South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-07-30

silver splendor ON one water. / sat down
beneath the shadow of . dropping willow,
listening to the moaning rustic OF the
branches overhead. Kensal green GEM
etery was clearly visible. A solitary
bird, nightingale. perhaps. sang mourn.
fully from neighboring thicket. All
these sights and sounda were rs familiar
as my own identity ! and felt an inf
mite pity for myself, looking upon and
listening 10 them for the last time-for
the last time it surely was; after the
cruel blow had received. life was out
OF question: neplunge into those dark
waters would end all And then, when
Jessie heard Of my sad fate, she would
repent Of what she had done, and love
me when it is too late. 1 even fancied
how my funeral would be conducted at
that very cemetery. after my body was
found; and actually suffered good
deal from fear that there would not be
an appropriate epitaph written for my
tomb stone. If had only ha 4 scrap
Of paper and a pencil, should have
composed and left one myself; but not
having the requisites had to resign my
self to my fate.
Divesting myself OF the new blue cloth
coat, and hanging it very carefully and
conspicuously on the branch of tree,
prepared for the fatal plunge. But at
that instant my mothers face, full of be-
seechimg love, seemed looking up from
the moonlit waters. A keen pang shot
through my heart. How would she bear
my loss, she who had always loved me so !
l could not do this deed without even
for II l.
my mothers heart Snatching down
my coat, L struck across the fields at a
rapid pace. At the villa gate l paused,
chilled to the very soul by a feeling of
awe and dread. The moonlight stream
ed down. There sat my mother in the
great armchair; could see her white
face plainly. l opened the gate, and
went up the gravel walk with suppress.
ed steps. She might be asleep. thought
and she was, that quiet, dreamless
sleep that knows no waking. She was
dead.
Two or three days after the funeral
our old parish clergyman came down to
see me.
well, Charley, my lad he said, az
ter few moments comforting CONVEX
sation, what do you propose doing in
the way of profession?"
Il am undecided sir. / haven't
thought much about it. I've been wri-
ting good deal of late, and 1 thought
perhaps
But he cut me short by gesture.
mo, my lad, no Give that up Lit.
erature isn't your vocation, Go into a
trade"
1 was cut to the very heart, but some,
how his words stuck to me. The more
thought OF them, the more was con-
yinced of their sense; and after awhile
l made up my mind to take his advice.
l threw away my pens and paper, and
! bought small mercantile business. 1t
was tedious life; yet soon grew to
love it. Twenty years after found N.Y.
self rich man, the proprietor Of the
Walnut Hill estate.
| had ample means, so gratified nv
love for travel. l wandered all over
Europe. launched my bark upon the wa.
ters of the Nile, and sat beneath the
shadow ofthe Pyramids returning home
again, sun-burned and foot-sore, with n
weary, loveless heart. | shut myself
up, having no intercourse with my fcl.
low men, and regarding womankind with
bitter feeling Of hate and distrust.
| One sunny autumn afternoon-I have
vivid remembrance oft, even TO this
day; it was early in October, and the
sunlight. streaming down upon the great
walnut trees in front of my dwelling,
and glinting through the tawny chest
nut leaves, seemed to have a peculiar
warmth and brightuess-Ila lay in little
sunhill, watching by turns the blue
smoke curling up from my meerschaum.
and the busy village folks down below
me. There was fair, or something OF
the kind, on foot, and an unusual hustle
prevailed.
After awhile l noticed trim, pirlish
figure, wearing brown robe, and n
jaunty little hat, coming up from the
town in the direction of Walnut Hill.
watched her with feeling of interest
in spite of myself; and when she actu.
ally turned into the lane that led I'D TO
my door, L felt my heart palpitatinp
like boys. Could it be possible that
any woman would have the audacity TO
force herself into my house-to beard
the lion in his den.
On she came her brown veil and
streaming ribbons huttering i'm the wind
her little boots beating q brisk tattoo ON
tho gravel. lay quite still till she
passed me, then rising on my elbow
watched her covertly, On she went
straight mp TO my house, mp the front
steps. and then bang went the knock
er, heard the door open, and knowing
that she had been admitted, / rose. and
sauntered up myself. thoroughly vexed
at the tremulous eagerness I felt to know
who and what she was. She rose from
her seat as | entered, saluting me with
pretty little bow.
Excuse me, sir" she said "but Won
are Mr.. Trowbridge, believe, and I am
Jessie Dunbar"
The silyery voice, the familiar face.
the name, and some glittering ornament