West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-03-02
MARY'S LOVE LETTER.

sup?' said Squire Bergamot knitting
his black eyebrows together until they
formed an Ominous black bar across his
forehead, and nearly frightened his
bright-eyed daughter out of her senses.
But Mary Bergamont stood bravely to
the guns of her little citadel.
" No, father" said she. 90, how can
you ask me, father, when you know |
don't love him, and never car? ?"
Never is a long WHILE" said the
squire.
90 Yes, papa, | know that" said Mary.
But, indeed, mean it,"
" You mean it, do your" said the
squire, in low and measured tones.
"Now, let me tell you what! 1t isn't
that you don't like Hawkins Jessup, but
that you have been goose enough to go
and fall in love with that young idiot,
George Lakew
Mary turned very red
Papa
There's no use mincing matters" ="
said the irate squire. An artist, in
deed Why don't he go into white
washing and painting, and get decent
living"
" But, papa"
Needn't attempt to argue with me,
missw said Squire Bergamont, sternly.
"Pll have none of it, and so / tell you
if George Lake comes into my house,
he'll be put out very quick And so you
may tell him"
So saying, the squire strobe out of the
room. Mary looked after him with soft,
sorrowful eyes. She was a delicate
oval-faced girl, with sunny brown hair
and straight features, as unlike the ro-
tund and positive squire's as light to
darkness. But as she put down the iron
with which she was doing up" her
fathers shirts-Squire Bergamont would
have thought it a crying sin to employ
a laundress while his daughter enjoyed
her ordinary health-she leaned up
against the window where the arroyy
sunbeams came in through the tremulous
veil of heart-shaped morning-glory leaves
and drew from her pocket a noto written
IN strong, masculine hand:
My Dearest Mary: / love you. viii
you promise 10 be my own wife, spite of all
opposition? Will you tell me so with your
own lips?
"Ever yours, faithful to death,
GEORGE"
How her eyes glittered as she read
and re-read the short and simple lines.
pressing them finally TO her red lips.
/ do love him ] will be his wife 20
she murmured. "And ] will tell him
80 the very first opportunity get. Only
papaP
A momentary cloud stole over her
serene brow at this, but il was transient.
j don't believe in elopements," said
Mary Bergamont, still riveting her eyes
on the sheet of paper in her hands. 81
never did. But if papa still persists in
opposing our marriage, ! will leave my
home. and go out into the world hand
finland with George"
Just as the revolutionary thought
passed through her mind the door creaked
on its hinges. A heavy, well-known
footstep sounded on the threshold.
It's papa~ cried Mary.
I'm her CONSERVATION our poor little
heroine could not find the entrance IA
her pocket in the multitudinous folds of
her dress For second she was in i'm
minent danger of detection; then she
hurriedly thrust the incendiary docu.
ment into the yawning mouth Of a paper
bag Of choice seed-cOrn, which hung by
the kitchen window. And the next in.
stant Squire Bergamont was in the room.
Mary, said he, 30 up stairs 10 che
lefthand corner Of my middle bureau
drawer and get me clean pOcket-hand.
kfIfUltls
And Mary went out with a dubiou,
glance at the nail on which the bag OF
Early Sugar Corn" hung.
When she returned the room wa,
empty, and Squire BergamOnt was lust
climbing up into his lumber box wagon
IN front OF the picket fence
Bring II out here" said the squire
"Pm going over 10 Miss Polly Pepper',
10 get my empty cider cssk. She might
have had the sense 10 return IL berself p
He slowed the pocketbandkercbiel
away in his pocket, and was lust takine
up the reius when Mary rushed oul
again, crimson to the very roots Of her
hair.
Father, that bag Of seed corn Y7
90, it's all right-its all right" saiC
the squire, placedly. i promised ,
little to Miss Polly Pepper, and this Il
already shelled"
But, father gasped poor Mary, '1e
me tie II up first"
Nonsense" said the squire. "I ius
folded over the top, and it'll 90 A. snu,