South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-05-20

VI W Satisfy his yearnlng affection.
though he was sometimes sure he saw
In them more interest than was ex-
pressed.
Unfortunately, about this time, there
appeared on the stage a parsonage
who babe fair to realize Edna's ro-
mantle dreams. He was Spaniard
and count; no was handsome and
accomplished, aud all the girls fell in
love with HIM. Edna heard of moth
ing but the count for some time be-
fore she met him. At last one of her
young friends pointed him out at a
party. She saw tall, distinguished
looking man, very dark, very hand
some, with a magnificent black beard.
Soon afterwards the count was intro.
duced to her, and, after little con-
vcrsation, he told her she so strongly
resembled very dear friend he once
had, that he could not look at her
without emotion. The suppression of
deep feeling on his part was SO evi.
dent that Edna's warm sympathies
were excited at once she became in
terested in him, more especially rs she
found that his intellectual powers
quite equalled his sensibility. Her
own talents were called forth by his.
and she could but feel that she was
appearing to advantage in the eyes of
the pensive stranger. But somewhat
to her disappointment, he left her,
without word of excuse.
Surely thought Edna, 'he will ask
me to Dance but no, he returned no
moro that evening.
She went home Il little piaued.-
The next evening she met him again,
but he merely bowed and passed on.
A few nights afterwards they met
once more at friends house. To-
wards the end OF the evening after
Edna had seen him admired and fiat
tered by half the ladies in the room.
she was rather surprised when he
came and took 4 quiet seat beside her.
They fell into pleasant conversation.
The count had been n great traveller.
and Edna discovered lie had been TO
South America. She ventured timid.
" to ask if he had met Henry Lorraine.
Yes met him in Valparaiso sew
eral times; fine fellow and q great
pet with the ladies'
Edna blushed,
'ls he a particular friend of yours p
asked the count.
L es; that is-no, not very par
ticular FRIEND answered Edna, grow
! ing embarrassed as she thought she
saw smile on the counts face. She
added hurriedly, and bIushing deeply :;
'Only slight acquaintance
'fhe count seemed well pleased with
her answer. lie remained beside her
sometime longer, and afterwards ask
ed her to dance, an invitation which
she accepted, and was so charmed
with her partner, as hardly to be con-
scious OF the eclat of dancing with the
handsomest man in the room-he
whose smiles all were seeking.
On the following day, the count
called, ard afterwards they met con-
stantly, and rs by mutual impulse.
seemed to seek each others society,"
The count grew more andm more devo-
ted. lie waltzed superbly, and Ed
ma was often his partner in this fasci-
mating dance. He invited. her to ride,
and those rides were dangerous things.
The count rode even better than he
Waited, and looked nobly on his
proud steed. Once, when Edna's
horse was FESTIVE, and her companion
was obliged to soothe and encourage
the frightened girl, her heart was in
great danger. If his own was in equal
peril, he did not show it. He was al
ways calm and imperturbable. Edna
could not decide what his feelings
were, but she was almost sure he did
not love her. Sometimes indeed, she
thought it possible. If she were only
sure OF it, she said to herself, she
would know how to act towards him.
One evening, after two months ac-
qualntance with the count, Edua gave
a party. While at her toilet she CON
suited her mirror with more than usu-
al care. She bestowed more pains in
arranging her fine dark hair than ever
before, and debated half hour before
she could decide between white crane
and pink silk. The white was chosen
at last, and with a spray of white
myrtle in her hair, she looked unusu-
ally lovely.
The evening advanced, but the
count did not appear. Edna's color
rose and faded every time the door
opened and closed but he did not
come until she had almost given him
up. She returned bis greetingalmost
coidly, but felt her displeasure melting
under the charm Of his conversational |
powers. His manner to her was 40 |
tdlttercntial, so proudly tender. that
her heart softened TO him in spite of
herself
lie was called upon to sing, and |
Edna listened, strangely moved TO fbo
rich voice and the imprisoned words
OF his song. As he ceased sino-;pc,