South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-07-21

true adage, ian ounce Of prevention is
worth pound Of cure" held good in the
case OF pride, she kept out of their way
Tor fear OF q sting. She only met the
guests at table, where good Mrs. Rivers
insisted on her coming.
1t was impossible for Mary ALWAYS 70
avoid meeting DR.. Aston, and when she
did meet him. she saw plainly the state
OF his feelings for her. When the or.
phan. with no one from whom to claim
affection, found that she possessed a
heart she knew to be noble. generous
and true, is it wonder that, hard as
she strove against the tide, it crept over
her at last. and she was obliged to con.
TESS to herself that she took n greater
interest than was prudent in this hand
some brother Of her friend? Tho Girl
felt that it was a hopeless attachment ;
Tor she could never bear the thought of
mourning Mrs. Rivers displeasure. and
have her think she had repaid all her
Kindness with such base ingratitude.
Her school duties were to close the
last day Of June for the two months
summer vacation. and she resolved to
! go to Alice's and stay until time to be.
gin again; and by that time she hoped
he would be gone, so that she could re.
turn and resume her work.
The first Of July found her Mt the sta
ton with Ellies' arms around her neck
and Freddy c.inging to her hand, both
crying piteously and begging Mamie to
come back to them soon. With many
kisses and promises of speedy return,
they parted; and rs the train rolled n.
way, Mary saw their little faces Mt the
carriagc-window looking lovingly after
their governess.
joyful was the meeting between Alice
and herself, and in the society Of the for.
mer, Mary set herself diligently 70 work
to forget DR.. Fred Aston. But the task
proved difficult one; and when she
had been ut her cousins one month. she
was no nearer its accomplishment than
when she began.
One day, she had taken a volume OF
poems and wandered Off into the grove
of pines back of the house, and throw
ing herself down on the clean straw, had
been trying for m hour to become in
terested; but she failed signally, and
the book dropped from her hand, and
the odd glove she used as a mark fell
from between the leaves and lay on the
ground. She was startled from hcr
brown study by something falling just
before her, and OH looking saw not only
her odd glove. but its dainty mate lying
beside it. She glanced up hastily. but
her eyes were as quickly lowered. for
they met those Of DIR. Aston bent upon
her in smiling tenderness. She hurri.
cd
her hand found itself prisoner in n
strong. soft clasp.
"My nightingale, did You think TO fly
from me when had sought you 30 long
the woman whose image / have loved
all these months?"
After an Intellectual effort to release
her hand, Mary stood before him blush
ing and vainly attempting to be dignif.
ed and composed.
"Why will you not speak to me. dar-
ling Am / wrong in trusting that your
| dear heart is mine? You have tiled hard
enough to conceal it. Won't you own
| it now, and consent to be my wife? /
have loved you from the first moment I
heard your voice that day in the little
church in Georgia. The same Cay, /
was summoned to the bedside Of Colonel
Rivers, my brother-in.law, and after his
death, as soon rs | could, I went to seek
you, but could find no trace Of you, for
did not even know your name-only
! Mamie. / found you at last, only to
enjoy your sweet society for a brief Pc
Rod and suddenly. before was aware,
my sweet songstress had flown. Now,
will you not speak to me, and say that
you will he my own?"
"Dr. Aston, what would Mrs. Rivers
think Of me?''
"My sister knows my story. and hear
tily sanctions our union. These are her
own words: Were to search always,
Fred, think could never find q wo-
man | would sooner call my sister, and
your wife, than Mary Delmere.' Ifthis
be your objection TO our union, darling,
dismiss it at once, for it is entirely
groundless. Were she TO oppose, how.
ever, am not my own master? You
are my superior in everything save
| wealth and rank in society, and love
like mine cannot fail 10 break down such
paltry barriers as these. Come, Mamie,
little girl, just say. Fred, love you,
and will be your wife
Fred Aston would have suited the
bar equally as well as he did the medi.
cal profession. What woman on earth
could resist such pleading as this from
the man she loved? Not Mary Delmere,
and 80 she spoke the desired words that
sealed their betrothal.
Mary kept her promise 70 Freddy and
Ellie, and went back to them; not in
the capacity Of governess, but as their
Aunt Mamie. for ere the summer roses
faded. she was the cherished wife OF
Fred Aston The Sunny South.
Gems of Thought.