South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-05-10


and it almost seemed as II there " as
sort OF q distiayue air about him but
then he was nobody but Sam Weldon"
and 50 she didn't put on her beat dress
and company manners when her father
brought him home 70 tea. While Sam
talked with her father dapper young
clerk from the biggest dry goods store
In the village. called on Mise Dell, and
when Sam noticed the cotdiality OF her
greeting and compared il with the
GOODNESS he had met with. the old smile
which iurked in his big blue eyes grew,
brighter and more intense, until it illu.
minated his whole face, just es the sun.
coming out from behind the clouds after
summers shower, gives us at first hut
a feeble ray. and then grows brighter
and brighter until it foods the whole
landscape.
The next day Sam took cross.lot cut
up to the old country school house where
We first saw him. lie paused but mo.
ment. however, at the school house, but
crossed the road and walked down the
path to the cottage Of the widow Bright.
Maggie, beautiful girl OF twenty
two, with soft, brown eyes, brown hair,
pure, pale complexion. and an express
ion of kindness. and gcntleness i'm her
face, more beautiful than form or fea-
ture. was sitting in low rocking chair
near the door. engaged in the occupa-.
ton Of making boqnets from the basket
OF flowers near her. Something like q
tear glistened in his eye as he paused
q moment 70 admire the pretty pictures
she made. Then leaning forward, lie
spoke {:
IN aggic, have you no welcome for the
despiscd Sam Welion2"
Maggie started to her feet with a half
cry Of joy, then catching the express
ion Of the blue eyes bent upon her, she
became suddenly embarrassed, and
reaching out her hand, said politely:
81 am glad TO see you Mr.. Weldon,
will you walk in"
No. thank you. Miss Bright, I pre-
fer to sit on the doorstep, if you have
no objections" a.
He sat down and few remarks were
made in regard TO the weather, ETC.,
when he suddenly exclaimed, in his old
enthusiastic way:
ooh, come! What's the user Let's
just be Sam and Maggie, the way VIC
used to be. never can talk to you il
must call You Miss Bright
"All right. SAM" said Maggie, now
quite set ut her ease. and q few minutes
later they were talking of old times and
telling each other what had happened
since they hal parted eight years before
Sam learned that Maggie was sup.
porting herself and mother by giving
music lessons, and Maggie learned that
Sam had spent several years in Europe
as tutor to rich mans son, and very
pleasant it was TO hear him tell of the
far famed mountains and cities of which
she hal read so much The afternoon
slipped away and it was ten i'm the even
ing ere Sam had thought to take his leave
j Or course he came again the next
day and the next they took walks and
rides together unmindful Of the sneers
and insinuations OF the country gossips.
One day they had been taking q Ion g.
ger walk than usual AMI we're tired, so
they sat down to rest or messy bank
not far from the old school house where
they had first known each other.
Maggie said Sam, "do you remem
her that day that you came to nv desl,
with those flowers so sympathetic,lly
and said Il like you Sam Weldon?"
Maggie remembered and blushed ut
the memory.
Maggie he continued gravcly, "do
you like Sam Weldon now?"
There was no answer. Something in
the tone Of his voice had startled her
and her blushing face turned from him
while her little hands nervously clasped
and unclasped in her lap.
Maggie, dearest whispered Sam
taking one Of the little hands tenderly
in his own. IL love you. All these
years your face has been a guide star Ia
me. | want on in my home. Maggie
will you marry nobody but Sam Weldon
The last sentence touched her. What
right had the people to speak so to him?
She turned her face toward him, ali
beaming with tho light Of love and
trust IA she answered, You're the best
man in the world. and love YOU" then
hid her face on bis shoulder.
a few days after that, as they were
planning for the future, Maggie crept
closer TO bis side AMI whispered, Are
you so very poor, Sam, because I've
saved a few hundred dollars, YOU
know"
For answer Sam drew tiny package
from his vest pocket, and, opening it,
placed diamond solitaire ring upon
her left forefnger, while tho old smile
glimmered and glowcd in his eyes as he
marked her look OF questioning surprise.
God has been very good to me, Mag
gie,' nc said. III have beautiful home
to take you to.wheD you are ready 70 co.
or course there was quiet wedding.
about which the country people gossip
el a good deal. and Miss Dell Casey
THANKED her lucky stars she wasn't such
q fool as that Maggie Bright.
a few days after the city papers
brought TO the village contained long
article commencing like this:
Our agreeable and distinguished
neighbor. Hon. Samuel Weldon, has re.
turned from n trip 90 the West, BRING
inc n boautiful bridn with him