Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-04-14

Her uncle but:ered a slice of homemade
bread with keen relish.
You might travel seven day. journey
and not come across his equal. And he's
lucky, too. He sold his interest in that rail-
road for ten times what be gave, enough to
buy him the prettiest farm in the county
Edge Wire, and it's stocked first class, ! can
tell you. He's bound to make fortune, and
they say that Winchester girl viii bring him
considerable"
"He1l never think OF her money. He's
not that kind Of a man at all.
Aunt Mary stole glance at the girls face.
"Johu's splendid fellow, and his wife'll
be the happiest woman going. do say,
Daisy. nothing would have pleased your uncle
and better il John had taken a notion to
you"
"You should have said il had taken no.
ton to John. But you see-I haven't.
She threw a kiss coquettisbly and vanished
through the door to have foolish cry up in
her,ro before she dressed herself
And when Colonel Cressiagton drew up in
bis two-horse ph@ton be thought be never had
seen such perfect picture of girlish beauty
and happiness 10 al his life.
And Maurice dashed by in his chaiso with
Nellie Winchester radiant in white muslin
and rose-hoed ribbons, in time to- get bow
and cleaning smile from Daisy, ard TO think
with another Of those shadows on his face that
Daisy had seen before, that Colonel Crossing
ton and Daisy were good, very good frien''s
The long summer day had crept pleasantly
along, and the heightened shadows were warn
ing the gay picnickers it was time to be pre-
pairing for return.
Colonel Crcssington and Nellie Winchester
had stroed off arm in arm an hour before,
aud Minnie Castledean and n dozen others
were lounging on the soft sward a-gossiping,
laughing and enjoying dolce far nienfe gen.
orally, while Maurice was stalking about un-
observed, unremembered by the other, with
head bent down, as il in close search for some
thing lost-his ring, that until several minutes
before he had not missed, and missing, had at
once commenced to hunt for.
Not that it was 50 valuable.
But pained, white look on his face, that
had been there at intervals all day intensified.
as he thought, how dear that simple band was
10 him and why.
He went on and on, separating further and
further away from the party until sobs, low,
lndistinct, as if unsuccessfully suppressed, but
unmistakable sobs attracted his attention and
and second continuance 10 the direction he
was going brought him in ful view Of Daisy
May. with her head bowed down on her hands
and her frame convu'sed with violent weeping,
and glistenng on her fair finger the cirlet Of
gold for which be was searching.
Seeing him she sprang to her feet, and dash
ing the tcafs from her eyes, said
al found your ring, Mr.. Maurice"
She drew it OF her finger aud handed il %
him, calling all the powers Of an unhappy,
foolish little heart to her aid to make her
strong and indiferent-who had been sitting
there kissing aud crying over johns engage
ment ring.
John took the ring. and holding il between
his finger and thumb, looked 10 her face, with
his own pale and eager
Daisy. tell me were you crying because
you love me. 1t is so? Daisy, my only, my
own darling. | almost dread to have your
answer, for fear it will be no. But-do you
love me, my darling?"
A sudden glory flashed over her face, her
very soul looked out Of her eyes Then, her
lips quivcrios piteously:
"Oh John, how can you talk to me so
Nellie Winchester"
look up, little one Nellie Winchester is
nothing to me, although rumor has said so--
You arc all the world TO NE, darling. Am I
60 to you? VIII you take the ring bough.
when heard you were coming home, and de-
termined 70 secure you for ny own as soon as
saw you Daisy, have been engaged to
you since can remember. VIII you ra,ify
it3'
And with all her soul in TIE Kiss she gave
him, Daisy knew her heart was at restin John
Maurices love.
That night it was announced in the Castle
dean parlOr; privately, Of course, that the pic
mic. had be n great success.
Colonel Cressington bad proposed 10 Miss
Winchester, and bad been accepted, and Min
bie coufdentially whispered 10 Daisy;
Wasn't it cunning for Nell carried on
with John Maurice just to try to make the
Colonel piqued, so that be would propose
That's the way mean to do, don't you?"
And Daisy smiled and blushed, aud stole
glance at Johns happy face, and thought how
good everything was.
The other DAY man stepped into a rail-
way car on one Of the Iowa roads and asked
for corkscrew. Twelve gentlemen reached
lown for their pocket cork-pursuaders. While
hey were feeling for them be explained 10
hem that he wanted 10 get the cork out Of
,ottle Of linimsnt, as his wrists were painful.