South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-11-25
me snug bit OF money. aud I'll no,
have her nor her family insulted in It,
My son.'

! MY son. .
But lie had stalked Of 10 bed.
There Was no time the next day for
Mrs. fancy or Lefty to even think Of
the coming trouble. They were up AS
usual, two or three hours before day,
kindling hres, milking aud getting
breakfast for the elk harvest hands
Then came washing. dinner at noon,
| oil the work of farm. in short, which
falls on woman, IN addition to which
was the cleaning and preparation Of tho
room which the bride had chosen for
her own. Mrs. fancy moved sluggish
ly through tho latter part Of the work.
What is the matter with you, moth
or 2 asked Lefty.
Airs. fancy laughed feebly.
4 don't know; feel like clock
that Is nearly run down.
Tf-rnsuy Utds no reply. The Child had
lately been absent, almost Indifferent.
while her mother talked. apparently. 10
her own thoughts. Could it be, the
mother thought, that Lefty. also was
forsahing her 2 Mrs. fancy had only
had one other daughter the baby who
died. The other children were sons, all
Of whom, except William, had gone to
the West and married there. She had
often wished they would ask her TO Wis.
1t them. tuat che might see their chill
dren. But they never didit.
While they were hanging on. the
clothes that afternoon, Mrs. fancy
heard tap, three times repeated. on
the orchard fence. Letty's face color
ed. She dropped the clothes aud ran
behind the apple-tree. AS she came
back her mother saw her thrust note
into her pocket. Mrs. fancy grew sui.
denly sick at heart. Lefty with a Sc
cret, lefty carrying on a clandessine
/ love affair.
While Mrs. fancy stood. doubling
whether to ask the Child for her conf
dence, Lefty bad disappeared. few
| minutes la er the girl went down the
road in clean dress and sun bonnet.
1t was bus tr,flc, yet IL stunned the
aged woman, as sharp blow would
have done
MIR. Burke, coming over the fields
that afternoon with a Ratchet and a bag
OF specimens, was amazed To see Lefty
standing In the road in earnest CONVEX
sation with a man. "A coarse, red inv.
ed. beery fellow was his angry verdict.
The fellow talked long ami earnestly;
then took Lettie's hand and pressed il
reverently. Burke turned his back on
them and struck across the hills. The
girls mother should hesr OF this at once.
he said To himself. decidedly. Then hg
slackencd his speed. What was it to
him Why should he vex himself n
bout the girl 7 Or NEEDLE with her af-
fairs lie went slowly back to the
hiils. But the hot blood rushed with q
strange beat through his veins
In an hour Lefty was back and at
work with redoubei vigol, To make up
for lost time. Her mother scanne her
innocent, meek face with breathless
terror.
Surely there was no gniIt there She
would not doubt her she would not
ask question.
Il have dressed the table with now-
ers,' the mother said, 'snd made cake
"A real brides cake. hope William
won't be angry. But this is so differ
ent from weddings in Virginia. On |
Lefty, il you and could only 90 TO the
old house and sleep for one night in the
room which was mine when | was q
Guild, think just that little thing would
give me years of life
There they come T. cried LEFTY. as .he
big Crawford carriage was seen dashi y
up the road. She grew very pale and
shrank back. The girl had always
been afraid of her brother William {;
and his wife, she suspected. would be
as haF,l rulef and q more vulgar one.
But Mrs. fancy led her TO the porch.
You must welcome them, Lefty she
said.
The bride watched them from the
carriage window with deep. jealous eyes.
Her father had given her a hint as to
her future course.
You've made good match. Sophy.
he said. Bill raney's got as long a
purse "a any man 10 thc country, aud
his old farms comfortable But the old
woman an her da'ater will be draw
back. They'll try To- run over you
roughshod, likely. Just take your
stand at once. Let 'em see You will be
mistress iniyour own house,
Trust me for that, papa, said Miss
Sopby.
The whole Crawford family had ac-
coWpanied her 10 see how she would
bold her ground.
When poor Mrs. fancy stepped for
word, therefore. her thin face roddening.
and her hsnds held out, the bride re-
ceved her welcome with careless nod
j tope you will be happy IN your
new home. my dear, said the gentle
] lgJv.
on up doubt, maam generally
hoii NY own pretty we'll. Come ia
papa Come, Sue l want YOU 10 see
my house before il s dark. Here is the
living room. Bill mus. a. that up into
a parlor-doubIe quick, TOO Dye here
Mr.. fancy 2 laughing loudly. You
needn't trouble yourself maam. 10
show the way. Come along oil Of you.
William stopped and looked with
sudden pity at his mother. thsu follow.
Ell his wife, Who went tolkinv loudly mn