Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-12-08
Miss Wickersham's Romance.

up at the many-gableG, moss-grown roof,
and the faded red brick walls, with feel
ings of both anger and sorrow.
lie was the only heir. In the natural
course Of events Wicl.ersham farm and the
old ivy-grown mansion, built in colonial
times, would be his own, providing he
did nothing to offend his aunt, TIE present
incumbent.
Teddy grOaned inwardly at the rccOllec
tion. For two and twenty years Miss
Wickersham had been a mother to him.
If some people declared that Miss Wick
ersham had no heart, and was proud aad
overbearing in disposition and hard to
please, her nephew at least had never
been made to feel that side of her nature
until now.
Some six months previous Major Willis
had returned from Europe with his
daughter, and settled down quietly at
Fern Fields, tumDle-down old manor
house, which report said was all there
was left to him of the once great WINS
'sItuuo.
The Major had lived abroad the better
part OF Sis life. Ills child had been born
in a foreign land, and his wife was buried
there. Still, for se.,.>-',,,i,""wn raaSon,
he had gathered together the remnants OF
his once splendid fortune, and, coming
home to Fern Fields, was now Miss Wick
ersham's nearest neighbor.
From the very day of the Majors return
to the horne of his boyhood, Miss Wicker
sham had pcrsistently ignored him. Fern
Fields, she said, was nothing to her-shc
wanted nothing whatever TO do with the
peOplc who lived there, and cautioned her
nephew, upon pain of her displeasure,
never to have the slightest intercourse
with the Willis family. All went smoothly
for a short time, when, in some unac-
countable manner, Teddy and the Majors
daughter CHANGED to meet, and Ted fell
head over heels in love with her at first
sight. What was his CONSERVATION to find,
upon acquainting his aunt with the turn
of affairs, that she suddenly flew into
violent passion and ordered him never to
speak to the young lady again. 1t was all
very easy for Miss Wickersham to execute
such 4 command, but it was simply inn
possible for Teddy to obey it,
There were stolen interviews and long
walks by the riverside, and many an hour
was spent in company with the Major
himself, when Ted found it impossible to
inyeigle the young lady out of doors. or
course there could be but one ending to
the affair. Recklessly Ted proposed, was
accepted, and the Major gave them both
paternal blessing.
Proud and happy the young man went
home to his aunt and told her plainly
what he had done, not doubling but that
she would accept the inevitable, with .ol-
cradle grace at least, when she found it
was to be. But he was appalled, at her
manner.
"If you marry that girl, Teddy, not a
cent of my money shall you ever have -
screamed Miss Wickersham at the top Of
her shrill old voice. 81 detest the whole
family, root and branch, and there shan't
a dollars worth of my property ever 20
to benefit one of them in any way if can
help myself, and guess l can"
Teddy's face fell. 1t was a bright,
handsome, Young face, framed in with a
lot of yellow hair, tina: was his aunt's
especial pride-though she was too much
overcome with rage now to pay any at
tention to his good looks.
HJust to think" she went on, in her
thin, high-guivering key, "that Of all per-
sons in the world, you should select Nellie
willis to be your wife. And you know
very well, Teddy, what my opinion is OF
that Willis family poor, proud, shift
less set, to make the best Of EN-"
Teddy grew very red.
'sIf rumor is true, Aunt Wickersham.
YOU did not always rate the Willis at such
4 low figure-particularly the Major,
retorted he, Indignantly
The pale pink that yet fingered in Ais;
Wickersham's delicate old face turned
/ suddenly to a vivid scarlet. She choked,
and hesitated an instant.
"This from you, Teddy" said she, re-
/ proaehfully.
I Directly he had the grace to feel asham-
\ ed of himself.
"Forgive me, aunt" he cried. 81 an
a brute"
"Say no more," said she coldly, mo-
tioning him to leave the room, the delicate
color in her face having now faded en-