Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-10-16
A LIFELONG LOVE.
BY JESSIE SUNDERLAND.
CHAPTER I.

meets once or twice in q lifetime, Is
Captain Martin a middle aged, well
preserved man of the old school. He
obtained this "handle" to his name, as
his adopted daughter, Maud, was wont
to call the dignifed title of Captain,
when he had figured in the late war and
of which time he was never weary of
discussing to good listener. Gentle
men. old gentleman especially, all have
their hobbies; and Captain Martins
was, an insane desire to know and in
troduce to his family, (which consist
ed of his wife, very mild and uninter
ested woman, and Maud who was dis
tant relative of his wife. and who hav-
ing been left an orphan at the tender
age of three years they had adopted as
their own, all of the military men he
met. The young men and old for that
matter, we're not averse to meeting the
Captains pretty daughter Maud; for
she was, as they all agree, "a jolly little
girl and one could have no end of
good time at Fernbank, what with the
] fine old wines, fine horses, &C., for
these people were possessed Of a goodly
share of this worlds goods, and lived
somewhat by the motto: Eat, drink
and be merry, for tomorrow we die
But as l said our story opens, not at
Fernbank, but at the Captains Office,
where he is talking to remarkable fine
looking man. l should have said mil
itary' else why would the Captain be
talking to him? The Captain subsidies
suddenly and writes frantically for
few minutes, and then pushes back his
chair and rises abruptly:
You say that you remain here for
some weeks, Col. Seaman?
Yes, think 1 like your city very
much said this designing young man
who had been introduced to the Cap.
tain, only that morning by means of
letter.
L should be delighted to have you
spend the time at Fernbank, my home.
j have very nice place justout of town,
and
i couldn't for moment think of it;
much as would enjoy it, answered he,
inwardly exulting over his luck; he was
not at all surprised though, for his par
ticular friend Bob Cassell, who was an
old friend of Captains and who had
written him his letter of introduction,
had told him it would be just so and
that there was lovely little girl too
who would of ofcoulsesomeday be heiress
to neat little fortune, and altogether
he considered himself lucky fellow
So it happened that the old Captain 81
fenced all his objections and carried
him off in his carriage which waited at
the door of his office to convey him to
his home and an eight o'clock dinner.
AS they drove along Claude Seaman
unused something after this fashion:
well, its better to be born lucky than
rich. Now if can only make good
impression on the heiress, to be, why
Pm ali right; unless. and his brow
wrinkled itself into very ugly frown,
that little unfortunate affair should get
out. But of course it wont and she's
dead most likely, of course she is, for
they said she was dying when receiv-
ed"
Colonel, lovely view from here, is
there notY said the Captain as they
drove under the stone archway which
led to the house.
'Ah, lovely indeed, assented the
Colonel, looking around at the beauti-
fully laid out park, and sparkling foun
tain of water that cleaned through the
green of the trees, as the carriage stop
| oc ha oil
pile of stones with its mused wings and
many turrets and -he ivy clinging in ev-
cry possible nook and crevice, it gave
one an idea of an old castle isolated
from the rest of its kind. The Captain
descended from the carriage and turn
ed and grasped the hand oc the Colonel
warmly in his own, Welcome to Fern
bank, Colonelp
The Colonel bowed and murmured
his thanks. At that instant a young
girl came flying out of the hall, papa,
am So she stopped short III con-
fusion as she saw stranger and noted
the amused look that shone from his
red-brown eyes that had been likened
unto mountain pools and moonlight
lakes and every other loving or senti
mental name, that romantic young la
dies or flirting elderly ladies could de-
wise.
.Ah, Maud, its you allow me, and he
turned to the Colonel. My daughter,
Col. Seaman. Maud, the Colonel is an
old friend of mine; eh? Colonel, turn
ing to that gentleman and laughing
He is going to make us visit of few
weeks, and l want you to do all in your
power, to make the time pass pleasant
ly to him.
You may depend on my doing my
utmost to make your stay at Fernbank
agreeable Colonel and she raised
pair of saucy blue eyes to that gentle
mans admiring eyes, that were intent
ly regarding her. Papa, will you have
Thomas show Colonel Seaman to the
red room? 1t is time we were all dress
ing for dinner"
Really, Miss Martin, said the Colon
el in laughing voice, 'Ithink you will
be obliged to put up with me tonight
in my travelling gear. My baggage is
all at the hotel
To be sure. How confoundedly stu
pid of me- exclaimed the Captain. Il
will have it sent for at once. What
hotelP
The st. George
tAll right. Here Thomas to that
worthy individual who stood not far off
indulging in private concert, take a
wagon and go to the st. George Hotel
and get the baggage. belonging to Col.
Claude Seaman
| CHAPTER II.
My lines have fallen in pleasant pla
ces,' thought the Colonei to himself, ga
zing around the elegantly appointed
room, to which he had been shown by
4 an ohsennious servant. Nice little