The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-28
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A WEST VIRGINIA ROMANCE,

"A WEST VIRGINIA ROMANCE.
Nt FRANCIS A. coNANr.
From tho Chicago Alliance.
II cannot help thinking, Agnes, tha,
there Is only one llfe between us and hap
pines. I know II Is wicked, but I repea
those words to myself until l sometime
fancy that hear them echoed In the al
all around me. This idea has haunted me
till l felt that must speak OF it.p
This speech from my placid cousin Ell
uest, startled me, for It was the first com
plant had ever heard from him. i
We were among the heirs Of great es
tatenear Wheeling. There were four Of u
to inherit property worth two hundre,
thousand dollars. Ernest, his two sister
andmyselt. They were my distant cousins
and the only kinsfolk had in the world
The lie oil the person who was keepin,
Us out Of our rights, did seem rather I'm
reasonably prolonged, for It had alread,
exceeded n century. Hitherto, we girl
had done all tho repining, and nobody
thought that Ernest was dissatisfied will
his life Of drudyery. as the bookkeeper OF !,
large foundry.
Ernest continued in n tone OF suppressed
excitement as he paced the floor: "Now
have spoken, must tell you whit l think
you will not OF course betray my conf
dence. I can't help Wishing the woman
would die, who is keeping us out Of on
property. II her life were OF any value, i
she were doing any good with the money
| would not complain, but she appears t
live on and on, simply to spite her deat
husbands heirs" iis
"Do not be so bitter Ernest" l pleaded
suddenly reversing the usual character Of
my remarks about our venerable connec
ton, ave are no worse of than people
who have no expectation OF fortune. w
can eArn u comfortable, independent liy.
ing. DO let the old lady live"
II do not see that can help IT," Earn
est replied, II suppose you have heard the
story often enough, but would like to 70
peat it tonight, and alec give you one Of
tho reasons for my discomfort. Eighty
years ago Albert Shipton, your ancestor
mud mine, married Sarah Graham. She
wasso poor that she brought her worldly
possessions to her husbands home tied uT
in two bandana handkerchiefs; but she
was handsome, ambitious woman, no
doubt delighted TINT she had married 60
well, for her husbands father had large
estate, which was afterwards divided into
three portions, ofwhich Albert Shipton bad
one, and his sisters the other two. At one
time he became involved in some business
troubles, aud his sisters decided their prop.
erty to help him tide over the difficulty.
When the trouble was ended every one
supposed for some time, that the sisters
property had been returned TO them; but
by some oversight, the brother had still le-
gal possession Of it. 1t seems that she WIS
II woman born to rule, and her husband
dare not oppose her, SO he made compro.
mise with his conscience, and willed two.
thirds Of the property to his sisters; but
they were not 10 have 1t until after his
wife's death. lie seemed to fear her pow
er even beyond the grave. ~
The widow has outlived the sisters and
all their children, and bids fair TO outlive
their chldren's children, though that can
scarcely be possible; no doubt, when we
are too old to have our fortunes OF any Use,
they will come to lis"
ut is Il comfort TO know that we will be
saved the trials OF poverty in our old age"
II am anxious to have my property in
time to fit me for doing some effective
work in the world, but I have not told Won
OF my foolish ambition. When / was six
teen years old, l visited large hospital in
New York, where was SO impressed by
the power OF science to alleviate suffering
that it has been the one aim Of my lifel TO
be physician; not an ordinary practition-
or, but to be able to avail myself of every
discovery in the world OF medical science,
so that could devote my life TO the relief
OF human suffering, and to he able to do
my work i'll the most sufficient way. This
desire is so strong that must surely have
developed some degree Of skill. Who
knows" and his face glowed with cnthus-
ias,n, "but it may have been reserved for
me 10 discover come remedy that would
hive been IL perpetual blessing to human.
ity, so thut could leave Legacy to the
world, grander than the largest fortune
ever amused, but the years arc passing,
and nm chained to my narrow sphere
like prisoner. When I think what my
life is, and what it might have been, grow
sick ut, heart. The people who are 5set
apart to do the drudsery in this world
ought to have no higher aspirations" He
paused Tor long time and then said in a
dreamy tone, ~ fancy that the foundry is
monster that is devouring my. youth and
ambition" ~ :.tg,
This confidence OF Ernest was a s,lrpris-
ing revelation to me. had thought him
rather commonplace young man, with
no aspiration above the routine of his life,
Ever since he was eighteen years old he
had taken cure OF an invalid mother and
two helpless, rather ungrateful sisters. l
saw now that he had depressed NIL his own
tastes and inclinations to perform this
duty
Viewed in this light, my cousin seemed
worthy OF the highest admiration, which l
forthwith accorded him. l also resolved to
make n desperate attempt to secure our
rights. A desire to forward Ernests noble
projects inspired me with the courage had
hitherto lacked.
Unknown to anyone I had always cher
ished Il purpose to become an inmate OF
Mrs. Symptoms house. AS n step toward
accomplishing this l had left my native
village in New York, and taken q position
as teacher in n Wheeling school. &
My aunt and cousins had welcomed me
cordially and invited me to share their
home, SO the change hid proved u pleas
ant one, but I was no nearer the object Of
my desires than before, for Mrs. Shipton
would not harbor one Of her husbands
heirs. She had no companionship but that
Of black servants, former slaves. Even
they were shut out OF the house ut night,
and stayed in their quarters some distance
away. .Iaasi-
But l resolved TO contrive some plan OF
gaining entrance to this inhospitable man.
sion, that ! might search for d later, ulster
will, which always believed Moses Ship.
ton bad left concealed somewhere. When
this was found we need no longer wait for
dead mems shoes. =J 4 & .f.,t l
Several weeks passed but no feasible way
Of gaining my wish presented itself.
One September afternoon, when was
sittinp with my mint mn old lnly % m II,