South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-07-07
tn e OLD LETTERS.

4 u
comes that odious Clifton again."
my child, refuse to see him; surely
you are not obliged to receive him when.
ever he chooses to come here?"
"Oh. nurse, you cannot understand
1 must submit to that mans imperti.
nence."
Indeed! cannot understand why
this should be the case and you astonish
me when you say so. have thought
that this Mr.. Clifton's visits were SO
frequent that DR.. Reed, your bctrothed
husband, might not be pleased"
Il must confide the humiliating sc.
cret to you, mamma Elsie. Years ago
my own imprudence placed me in that
bold. bad mans power. But listen
that is his ring ut the door bell. 1 will
sec him this evening. but. Elsie, this
shall be the last interview I will grant
him. Tonight will tell you all.'
my poor dcarie fear some youth
full folly is about to ripen into bitter
fruit that You cannot easily put away"
And motherly old Elsie sighed deeply
as the lady followed the servant.
It was hours after. The evening had
grown into night when Sybil Bond crept
back up stairs to her old nurse, whom
she knew would be waiting for her.
Crossing the room to the window where
Elsie sat in the shimmering light Of the
full moon, she sank OH the floor at her
side, burying her face in the folds of
her dress.
Carelessly smoothing the dark hair OF
her pet, Elsie watched until the storm
had spent its fury, and only an occa-
sional shudder or culver Of the slight
form told the mental anguish she was
enduring.
Tell me, dearie, what troubles you
so greatly"
Mamma Elsie, bear with me even as
you have always borne my waywardness
since my mother placed her twelve hour
old babe in your arms and went to hea.
ven.''
o, Sybil. my dear young lady, it was
a precious charge, coming as it did from
my dear mistress in her early bereave.
ment, as you know your sainteG mother
followed her idolized husband to his last
home in one short week after his sud.
den death"
Elsie, do you remember tho summer
we passed at your sisters beautiful prai-
rie homer"
Full well, my dear; it was your ff-
teenth summer; you were rather deli
cate, and l thought perhaps tho country
air might be beneficial to YOU"
"You will remember that although l
did not like going, soon became we'll
pleased with the place, and liked stay.
ing so we'll that did not ask to come
back to the city till fall, when sudden.
| ~ insisted On an immediate return"
Yes, | remember"
well nurse, it was there I met War.
rem Clifton. Twas young. romantic and
easily fattered by his attentions. Ipro.
mised to be his wife. After we had re.
| folly, and, after few months Of child.
ishly romantic correspondence, wrote
to him, asking to be released from my
engagement, and requested that he
would return all my letters. This he
refused to do"
The cowardly rascal" cried Elsie.
81 wrote again and again but to nv
entreaties he returned the same answer
Then l went abroad remember, and met
DR.. Reed. loved him and promised to
be his wife, hoping that Clifton had
learned to be generous. You see how
mistaken / was. On learning the news
of my engagement, that bad man came
here and threatened to show my foolish
sentimental letters to DIR. Reed if I die
not instantly break my engagement and
marry him.
Sybil burst into tears, and ceased
speaking while Elsie soothingly said:
There, there, child, do not grieve so
He's bad man, to be sure, but you've
nothing to be really ashamed Of, after
all. Tell DR.. Reed the whole story, and
he'll not be the man to Judge a mere
child harshly."
A look of horror appeared on SYPHILIS
pale face
"Tell DIR. Reed You know not wha,
you are talking of Elsie. lie has told
me over and over again. that he would
marry no woman who loved another
man. And will he not despise me fol
not telling him the truth until forced &c
do so? lie will not understand that
never really loved Warren Clifton after
reading these dreadful letters. No,
cannot tell him.
depend upon II, dear child, il is the
beet thing to DO, argued Elsie.
mo, no. Never speak OF such .
thing to me again. If lac must know IT,
/ will not he the one who tells him that
which could only cause him to scorr
me. Tomorrow afternoon we must b,
ready to 60 from here. In the interval
we will catch few hours sleep. And
nurse he sure Won aro road,, NJ.
goodnight" And kissing her old rrien(
aifectionately, Sybil rose and walkeC
slowly out OF the room.
She shall not commit this last FOLLY
1t have any wits about me-" said Elsie
She caught up light shawl. and has
THY throwing 1t over her head. left Tn,
room but paused at the stairway in Oh,
hali, counting the strokes Of the clock
Twelve" she muttered.
She liefaupd a ,no,uon4 - a.