South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-07-18
A B r Az E G IRL
3 Y 81 I d .
w hat . beautiful face 2

~
my outspoken admiration.
She IS indeed beautiful, and as true
as size is lovely
Then we silently watched the pair on
horseback until tLey disappeared but
tue pure, pale high bred face, with the
Clark eyes filled with lose-light as they
gazed upon the proud, manly figure of
her cscolt. remained fixed in my mem.
DRY. linstinctively felt-that had seen
o woman who would do and dare, and
longed TO know more Of that life which
l,was sure had been no common one.
do you know the young lady2' l ask
ed OF the tiny, silyer-haired lady by NY
side. Ice B..f.- .f.
1 had arrived in Saratoga but the
night before, and had risen early this
lovely June morning, and had been re-
warded by the sight of that perfect face.
Very we'll Her mother was my dexr-
est friend And while the pair of whom
| lave spoken pursued their way to the
Lake. sat and listen ned to as.sweea aIl
tender little iove-ssoyyr as it has ever
been my lot to hear -,
Yes, Elaine ia very beautiful very
like her mother whom sue married law
yer Foster. He was stern husband,
and mourned little when his wife died,
leaving the little Elaine to his care.-I
do not think he ever loved the child. but
he was proud OF her beauty. Three
months Of every year he allowed her to
spend with me. in accordance with her
lying mothers wish.
in my large, breezy house in the
country. tie little girl spent the sum-
mer months in a perfect abandonment
OF delight at her escape from the sombre
restraints OF her fathers house in the
city. Having no children of our own.
my husband and loved her as if she
had heen our very own.
Three years ago, shortly after Elaine's
coming 10 us, was seized with low
nervous fever. My darling hung over
my bed with all the loving anxiety OF a
daughter. DR.. Ray, young physician
who had been settled in our village sor
about TWO years, came every day to see
me. | might have known that there
could be but one result to unrestr aimed
daily intercourse between two yo.nc
people so fitted to each other in all re-
spccls save that OF wealth; bnt my ILL.,
ness, | suppose, made me careless OF
anything except my own suffering.
One evening in the latter part OF
August. when | was sufficiently recoy.
cred to SIT in my easy chair, had been
watching the sunset, and must have fal.
len into little dCze, when | heard nv
darling come quickly into the room, felt
her throw her arms about my waist and
drop her head in my lap, murmuclug, so
happy! so happy
What is it, dear hearth | said.
smoothing her golden hair.
Then the answer came, witch |. in nv
illness and blindness, had never sus-
pected.
'Auntic, Philip loves me. and am
the happiest girl in tae worldr
4 81: moment, unable TO speak,
Then at last ] faltercd:
90 Elaine! Your father!
The girl shrank back, frightened for
the moment from her happy dreaming.
Then the divine hopefulness of youth
anil love asserted itself. and she replied ::
DIR. Ray will go to New York and
speak to father, shortly after 90 back
and when he sees Philip and knows
how we love each other, he cannot refuse
to make us happy
The following week my little girl
went back (she never caliel il 'g1inr
home twas simply ',oing back She
came home in june. she used TO say )
anil few days after DIR. Ray also left
for New York.
Then came heart-broken letter from
my darling. Her father had laughed at
Philips love for her; ridiculed his pov-
erty. and told him TO make n fortune
before he~aspired to Elainc's hand. Al
the close OF the interview the Judge had
said
Young man, don't let me hear from
vow again on this subject for two vears.
and see that You hold 10 communication
with Elaine during that time. Then, if
you two still think you love each other,
and you have made enough 70 support
wife respectfully, l will hear what YOU
have TO say
With this they were obliged TO be
contont.
Then Philip Ray came to me. His
eyes glistened, aud his hand was fever
ish. lie was altogether unlike lis Old
self. lie was going away lie couldn't
make money fast enough there. and
money lac must have, or he could never
sec his darling again. lie would 90
West.
The next two summers we're lonely
ones TO rae Judge Foster would not
let my little girl come home. lie said I
had deceived him. Perhaps had, but I
did not mean 20 do so. Elaine wrote
often. Sometimes the letters we're hope.
ful; more often they we're sad with the
WEAKNESS Of hope deferred. Occasional
mention was made OF certain bikes
Ramsey, n gentleman whom her father
had taken into partnership. Mr.. RAM
sey, she wrote, was very polite to her.
but she did not fancy him. She didn't
want 20 drive with him she didn't care
to sec his beautiful home. But her faith.
er seemed TO wish her 20 accept these
attentions, and then it would not last
so long, for the Two years were nearly