The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-07-15
"A sPYN THE CAMP.
By KARL DruEr.

many people considered extremely
singular. He desired his daughter,
then eleven years old, to become, on
completing her twcnty-frst year, the
wife Of Ebert Duane, then agedfour-
teen.
Various conflicting reasons were
given for this curious stipulation.
Some persons affirmed that in early
life old Mr.. Adair had been a hope
less adorer of Ebert Duane's mother.
Others stated, with roundest positive
ness of assertion, that this was com
pletely untrue, and that the clause
in the will sprang entirely from a
strong friendship once existing be-
tween the dead fathers Of Ebert and
Viola. With the other cosby re-
ports we viii not concern ourselves.
Viola Adair lived in a great coun-
try homestead that had been in the
family a great number Of years, and
and principally occupied herself, at
the age of twenty, in speculatingup-
on what fine time she would have
in the future.
Ebert Duane was always the sub
ject of such dreamings. She had
never seen him, he having lived since
babyhood among foreign English
relatives, and consequently the pos
sibility that he might be the most
charming of young demigods was
changed by Viola into the decided
probability that he was thus divine
ly favored.
Viola's greataunt, Mrs. Marksley,
lived also at the homestead, but be-
ing eighty, if a day, and so deaf that
it would not have disturbed her re-
pose particle had she slept over a
shooting gallery, this estimable lady,
as may readily be imagined, did not
contribute any special diversion to
her niece's daily life.
Viola's only real companion was a
certain Miss BUTTERFLY, a lady now
about forty years old, who had been
engaged as Miss Adair's governess,
surely twelve years ago, and who
still retained her position, though it
was every day growing more and
more Of sinecure.
1t would be hard to imagine a more
charming elderly spinister than Miss
Butterfly. She was literally "fat,
fair and forty" Her plump face
seemed never tired of dimpling itself
with the heartiest and happiest
mirthfulness.
Viola adored her, and repeatedly
declared that existence would be a
blank without her "dear old Butter
by"
One day, about three months or so
before the completion of Viola's
twenty-frst year, Miss Butterfly came
running into the room where she
was seated, with an expression Of
fright and anxiety by no means
natural to the governessusually mcr-
~ face.
ooh, my dear Viola!" exclaimed
Miss Butterfly, "such a dreadful
thing has just happened down at the
gate. A gentleman has been thrown
from his horse and half killed"
viola's sapphire-colored eyes open
ed to their widest as she jumped up
from her seat, almost shouting:
"Good heavensl Butterfly, dear, do
you mean it? What have you done?
hope you called James and John
right off, Did you see him thrown?"
"No; but just as l got to the gate !
heard a groan, and there he was "
ing on his side with his eyes nearly
closed, and the iend of a horse that
had thrown him was grazing several
yards of as quietly as a lamb"
"Well?" questioned Viola, deeply
interested. go on. What else hap
pened?"
~ at once rushed up to the poor
creature, and asked if he were much
hurt and what had hurt him. He
pointed toward the horse and muir
INJURED, Thrown felt like throw
ing the largest-sized stone conceiva-
bic at the beast, Viola. for daring to
treat such a beautiful young gentle
man in such an infamous way"
"Was he beautiful inquired Vic
In, more interested than ever.
"Oh. splendid! But lust wait till