Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-08-09
MASTER AND MAID.
AN OLD-TINIE TALE.

Iull years dSO lOuhS man anu W"
man stood in the garden of Master Hap
Wells home in Virginia. Their name:
were Alice Fairborn and Edwin Ashbur-
ton, and they had met to bid each other
long farewell.
Alice was an orphan, under the guar.
dianship of Master Hapwell, a rich plan.
ter; Edwin was about to make long
voyage and their parting was sad one
81 shall see no fairer face than thine
while am gone" said the young man.
gazing at the lovely girl.
"Nor I braver," she replied, and they
kissed each other softly in the moonlight
Young Ashburton rode away and Alice
returned to her chamber. A moment la.
ter Master Hapwell came out from be.
hind the grapevine, where he had been
listening to the conversation. His hands
were clenched and he was cursing to him
self.
Foolish boy, to think that he can steal
her from me" he cried, shaking his fist
at the departing cavalier 81 and no other
shall wed the fair Alice"
Time passed, and Alice heard nothing
of her lover, who should now be safe in
India. She grieved herself into sha-
dow, and not even Master Hapwell's kind
ness could console her. She wasted day
by day.
One day a man was announced who
brought news from India. "If you have
brought news of Master Ashburton," in
terrogated her guardian, "tell us for we
would be glad to know"
Il come from India" said the man.
"a sailor goes to many places; but thence
last. And I saw Master Edwin Ash
burton there, who came from America
and he bade me give his reverence and
duty to Master Hapwell and his family
And all was well with him. And he was
soon to marry a rich young widow-an
Indian widow with a vast fortune. | saw
her. She shimmered in the sun with
Jewels, and though she was as brown as a
berry, fancy she was content"
"Here is something for the news" said
Master Hapwell, putting money in the
fellows hand, and he went his way. And
then Master Hapwell came and knelt be-
side poor Alice.
"Thou didst love this fellow" he said
"thou, so fair and sweet" and he will
laugh at thy love with his Indian widow
And people will say that he has Tilted
thee. My little girl, let thy pride rise
up; put it out of their power. Marry
before he does. will kiss the hand he
throws away. Marry me. l am alway;
good to thee, am 1 not? 1t is to save thy
pride | ask it. Though l have hidden
my love for thee for years"
He had taken the right way. Mistress
Alice gave him her hand to kiss and LEI
him marry her when he chose.
There was a great wedding, and sh'
was as lovely bride as ever had beer
seen in the colonies and afterward gooC
wife to Master Hapwell, though nevel
gay and merry. And so ten years passed
by, and at the end of that time Maste
Hapwell fell ILL., His life was in DANCE
and his wife nursed him tenderly, anC
only left him for half an hour each da,
at sunset to breath the air in the crap
walk. There one evening, as she walked
slowly up and down, man stood befor
her. His dress was worn; his face wa
worn also; he was changed, but she knew
he was Edwin Ashburton at a glance
And she drew herself up coldIy and look
ed at him with disdain He also looke'
scornfully at her.
so, think, YOU know me-" he said
"You have thriven better than l. YOr
made your nest well-not in poor man
heart but in q rich mans house"
Il married a man who had been kin
to me, said she. Master Hapwell is oil
and a man who heeds money; but q
least he did not try to win a heart an
then leave it. Was to wait for one VIII
wrote me never a letter? Of whom I'll
first news | had was that he was to we
an East Indian widow ?"
"Alice p cried Edwin, Il neitht