South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-04-03
Komney, Hampshire County, West Va, April g. 1855.

will 1 marry
And 40 we were engaged. And
Robert drove me over to the cottage,
there and then. to tell his mother.
'She will be so pleased he said, Il
believe that che suspected my feelings.
Bot would not copfde them to her,
lest the fear OF disapointment and pain
to me thould distress her.
How he loved herl A little jeal-
QUE pang shot thro' my foolish heart.
i fear you love her best ] said
impulsively.
MY darling,' he said half Gliding
ly. 'one does not measure or compare
such sacred loves; each and both 10
dearest But my mother suffers from
an affection of tue heart. Any anx-
iety or pain must injure her, and a
sudden shock would KILL
And then II was first understood
rightly lie devoted care Of her. IA care
i'll which, from that hour, / shared.
Next day Mr.. Redtern proposed 20
me. My heart. in spite of it's own
happiness, ached for tho bitter pain
he showed when l told him l was en-
gagged already.
Il had set every hope on you-I
cannot give you up' he cried. with
an intensity OF passion that startled
mo. oh, child, have mercy on me |!
Think again-give mo time. l am
richer than You think; if .you are
ambitious-
interrupted him.
Il am not; 1 have wealth enough,
and covet only happiness. l shall
marry Robert Dene, the man | love-
His face was white "a death
'You shall not marry him = he said
with a deep bitter oath. Never,
while l live! ! swear it.'
And he rushed ont of my presence
like mailman, leaving me shocked,
frightened, pcrplexed, and with a
strange sad cloud upon my happiness.
| said nothing about it to Robert,
however. His relations with his EN-.
ploycr continued pleasant, "a usual;
and did not feel justified in disturb
inc them. / felt surprised when he
told me that M Redeem had himself
congratulated him, and made some
slight but graceful allLsiou to the dis
appointment to himself: but / con-
cluded to keep silence still. What
was the use OF creating ili.will be.
tween them?
Probably, thought, 'Mr. Redfern
regrets his Incorporate warmth and
foolish words, aud takes this method
to let me know oft
And l thought it d very good meth.
cd too infinitely pleasanler than "a
personal apology.
So the time flew swiftly by, and |
had begun the preparations 70. our
marriage, and our engagement was
understood everywhere. when the
storm which instinct had warned me
OF, from tile moment in which | had
heard that bitter threatening oath,
burst suddenly.
1t was evening, and Robert and |
We're sitting together, TALKING such
sweet nonsense as lovers will. We
we're alone. save for an amt who re-
sided with me, and who had fallen
asleep IN her easy.chalr, when sud-
denly and unceremoniously the door
was flung open wide, and three men
entered.
Two Of them we're officers. The
Indignation which their rude entrance
caused, gave place to sickening tear
when | saw the third-Gco Redfern
lie fixed his hollow, burning eyes
upon me. Even in that moment of
excitement | was sensible OF shocked
surprise al the strange change in him
since last we met.
Men, DO your dutv,' he said briefly.
Next inmate Robert was under ar
rest
81 don't know what I said or did in
the first horror OF 1t | remember
C inging around Roberts neck, and
being pulled away-by aunty, think
and some one asking, what's the
charge against him 2 Then came
the stern answer from George Red.
ferns lips Robbery =
With that word my senses came
back TO me. tore myself from ann-
ties arms aud dew TO my lovers side.
Dts lie / cried, looking straight
into Redfern's face. 'lIe is Innocent
Robert turned grateful troubled
eyes upon me
God bless you, my true lover he
murmure1 sadly.
And then Redfern's stern low voice
broke in again:
'Men, search himr
/ saw it done | saw them draw
forth a roll OF notes--ten-o twenty
five pounds each, and forming
larger sum than Robert could have
come by rightly. | heard Redfern
identify them as his own, end declare
that none but Robert bad access to
the safe or vault. And then I heard
Robert say. with moan Of agony:
'Oh, God! Ny moiher!'