The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-09-11

lluu BSuNA1 lVflN'NN AAN v - ""N"
we went to our rooms. i went TO
bed down cast aud mortified
The next morning the elders of the
party rode Oft on horse back; the
young ladies proposed should walk
ed with them to mineral spring,
which bubbled out from the side Of
the mountain not far of, They tried
to anuse me, but they became un-
comfortable, for l was still to shy and
abashed to join in their merry talk,
We soon reached the spring and sat
down on the mossy bank beside it.
Suddenly Miss Lucy sprang up from
her half reclining position and OK
claimed:
"This spring possesses wondertul
properties. If you stoop over il
without moving head or eyes, after
awhile you will see the image Of
the person who is to be yonr fate;
will you try your fortune"
OF course | consented, she placed
me in such a position that | could
see no one approaching.
Now said the mischieyous girl:
"Look until l count one hundred.
DO you see anything?"
"No."
swell, wait till | count another
hundred"
And lol the likeness of my beau.
tiful vision of the day before was
smiling in my face. / started back,
"No not yet" said Miss Lucy.
"Yes let him alone," murmured
the sweetest tones had ever heard,
| turned bewildered, and there
she stood, the loveliest human form
| had ever seen. l stood unable to
move OF speak. She held out her
hand and said smiling:
Forgive my wild sisters. | am
Sophy; you are Charley; we are eou-
sins and will be no longer stran.
gers. You have had enough of
those mischieyous girls; come walk
with me, and let them play their
tricks on those who know how to
take them"
We walked together through the
shady forest. She talked of the
beauty of nature around us and
gradually overcome my awkward
ness and shyness. My admiration
of her increased each moment until
| again began to think her more
than mortal. Day after day passed
the morning walks, the afternoon rides
the evenings with reading and mu-
sic, made it seem to me u land Of en-
chantment, Igradually lost my,shy-
ness under Miss Sophy's genial kind
ness. | looked up to her more with
Eadoration than love. y5
Atfast wereturned home through
the beautiful valley of Virginia.
Years must elapse before | can see it
again. Twas sent to Princeton and
graduated with first honor; wrote to
Miss Sophy and sent her my speech
foolish fellow that | was. She, how
ever, wrote me a most kind letter Of
congratulatioh, which ! preserved
among my treasures. Then, was
sent to u German college. | studied
well. Although fond Of literature,
my studies were prompted by other
feelings than love of learning, The
one aspiration which melted all 9th
ers, was the hope of rendering myself
worthyof loving and being loved by
the one | exalted above all others on
earth.
did not hear from my Virginia
friends during the four years of my
sojourn in Germany i determined
in returning to make my first visit
where my heart had long been.
My fatberwas in Congress, Invent
direct to.Washington to see him and
to arrange for my future, The day
after my arrival there, met IN old
college mate. aa
"You have come in good time,'
said he; "to-night is the great enter.
tainment of the season and | can get
you an invitation. You will see
there the most beautiful woman you
ever rested your eyes Upon" i 4
~ guess not, said |, my thoughts
reverting to oher l thought the loVli-
est of women"
We entered the rooms of the secre-
tary rather late. The crowd had as.
sembled at oupper endofthe rooms.
A lady was about to take her seat at
the piano. We elbowed our way
through. We stood just opposite the
musician. What queen,like beauty
appeared before me. The magnili-
cent dress, the diamonds sparkling
on her forehead, disguised, in some
degree, the image impressed uponmy
heart. Was it-could it be the be.
ing / loved more than lifeH She
raised her eyes, saw me, hesitated n
moment, advanced, extended her
hand"
at must he CharlieH"
"Yes-and youH"
"Mrs. Willis"
"Married2" faltered,
ayes"
And so ended the romance Of my
youth,
"You stupid thing, said Mrs. Hen.