South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-09-22
The Wrong Picture.


Henry Wallis looked pleased; a man
naturally likes his .fance duly admired
and appreciated.
$50 this is the Bissie Armitage have
heard SO much Of; really. Wallis she
does credi to your taste. A blonde, 1
suppose"
Fair as lily leaf with blue eyes and
the sunnicst golden hair
"Ah, well! must say 1 prefer the
brunette style, so far as my individual
taste goes but then fancies differ. you
know! -
1t was all very we'll for Henry Wallis
to go into ecstacies about his pallid, fair
haired little Bessie Armitage; he had
never met the glance Of Cecilia Vcr.
mons magnificent black eyes. What
did he know about the true type Of fem.
mime beauty?
'As you say fancics differ" Wallis 70.
turned lightly. But wish you would
select handsome frame for it when you
so to town next-blue velvet with
gold rim on the margin, or some such
tasteful arrangement
"I'll see to it," said. depositing the
picture in it's envelope and returning it
to my inside breast.pocket.
You'll be very careful Of itp"
Careful? or course shall.'
smiled little loftily at Wallis's So
licitude and we parted.
After all Henry Wallis was better Off
than was, for he was securely engaged
to the dimpled, yellow-tressed little Oh
Ject OF his affections, while | was yet, as
1T were, in outer darkness, uncertain
whether my peerless Cecilia returned my
ardent devotion or whether she secretly
inclined toward thatunprincipled fellow,
Fitzhugh Trefoil. A score of times /
had resolved TO settle the question
a score of times | had gone to Vernon's
house with the formula declaration on
my lips, and as often had the words died
away unvoiced and unspoken.
If fate had only gifted me with one
thousandth part of Fitzhugh Trefoirs
oE-hand audacity l don't think any.
thing short Of the deluge could check
that fellows cool self possession an
earthquake wouldn't, and l don't think
that the millennium could!
However, love inspires the feeblest
heart with q sort of Fictitious courage,
and | was new man since Miss Ver-
non had smiled upon mo. What was the
use Of doubling, hesitating, and trem.
bling? Why not decide my fate at once?
Henry Walliss serene content exercised
stimulating influence upon me. l
would fain have been as he was.
There is no sense in procrastinating
matters any further / said, half aloud.
rs | walked up and down the rather lin.
tied domain of my little law office. IL
have been q doubling fool quite long
enough
/ am afraid l wasn't very amiable
member Of the domestic circle that af-
ternoon.
IL think Paul is growing crosscr every
day." said my sister. Struggling her little
plump shoulders, Mamma, l wish you'd
speak to him.
But my mother, bless her wise old
soul. knew better than that. She only
looked at me over the rim other speota-
cles. aud went on darnipg stockings.
paul is worried with business mat
tiers. | suppose" she said, apologeticaly.
Paul will do we'll enough if you only
let him alone
went up to my room after dinncr,and
made an elaborate toilet; but all the
pains / bestowed upon it only served
to heighten the general effect of awk-
wardness.
1--WE two minds To wait until to-
morrow" quoth | TO myself, abruptly
stopping, with my cravat half tied.
No, might be q coward, but | was
not such an unmitigated poltroon rs that.
had begun the enterprise, and | would
carry il through, if it cost me the last
drop OF my hearts blood. Moreover, |
had an inspiration. An entirely new
and original method Of putting the mo.
mentous query-'popping the question
is vnlgarism that !, for one, could ne.
yer toleratc-had occurred 20 me.
Hang Fitzhugh Trefoil !" I exclaim.
ed gleofully, half aloud, though there
was no ear TO hear my ejaculation, "Fll
win the dark-oyod treasure yet, in spite
Of him -
/ opened my writing case and careful.
| ~ took out n little cut De Uisde wrapped
in tissue.paper, AMI tenderly laid away
with q pink silk perfume satchet that
Minnie had made for me once. II was
| Cecilia's picture she had allowed me
10 steal u away IRON her, with scarcely
n remonstrance, week before. Then
was the time ought to have proposed
but, like n timorous, doubling moon-calr
as | was, had let the golden tide Of
opportunity slip unimproved away from
me.
| drew Bessie Armitage's vacant, doll.
like face from its envelope. and com.
pared the two with n thrill of triuuapb
i'm my heart.
"Colorless water beside crimson, spark.
ling champagne a pale violet in the
shadow Of a royal rose Pearls eclipsed
by the fiery flash Of diamonds :" | OK
claimed. Harry Walls's taste may be
very correct and classical but give me
my radient brunette These bleached
out beauties don't correspond with my
ideal Of perfection"
10 was n lovely spring evening az /