South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-07-04


Minnie Coles stood nov within
ssrshot Of Uncle Martiu-xhich Was
not necessarily near. She looked
like . statue. or figure carved in ice.
Her red. lips were curved in . emile
not pleasant TO behoid-a smile
which Was = snoer. Her black cyes
looked cold as icicles, fixed on Uncle
Martin N an snnihilating gaze.
Poor Uncle Martin. Who rem.ined
blAndly unconscious Of i'll
Minnie Coles had q code Of mdu-
ners which she deemed necessary To
existence; and now she and the Eux.
iishman, Who would one day Own .
title we're standing in the mi1st Of
Langhams. and Seelya and DePays-
teIs. all Of whom we're listening to
will,s's Uocls Martin. aud all OF
whom bad lately Congratulated her
upon her engagement to Willie.
The EnQlishmau vas coolly smil-
ing, but Minnie grew rec With angry
notification. Something alike there
was in her expression. She looked
as though she would like to scratch
somebody.
Feeling her lover. close gaze upon
her she flashed furious look at him
and turned sharply away.
The future baronet followed. bend .
ing above her. And Willis-some-
how or other Willis smiled, ana heay
ell Sigh OF relief.
Attic same moment he saw Uncle
Martin turning away from his sos o
picture. A lig.t hand had touched
his arm.
why. Miss Hall.mr said uncle
Martin, cordially.
Yes. said Grace Ha!Iam, brightly.
saw you. Dir. Starr. anil as you
didn't see me. thought l would
make myself known. Your Uncl.
and l are acquainted, Mr. Starr, she
said TO Willis, pleasantly. when |
male my party call on your mother
the other day
Yes. said Uncle Martin, we he.
There want a soul home but me
tother day. and Miss Hallam and /,
We had reel good visit. enjoy
visiting with young ladies', If | be an
old man.
'fnank you'll said Grace. Have
you seen the prize picture. Mr. Starrp
rs worth seeing. Let us 20 there.
Mamma is sitting down near it.
And Grace Bal'am, tall, fair ard
s~eet.faccd, led Uncle Martin straigh,
throu Ia the L1ns hams and The SeeIys
aud the DePuys'ers. Wills following.
aud introduced him 10 her mother.
ami talkel about tie p:ize PIC ure
N J ascore of Others, discussing thcm
with all the cordial'ly of her womanly
heart and shrewdness OF her clear he ad
and aitoe ether gave Uncle Martin
such delightful half. hour as he new.
er know before in lis life.
His tall nephew followed them
closely, silent tor the most part,
but stroking his moustache, with an
odd emile and a peculiar light in
his eyes.
In that half hour he made a dis
covery-one, in truth. which was
not altogether new to him, though
he bad been blinking over it-he
discovered that he had made a
great mistake.
He was not the fellow to stand
Idle under such knowledge.
lie went with his Uncle Martin
to zee the Statue OF L. Berry that
afternoon, but he called on Minnie
at an early hour next day.
The Englisbman was there be-
fore him, but he stayed till that ii
tied individual had gone, and he
went away free mar.
'We are not suited to each otn-
er, Minnie was the harshest thing
he had said.
You're in love with Grace Hal
lam, she had responded, ! etulant.
ly, and had shed a few tears.
But with a fair prospect of q
coronet for her own ambitious head
her tears were not many. Min.
MES heart was not q fragile article
Willis never knew whether
Grace-v no did not irown on his
anxious, loving suit-had come to
the rescue by intention or acci.
dent. She would never tell him.
She laughed it all of in her gentle
way, and said she had liked Uncle
Martin from the first, and that
conversing with him was always a
pleasure, and then put tender
hand on Willis mouth TO close the
suLject. But of course he kissed
the hand.--Saturday Night.