South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-11-24

was cultivated" retorted saucy Moll.
''Be quiet. Miss Impudence. and hear
what have to say concerning the hand.
some Laura. She Immediately deter
mined to make a conquest of me, and /
saw it. But she was the only lady ac-
quaintancs ! had to escort about; was
invited constantly to the house, and
we'll, / succumbed to her charms. Be-
fore many weeks we were engaged
Matters went pretty smoothly for some
months, though did sometimes think
Laura required much larger share of
devotion than she was willing to accord !;
and, once or twice, caught myself won.
dering whether she cared so much for
me as the clerk, Herbert Maynard, rs
she did for my being the only son and
heir of wealthy old Hugh Maynard.
"In October had orders from the
firm to prepare for trip to Europe
Laura was enticingly, wondrously affec-
tionate them and finally the day came
upon which l was 10 sail. 1t was cold
fearfully rainy Thursday. l had not
taken my final farewell of Laura the
night previous. for she was TO be OH the
pier to see me Off. 1t rained so fearful
ly, sent n carriage for her, and just
after it had gone. there came news that
delayed my trip for q month. / started
Immediately for the pier to meet Laura,
and tell Whist supposed would be to
her glad tidings.
"lhe carriage brought no Laura, how
ever, but note at which / was terribly
cut and angry. 1t raincd too hard for
her TO venture ont for such q trivial mat
ter. She hoped would write soon, and
then l could say goodbye as we'll rs if
she had taken the trouble to come and
see me off.
That afternoon Myron said. Since
you arc in New York. instead of on the
Atlantic Ocean, | presume we shall see
you ut the house this evening" Il think
not l answered. and hurried away.
Laura would understand my absence,
and she could repent little, | thought.
| was angry, and in n mood to battle
with the storm. so | walked up Broad
way. As had my umbrella pretty low,
to shield myself from the binding rain,
walked very roughly against a young
lady, causing her to drop several parcels.
picked them up and apologized, and
finding her very sweet and pretty,
begged permission to hold her umbrella,
or carry her packages. She was conde-
scending and the walk was 50 pleasant,
despite the storm, that i was awfully
sorry when she stopped before hand.
some brown stone mansion.
"'You will come in, Mr.. Maynard?"
she said, using my name to my intense
astonishment and then she laughed.
Il am Anna Calvert, Mr.. Maynard; and
you would have known me before, but
that have been away to school. DO
come in; papa and mamma will be so
pleased | did not need much urging
from my employers pretty daughter"
"Who sits opposite suggested Mol.
lie in u low interludc.
81 beg that you will not again inter.
rupt the harmonious flow of my nara.
tive, Miss Redmond. But, L did ask
how she came to be ont in such q storm.
ooh, like storms she laughed, and as
papa doesn't wish the horses taken out
in such weather. and had an GRAND to
do, | walked The evening passed de.
lightfully."
Didn't you think OF Laura?" asked
Molle.
Not once; and next morning Miss
Culvert was ont riding IA l was walking
to business, and she begged me to let
her drive me TO the Office. On our way,
some place of interest was mentioned
that / had never seen. and she asked
me to ride there with her, the next day
So it went on from bad 10 worse, and
when | went to Europe l left my heart
in the care Of Anna Culyert, instead OF
Laura Comprehensive -
"And what did Laura do?"
"Took the change in affairs very cool
ly, aid ran away with her music-teacher."
"Oh!" said Mollie, prolonging the
monosyllablc very much. "And so the
rain storm was the cause of your marry.
ing auntie.'
Yes" aud at that moment the carri-
age stopped, and Frank Eustace opened
the door, and stepped in 10 wrap Molle
warmly in her shawl and waterproof.
Uncle Herbert, noting her flushing
cheeks, and Franks ardent gaze. re.
marked slyly, III reckon this is another
case Of love versus n rsin-storm'"