Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-08-16

JCo ShC WssS Ho u1HuS5c' LII nooioeJ
she was appropriately and tastefully
dressed. She was good pianist and
sung well, i'll clear cultivated voice.
She was well read and kept up an in
telligent interest in all current topics,
conversing easily though n1odestly.
VIII found that at every visit to
Mr.. Holway's pleasant sitting-room
increased his distaste for boarding
house life, and his love for pretty
Winnie Holway, till he found himself
in serious consultation with Uncle
Josh again. ..-
$50 tits not my pet, Floy Hartley"
said the old gentleman. '1t would
serve you right if l marry her myself"
81 will give you my consent" said
viii, smillngly.
mo, my boy, no. You and your
pretty Winnie must fill my old heart,
as you have promised me corner in
your home long years ago Will,
when my hair was as brown as your
own, and my eyes as bright, |, too, had
my love dream. l was a country boy
then, and to own a farm was the
height of my ambition. | was work.
ing for farmer named Nelson, for !
had no parents, when there came to
visit my employer cousin from the
great city Of New York. In those
days, New York seemed farther away
from the small country place than
Europe seems now. The advent Of
Josephine Nelson was an event in our
village, and her beauty and grace wers
fully appreciated by all the rough
| pumpkins around her. [ drove her,
ifshe wished. to see the surrounding
scenerv, and az we jolted over the
rough country roads, she told me of
the great city, of the opening there
for rnergy, industry and talent.
She found | was fond Of reading, snd
lent me volumes Of poetry she had
brought from the city. Books were
rare treasures forty years ago, Will.
We read the sweet measured lines to-
gether; we walked together in the
shaded lanes, and / gathered wild
flowers which she wore in her bosom
and hair. TO make long story short,
| loved her with all the wild enthusi-
asm Of Il boy, and the mature reason
Of man. She was far. above me in
grace, in beauty and goodness. But
| she Was gentle as she was fair, modest
and tender. When told her my love
she laid her little white hand in my
rough brown one, and promised to be
my wife. Then she came home to the
city, and l added dollar after dollar to
my hoard to follow her. Mr.. Nelson
wrote to Josephine's father for ms,
and he promised me place in his
counting house if l came to the city.
| came. Then | found out why my
suit was favored, why no cross was
laid upon my darling's love. l had
thought her pale, delicate beauty was
only the city's refinement, compared
with the robust charms of our coun-
try lassies. I found it was the beauty
Of that scourge Of the seaside cities
consumption. Her parents knew my
darling could not live to be my bride,
but because she had given me the
treasure Of her love they made ms
welcome as o son in their house.
81 spent my days in the counting
house of Mr.. Nelson, my evenings
with Josephine. Slowly she faded
before my loving eyes, growing weak
er and weaker, until she died, clasp
ing my hands in hers. That was
forty years ago, viii, but have loved
no woman since. I will keep faith
with Josephine until we meet in
heaven. When | die, viii, all 1 have
will be yours, but bury this with me-"
And as he spoke he put a small
locket, that had been hidden in his
bosom into Wills hand. Opening it,
it disclosed the face of very beauti-
full woman. At the sight Of it, Will
cried
GLOW much like Floy Hartleyw
"Mrs. Hartley is Josephine'ssister,"
said Uncle Josh, quietly. "Now you
know why l am so fond of Floy."
There was long silence, and Un-
Gle Josh knew by Wills face and the
firm grasp of his hand that his story
had fallen upon sympathizing af-
fection.
"Come," he said, cheerfully, after
a long pause. "If Miss Holway has
actually accepted, 1 must see about
tyo1 ipo ,,racaOt -