South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-07-29
AFTER LONG YEARS.
what is this, Burt 2

called the Derby Place, Mr.. Faxon,
foreclosed moro than year, believe. ;
We'll, it's what I've been looking
for. / will take charge Of the papers
and attend to the matter soon. Down
East, isn't it 2
yes, SIR
Mr.. Faxon put the papers into the
breast pocket of his coat, came down
the office stairs and stepped into the
glittering, purple lined ph@ton beside
his wife.
The delicate Arabian, Mrs. Faxon's
horse, sped away out of the city con-
fines, ard soon tossed his jetty name
along the open roads, lined with gar
dcns, ornate cottages and villas.
Going away tomorrow, dear p ask
ed Mrs. Faxon, suddenly lifting her
fair countenance, rs she interrupted
her husband. You seem to be away
all the time lately. Take me with
you
'Notihis time, Violet
And Violet Faxon's husband fell
into fit of abstraction, from which
the smartest chatter failed to arouse
him.
They came at last to the Faxon
mansion, grand and simple, and full
filling the promise OF beautiful in
terror.
And amidst the white lace and GRIM
son silk OF her chamber, Violet was
brushing out her long fair hair, when
her husband paused in the doorway,
and looked at her sharply. Then he
came slowly across the room, and
lifting the oval face in his hand, look
ed closely at the roseate cheek, pearly
ear, and curved eye-lashes.
what ia it ? asked Violet; "a free.
kle p
No lie answered, smiling family
and stepping across the Chamber
You looked like my sister, then-that
was ALL
'Your sister, dear2 You never
told me about her.
No., he answered, and said no more.
Mr.. FaXon bore no resemblance to
his delicate patrician wife. a little
less than tlirty-dark, strongly built,
active, vigorous, he Impressed one as
a strong character. If, with remark
able rich comeliness of countenarce,
there were some sensual lines, there
WAS also certain evidence of strong,
good sense, and look of deep expe-
rienccs. Mr.. Faxon looked like a
man who carried weight.
lie was up and away at daybreak
the next day. An early train bore
him eastward, and nine O'clock found
him landed at little station called
Seabrook.
The dismal little building was set
i'll field OF clover, around which Il
road wound away among the mounds
of verdure.
After glance around, Mr.. Faxon
took this road, and walked slowly
along. The robins hoped across it !;
the bobolinks sang III the trees over
it. The unassuming white clover
among the grass pcrfumed the cool
morning air
lie passed only few houses, but
he observed them attentively. They
were all old and humble farm houses.
Apparently this property, which had
by the foreclosure of a mortgage fall
len to Mr. FaXon, was not situated in
very rich or cmterpri5ing ncighbor-
hood.
When he had walked nearly a mile
he came to a green door.yard, among
widespread apple-trees, with well
sweep among them, and Il residence,
though plain, more preteutious and
more comfortable than the others.
There was narrow, and we'll worn
path among the short grass and but.
ter-cups to the porch, where bitter
sweet twined It's strong arms. In a
corner, under the verdure, was an arm
chair, with a book on the seat, and n
cane lying across ia gnarled, twist
ed stick of hickory, that Faxon look.
ed twice at. The book he saw was
Bible.
There was an old lady, with a sweet,
faded face, and snowy cap.strings tied
under her double chin, knitting ut a
window near by. but his quiet step
nau not disturbed her.
lie had put his hand to the knock
or; he took it down again as Inc
caught sight OF this placid face. lie
stood there quite still for several min
utcs. A gray cat came and rubbed
against his leg. Some apple blossoms.
floating down, touched his check.
AT length the gentle lips moved.
Father, said the mild old lady.
you had better lie down and take a
rest
Such old people, and | have come
to take their home away said Mr..
FaXon.
There was q strong pain in his dark
face now, as he stood looking down
ut the porch floor.
After a moment ne stepped ofY the
n IL