should be very often.
A tailor, and the daughter Of a tailor
Yes, even so, what mattered it? She
might have been the offspring of prince,
and ut all events it was the first oasis in
my desert of life, and needed to lie
down in the shadow of rock for rest
So commenced for me dual exist.
ence, / paired off pretty equally-went
out to Bigby's by day, and TO Gertrude's
by night. / began to look upon Hattie
rs my sister, and Gertrude rs my be-
trothed. But was not prepared to say
that i cared to have the nuptials hasten.
ed-in fact, the subject was distasteful
to me. Bigby had maintained com.
meudablc reticence with regard to my
private affairs, and it was only in the
bosom ofhis delightful family could for.
get my cares and the unhappy future I'M
store Tor me. As Gertrude was DESTROYS of
having the foundation of the new chap
ell laid before we were married. and
numerous parish duties weighed heavily
upon her, was delicate about intruding
upon her valuble time. But the Bigbys
were always at leisure; of course Big
by himself was engaged the greater part
of the day down town, and Mrs. Bigby
was busy experimenting her household
but Hattie had plenty of time to spare,
and was too young to go into society
L had told Bigby that the closer he adj
hered to his own private family the bet.
ter it would be for a girl so young and
impulsive as Hattie. So l was little
annoyed when he told me lie thought of
taking his wife and daughter to anoth.
er of them there charity concerts.
"You do very wrong, Bigby." said
reprovingly. ''lIattie will be sure to at
tract idle attention, and / think you'll
| regret it,
Pooh. pooh Mr.. Fithian,' said the
good-naturcd father; 1--WE can't keen
her in glass case you know"
"W ould to Heaven we could :" |
groaned. and went in search of her,
/ found her wild TO 90. We were i'm
the summer house, and those little octa.
gon shaped boxes force people into close
proximity. She had never been 50 beau.
tiful. In n white dress. with n tear in
each OF her soft blue eyes, she was the
embodiment Of womanly loneliness.
"PtedSe let me go" she said with
her hands clasped entrcatingly.
/ moved toward her impelled by
strange magnetism. was dazzled.
confused. bcwildered.
why do you ask me ?" | stammered.
as my consent necessary 20 your hap
/ piness?'
Yes, yes" she murmured II could
not enjoy it otherwise ~ She stopped
and drew long breath. [ felt IL on
my check, and sweet rapturous con.
lecture was suddenly conceived in nv
heart. / sank back with the conviction
! that | loved her. Then / took her in
my arms and kissed her. & went RAPIDLY
out Of the summer-house. But before I
went home il was arranged that she
/ should 90 with me to the concert. poor
| old Bigby giving wondering but bland
7 consent.
determined upon reaching my lodg.
/ ing place. to send little note 10 Ger.
trude. stating my inability TO bc with
! her on the night of the festivitv but
/ found upon my table n note from her
/ opened it with languid interest but
upon reading the first few lines threw
it down and walked madly across the
/ room. Her note contained request
that / would attend her 90 concert civ.
/ en- for the benefit Of the st. John Chan.
ell, 10 would be Immediately under the
auspices oftho Reverend Cayendisb che
added and that I must be aware Of its
I charitable intent andpurposes wher she
/ mentioned this name TO me.
This concert was the yer, one for
urh fgh frrf.a h.