South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-29

4 ~
Upon hearing the name Of Lucy,
Frank again started.
Lucy was his mothers name!
! His mother--the only woman in whom
| lie had thoroughly believed, and whose
memory lie loved.
! lie gaZed At her intently. impertinent-
/ ly. perhaps, for she colored slightly and
averted her face.
Lucy continued Uncle Abba, u shall
expect you 20 devote yourself to Mr..
Ford, and make his visit pleasant
Yes uncle said Lucy, smiling
sweetly, but l am afraid
Frank interrupted her quickly.
DO not apologize lie said, until after
you have failed
She needn't mako excuses at all =
said Uncle Abba, drawing her TO him
aud kissing her. She can play the pia-
no, and sing, and talk French, too, and
tide with you. and beat you at croquet,
and
Lucy put her hand on her unclc's
mouth with mischievous twinkle in her
eye, and said gayly:
Now. Uncle, that not fair Why, l
won't be able 10 surprise Mr.. Ford in
the least
She would have been surprised herself
had she known how much she had sur
prised her visitor already.
Now, Lucy said her uncle, 4 want
YOU TO 90 with Mr.. Ford over 80 the
Prospect View, that he may sec al, the
changes in the village since nc has been
away
Yes. Uncle
She put on her big bonnet, anil
turning 10 Mr.. Ford, said:
Now, Mr.. Ford, am ready
lie walked 10y her side along the shady
path that assembled gradually TO height
overlooking tho village.
Lucy big sun-bonnet completely con-
ccaled her face.
In spite Of all his cirorts-apparent
uninton;ional and unconcerned- Frank
could not get a look ut her.
She talked however With great viva,i.
ty, and as she had never been in big
city, she asked Frank to tell her all a.
bout it.
1t was n subject that suited him, and
he dwelt upon the shallowncss-the pre-
tense the vsnity-of men, women,
manners, things and society, with an
eIoqucnce that surprised himself, and
surprised Lucy a great deal more,
as her dream had always been to live in
= big city.
They reached the summit.
Shat, we rest here on this bench for
= few mOmcnts? asked Lucy.
Yes replied Frank, sitting beside her
and | wsnt 20 ask favor OF YOU
Well" replied Lucy.
TT at Won sk n off your bonnpt'
'Why?'
so that l may get look at you once
in a while
Oh said Lucy taking off her bonnet.
Bat you didn't come up here TO look at
ile but at the view
lie felt like telling her he could not
desire TO look at more beautiful view
than
Pahaw Had lie lost his senses?
You are right replied Frank. and
the view is beautiful But it brings back
upon me an avalanche Of recolicctiOns
| that make me sad, and cannot linger
upon it without feeling akin to pain
Let us return TO the house, then
said Lucy, her face bctraying the sym
palhy she felt at hearing his words.
Here Frank Ford spent many weeks
Of that long summer. Cynical and Bit
ter as lie had been in the world, here all
was forgotten. lie never sneered at
woman here. There was nothing in the
cain, venerable mother OF the household
to awaken other feelings than those OF
love and respect. And Lucy, moving
about her daily tasks and pleasures with
her bright smile. her sincere aud gentle
glance, her active thoughtfulness for ey-
cry one around her, was not girl 20 ava
ken contempt. From the FIRST he had be-
lievcd in her, as lie thought, because Of
her resemblance 70 his long lost mother,
but, as he afterwards realized, because
Of what she was herself.
Her innocence, her truthfulness and
her goodness charmed him more than
her grace, or the indeGnable witchery Of
II face that was not beautiful, bat, as lie
Acknowledged, more attractive than any
other he had ever seen.
When Frank at length returned 60 tie
city hc wore the counterfeit prcseHtmont
ct That sweet fac near bis heart. * g0zcd
~ it-ofteu-wIth an intcntness and
'onduess entirely inconsistent with lis
previous cynical expressions regarding
the whole Of The sex.
With The New Year, Lucy went out
OF the old farmhouse a BRIDE
Two year afterwards, while Frank Was
todd,iug n baby on bis knee in the nur-
sery iu their luxurious home, Lucy lean.
cd over the back Of his chair, aad put
ting her arms around bis neck. said
Dear Frank, l have always had a Sc
crct from YOU
We'll. Lucy Whai is ilY
j foil in love with you tie FIRST mo-
mont saw you
A fellow in 4 cattle show. where be
made himself conspicuous by bis buster
cried out Call these prize cattle WY.
they amt nothing To what our folks