Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-04-10
Saturday, April 10, 1880.
Dalton's Sweetheart.

"Ilave YOU named it ?" she asked peeping
at him from beneath her suuhat
YES" lie answered, gazing at her as she
leaned back against tie old gnared tree, with
i daisy in her pretty hand. >
A sunbeam peepel through the branches
cvcr their heads. and kissed little golden
carl that had strayel irom the keeping Of the
picturesque rough hat kissed the sweet brown
ewes making them laugh and dance; ksse'!
merry little mouth, and at last rested on the
fair jaisy, the Child of the snnbeams.
Il wonder who you have named II, Mr.
Dalton? VIII you tell me aitesward 2
"If tie daisy is wise and las tho member
of petals wish. ne said, with look which
made.Ethel Clifford drop her eyes quickly as
enc by one size threw the snowy petals into
her lap, whispering softly, Friendship, love,
Indifference, hate
Onc by orc he pictel up the little telliale
things, picked them up with such lingering
touch, and held them in his firm baud for
was not tie daisy hS-dear little type OF
whose ramct. bore.
Meanwhile the sunbeam peepctl at him and
lighted a manly honest, earnest face, that
only half revealed the chivalrous spirit and
concentration of thoughts and aim that made
Edward Dalton the true man iha, he was.
"Oh. Mr.. Dalton, know you'll be pleased,
lis fr;eGdahipw said Ethel with frank
smile. A shadow passed over his face.
But am not, Miss -Eihel--D---
"Not." she cried, growing earnest. Oh,
why not? Don't you feel that friendship
mears a liie-o long trust -
Your words make me- fcel deeply that
am not satisfied with Tic howsFo Iecree, for ]
named the dli>y Elhel.
\ deep sish hcayel from the sympathetic
heart through the quiveEiag little lips.
"Oh, Mr.. Dalton, / am 90 Sony"
My iEAhel ?" he sadly asked.
Becauao-becsuse am so fond Of you
love 50 much 10 &c with you, and so long
that we shall be as the daisy says friends"
- But don't you feel deep down in your
heart, that even your beautiful picture Of
friendship is cold Add to it the flooding
sunsb.ue Of lo1e, aud you know what give
vou and what ask for in return.
But the answer WAS almost sob.
"Oh. Mr. Dalton, am so sorry.'
Think Of it prayeriu!ly one little moment,
dear heart God grant you, DO you know
yourself?'
The little head fell fer moment ca the
claspel hands. Then she raised her true,
brown eyes with beseeching glance, aud
simply. gently said, Only friendship"
Tho manly, brave face was turned away,
but Edward Dalton folded little hand ID one
Of lis, while he whispered
God bless yon, child Goodbye -
The to.days quickly turned into yesterdays,
and E,bcl ChGora's life was happy-aitogeih-
er happy.
She ielt that size had been true TO her own
heart that June morning when Edward Dalton
had said Good-bye!' for surely 1t was not
love that she had felt for him, not the deep,
burning love that she had dreamed Of in her
womans lancies, SO she put him away with a
SIGH for his sorrow, aud lived 90 her happy ,
bGsy little life. But, as the months rolled by,
A SHADOW fell on ber happy heart; she Knew
rot what il meant, and plunged deeTer lUto
the measures and duties If her life, but the
shadow grew into craving, as shadows often
will.
One sunny June day, as she was rambling
in the fields, she came unexpectedly 10 The
spot where year before Edward Dalton had
told her the story Of bis love She nad ever
avoided the spot since then. Sic I'D uOt Know
why. But there she was and so she fingered
She looked down on the fresh, green grass and
started. bat she only saw daisy near an old
snarled tree, looking Up at her with It's inno-
cent little face. She stopped and picked 1t,
and tear shoue On i. az she put Is IN her
breast. for it had shown heF that the shadow
on her hear. was love, the great craving was
;or what she had put from Der year ago.
few nights after Ethel Clifford stood be-
fore the mirror, res.lessly putting the inish-
ing touches to q rayishing toilette, smillGs at
her pretty self IS she carelessly tucked
bunch of daisies in her belt She looked
duwn at them a moment, besialed, selected
one from the bunch, counted the petals, aud
pou,ingly rejected it; then another, till,
smiling. she kissed one, aud nestled II nnder
the bow at her neck. Oh, a rare little schem-
er was Ethel Clifford
An excited, expectant look made heF FAR
face more bewi.ching than its wont. Edward
Dalton was TO be Among the guests at the
lawn paity. lie had returned from LIS for
eign iourneyines, and Ethel had not seen him
siuce-siuce that l0ng-aso time.
She grecicl him with quci, cordial dignity,
but there was only time tor a greeting.
Tne evening wore on aud lie dad not come
to her. Had the old love died in his heart,
and must hers ache on through life Of time
Such thoughts made the sweet face sad. as
Fthel rested a moment iu shadowy corner Of
the deserted conservatory. Sad Uuly sOr a
moment for the voice she loved said gently /:
"It seems Ike the sunshine to sec you again.
Ethel" =.
Aud am heartily glad to see you again,
sbe said softly.
Surely, Der tcIl-;ale voice had told him a!i'
But 10, be only bowed coarteously, and saia;