South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-07-25


il not q beautiful one.
She bad 6ne head, crowned with
wealth of rich brown hair, but il.
Was put Simply back. in . heavy loop
behind, guilt!ess OF bangs, friZzss or
puts. and her dress. though perfect
~ neat aud ladylike. made not the
slightest pretension to style.
There was not . particle OF city
Style anywhere about her-she look
ed like what she was, modest. pure,
country blossom, . wildwood rose.
which had not yet lost its freshness
and fragrance.
She was intelligent-thst her noble
brow would have told you at once,
and she was we'll educated. too. hav.
ing been On eager student With the
best OF teachers, but she lacked ali
sign of the prestige and self possess.
ion of society lady, and, indeed. any
knowledge Of society ways 1t all.
Bnt what cared Jeanette Allyn
for society nowP All the society
she wsntei was coming to her, In .
few moments.
Her lover. Stephen Foster. who had
gone to the city TO seek mis- fortune,
Was coming TO visit her, and she stood
ny the window, wreathed with climb.
Ing roses which Stephens hand had
helped her plant, with . bright light
in her eye, and a crimson rosehue on
the smoo 9TH cheek nearest the window,
which wed with the queenly flowers
without.
Stephen had been very successful
in the city, she knew. He had won
honor and fame in his profession OF
lawyer, and he was fast winning
wealth. In the late fall he was to
take her to the home in the city,
which would by that time be ready.
And Jeanette was willing to 90, for
would not Stephen be with her 2
She had her fears-she knew that
bis sphere was now far above her, and
1t might he that her simple gifts would
fail TO satisfy him. But he had writ
Ter, he bad said he was coming to fulfill
all his pledges, aud then Jeanette
was happy.
And tue hour was almos, arrived
when be would be with her. Nay, it
had come! For she heard his foot.
steps outside at the moment, aud the
next he was in her presence.
He was looking splendid, and was
elegantly dressed. fle took her in
his arms and kissed her warmly, vet
ieannette fancied she missed some
thing from the embrace that had been
wont,to be there.
She could not have told wha. e.
was, but she felt is. They talked
long and earnestly. Stephen told
her OF bis struggle for high position,
ard OF his tr.umphs, and bis hopes
and intentions for tie brilliant future
before him.
And With every word Jeannette' 8
heart sank lower. These were heights
which she was never fitted, either
oy nature or education, to reach.
Win eager questioning heart, she
sought, In her turn, to read the deep
est recesses Of his nature and the
truth was borne into her very soul.
stephen. too. felt that she was mo
longer mate for him.
Size had felt bis neglect more than
once of late. but tried to believe that
IT was only her fancy. Now she knew
1t was not fancy. She saw the bitter
truth. Honor held him-he had come
to fulfill the letter of all his pledges,
out tho heart had gone out Of them
long ago. They were irksome TO him,
end he would regard her not as a
helper to his bright future, but as a
oiog upon his footsteps.
Poor. loving.girli She had given
him her whole heart, her deep, updi.
vided love, and tho blow was a cruel
shock.
IL well-nigh killed her, but she was
a proud, brave girl. we'll as allowing.
gentle one. She resolved not To ac,
too hastily. She did not give one
hint of her purpose TO Stephen, but
when he had gone, she sunk upon the
window'seat, buried her head In her
arms upon the table, and wept such
tears as youth weeps but once.
But when she had sobted out her
heart break, she was stronger.
Il have decided what TO do she
said. Il will give him his freedom.
III he does not accept it,'-ah, that
one last hope that she chung to-
then l may be happy. But If he
does-oh. | would rather be sonld. a
thousand times, than let bin wed me
when he did not love me
She gathered Stephens letters al
together, placed bis ring with them.
wrote a little letter. tellingIhim what
she had discovered, and setting BIN
free, entirely, from all bonds to her.
She told him that she had not oeas-
eel TO love him-never would. INT
feared tnat he had lost his love for
her, and that she would be clog up
on his climbing feet If he Joined his
lot to here, and that il he desired his
freedom, IL vas his.
She semitic package to tho hotel
" here be stopped, hoping against hope |
That he would not accept. herisacrilice. |
but would hasten. jOyfuIly, TO con-
vince her Of her mistake.
But. alas, no Stephen came He .
sent cold note, say ing thatIperhaps
she was right, and &c she, too. desired I
10 break the engagement IT would he
better broken than kept And he