South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-06-11


beauty, then for the noble attributes of
mind and heart she certainly possessed.
though she screened them we'll with her
sarcastic pride.
Gradually, indeed, unconsciously, she
had sheathed the weapons she kept at
command, her pungent wit, her keen sa-
tire, when her cousin Walter was by
She let herself be interested when he
read, and spoke freely when they dis.
cussed literature or art.
! Mrs. Montgomery looked we'll pleas
ed. 1t was one Of her pet schemes to
leave her wealth divided between Wal.
ter and Edna rs man and wife, and she
encouraged intimacy with all her heart.
hiding her satisfaction under her usual
curt manner.
Partly from her hints; partly, it must
be confessed, from his own sense Of SUI
pcriority, Walter had n settled conyic.
ton that he was comforting an honor
when he offered his hand to Edna, a
hand that would lift her to his side in
the afiluence of his aunt's favor.
SO the first spur that drove him from
herpresence was certainly mortified van.
ity. More reasonable motives came
later.
The fall sewing was completed. when.
with that unreasonable perversity that
falls often TO the lot CT the most favor
ed mortals, Mrs. Montgomery was obi
ged to have it all renewed in mourning
Tor her only sister, Edna's mother.
1t was ''dreadfully provoking" of
course, the more SO as Edna, really low
ing the peevish invalid who had been
her care for years, could not attend to
the sewing. She sorrowed sincerely for
many weeks, and then to Mrs. Montgom.
ery's infinite disgust, accepted a posi-.
ton as companion TO an invalid lad, and
went abroad.
IL suppose" her aunt said. when il
was too late, III had offered YOU a sal.
airy with home you would have come
when | asked YOU
And Edna frankly admitted that she
would
SO over the ocean she carried her sor-
rows and her pride, the one fairly sti-
fed for the time under the weight Of the
others. For she missed her mother. she
found her new duties uncongenial and
combining, and she grieved for Walters
! love.
She did notregret her decision. know.
/ ing the uncertainty of riches. She saw
no usefulness before him if, ut the end,
his aunt disappointed his expectations.
She knew him for n man who could turn
his brain or hands to no purpose in life.
and for this she despised him as mere
! danditied puppet OF her aunt's.
Yet in the heart-hunger of her new
lille she thought often of the glorious ca
pabilities of her young cousin. She
knew he had mind clear aud strong
full OF power to grasp any intellectual
pursuit. She knew him patient, kind of
heart, strong of purpose when once a
reused, and it fretted all the crander
attributes of her nature to think of the
waste of such manhood.
For what was he? a walking tailcr's
advertisement, charming partner in a
dance, courteous gentleman, n willing
servant TO his aunt. No more
ct when Edna wandered with her new
mistress over the Old World. enjovinp
with keen zest the intellectual. artistic
and musical treat spread beror her. she
turned mentally to Walter for conoeni.
nj pleasure. When the vapid praise or
weak criticism Of the fashionable inya.
dered how Walters clear brain would
nave viewed the same object. Her home
memories were not very pleasant ones
to her soul. full ofsordid cares. of mean
| shifts, of shallow pretense, and she rest.
ed upon those of her cousin Walter
floating upon them TO rosy dreamlands
till stung to life again by the fact of
her rejection of his hand and her rea.
sons for that step.
Viewed through the medium of this
rose-hazc of memory she softened TO
her discarded lover, thinking Of the Chi
valry OF his wooing, the unselfshness Of
his love. She knew well that Mrs. Am.
brose Montgomery's heir might have
chosen bride among the wealthiest
that Walters handsome face. undoubt.
cd talents and courtlv manners would
have won him true love among the most
fastidious. And yet he had turned from
al them to choose her. n pennyless girl,
whose education was, for the most part.
self-imparted, who was quick.tempered.
and unpopular. In spite Of her beauty.
she knew well that she often owed il TO
Walter and his efforts that she was not
a wall-iowcr in social gatherings.
lie loved her, and she had shut her
heart to his love. She did not regret
that home of luxury he could have com.
manded for her, the probable fortune she
would have shared with him, but in her
bitter loneliness she hungered for the
sound Of his tender voice. the love Of
his pleading eyes.
For four years she wandered hither
and thither across the Old World at the
caprice OF her employer. Then law.
yer's letter informed her Of her Aunt La.
Giles death, and her own Inheritance of
$4,000 and a superbly bound copy Of
The Lives Of the Pilgrim Fathers" Mrs.
Montgomcry's one literary effort, being
n collection Of ali her own cuttings up.
on the subject
She was glad 20 90 home again. glad
10 end her uncongenial bondage. At