South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-02-07
ELIzABETH,S REVENGE.

~ was ctcNcu CtoSN VI u suiUfDer
night. The heat was intense, and the
sky as black rs ink. Occasionally a.
low growl Of distant thunder was heard
and among the heavy trees the fitful
wind complained with unear.hly moan
ing.
On the piazza orthe Marks farmhouse
in the dull, yellow light that fell through
the open door, stood girl possibly
twelve years Of age. She made most
grotesque and unpoetic picture with her
bare, tanned feet, her untidy frock. her
tangled. coppery hair. aud her small.
brown sullen face.
Come, Cinderella, make haste. laugh
ed a bear'iless young man, who sat smo-
king by the window; who do you think
would hurt such lazy, ugly little imp
"a you are?'
The darkness and the sounds of the
night were appalling to the chill and
! the offensive manner and speech OF this
indolent, lille young man reused the an
ger and dislike she had felt toward him
ever since he had been the guest OF Mr..
Marks, whose despsed and unpaid SER
want she had been for n year or more.
i don't 60 to the spring tonight for
you nor nobody else she declared, her
young voice shrill and her big eyes bla-
zinc defiance.
How dare we talk Ike that TO a gen
/ tleman. and my nephew, too, We vicious
! little beast cried Mrs. Marks angtily.
I II We don't start for the water this mi
mute, Liz, yell repent it. won't spare
the rod to Spite We, as sure as yer liv-
ing
Noise Marks is no gentleman and
never will be, nurther, persisted the
child. 4 guess l know
Tie poor little creature had no small
reason to know the fact go recklessly as
serted. as she liad been the especial tar
get of his unkind pranks and ridicule
from the hour she saw him first; and il
noTant as she was. she felt that the tfu,
gentleman woud never waste his wit or
an object so insignificant as herself.
What's that the creetcr sep demand
ed Mrs. Marks.
Never mind, aunt returned tine youns
man; 4 think can manage Miss impu
dence.
He fang aside his cigar and stridins
ont on the piazza. seized the luckles'
child roughly by the arm and thrust hel
headlong down the steps.
i think you will go now he said
} with an unseemly, witIess laugh rs Ia,
} returned to his seat
Little Elizabeth fall was slight, anc
physically she was unhurt; it was he
undisciplined, resentful human spiri
that suffered.
III run away. l will she sobbed, a.
she sped out into the black night like
wounded, haunted animal.
The darkness no longer terrified her
she no longer feared ghost nor COLLINS
nor did she hear the growing thuude
nor the grooming wind.
AS she ran on, painting and weeping
she rushed blindly against a gentleman
who was hurryino up tho path, and whc
instantly caught her ia his arms.
The child struggled and shriekeS
with fright. but he held her fast.
Why. is it really you, child ? he SAFE
as he recognized her; where were yol
going at this time of night 2
%. Mr.. Raymond y she cried gladly
becoming calm.
And then while David Raymond lis
hCuNt NlhN'J anu bdLicubiNs SilB Lf'li UIu
all her childish trouble, much OF which
lie already knew. as lie was spending
few summer weeks in the mountain vii
lage. and was college friend OF Nelson
Marks.
And 80 you meant to run away, Eliz
abeth,' lie observed consoliugiy Thai
was very wrong and not wise. Yot
must be patient. little girl You mus
let me take you back TO Mrs Marks.
She went with him obediently enough
holding fast lis kindly hand all the way
Nelson Marks laughed loudly wher
lie say them.
Where did you dnd the little animal?
he enquired.
so rude an appellation insults het
unhappy childhood responded David
graveIy. That girl, Nelson, may We
make a good and lovely woman
Elizabeth never forgot those words
nor did she ever forget him who spob,
them.
She little dreamed Just then. however
that in few months more she woulr
leave Mrs. Marks forever, and bepin ,
new and less shadowy sort Of life. Blu
so IL happened.
Early in the following winter n siste
Of her dead mother came for her apc
took her away.
Mrs. BardOlph was a wealthy. fashion
able woman, and had up TO this tim,
ignored her orphaned niece. whose i'm
pecuninus and ignoblc father she had
thoroughly despsed. But when sh,
learned that the father was dead. sh,
adol ted Elizabeth. and treated her il
all things as a daughter.
Ten years brought many pleasant chan
ges TO the fortunate girl. who Mt twen
ty.two was a very beautiful and elegant
Young lady, idolizcd by Mrs. Bardolph
and loved by many friends.
During o season nc Newport, she mcl
again, for the FIRST time since that long
ago summer night. Mr. David RaymOn.
AID Nelson Marks.
L. Fl l. 81 4 4