South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-05-13
FHElNTELLlo ENcEn
Miss vervaln's Mistake.

- ssAo b>SRhsoiho EIcdu-
cts roaring down the rayines /; great
thickets Of pines tossing their green
crests to and fro in the rush of the
tempestuous wind; snow shining of
on the plateaus, and pink clusters Of
trailing arbutus breaking into
bloom in southern hooks and shell
tered places where last winters dead
leaves had not yet drifted away.
And Lucy vervain, standing in her
russell walking-dress on the porch
Of the little mountain inn, wonder
ed If the famous Bermese Alps were
grsnder than these same Catskill
heights.
Lucy Vervain was small and slight
and brown-skinned, but she ha
large, wistful eyes Of SO dark ha-
Eel that they seemed to melt into
black around the iris, and there
were quick roses read y to deepen in
her cheeks if any one spoke to her.
She was pretty, in her way, like a
wild-fower, or little brown-wing.
ed bird, and she looked around with
troubled air, as the sound of an
excited feminine voice foatod out
from the one unpretentious little
chest parlor" of the inn.
'1t's outrageousl" said Miss Cla-
ra Vervain.
I'm very sorry, ma'am, said Mr..
Mkt, who kept the house.
"Uuendurable - declared Miss
Vervain.
'1t docs happen, sometimes,
ma'am, when the streams is high,
at the spring of the year." the land
lord pleaded. you see, there
amt no bridge that will stand the
frcshets, if"
"And we have got to stay here,
In this horrid hole of a place, until
your tumble-dowa bridge is mend
ed ?"
81 don't see any other way for
you, ma'am, said Mr.. Mkt, meek
lY.
"It's the most provoking thing
ever knew in my life," said Miss
Fervain.
She stalked about the room like
second Lady Macbeth, as she
spoke. For Clara was as unlike her
blushing, shrinking little sister as
the tall poppy is to the humble
corn flower. She was handsome
and stately, and wore long trains
to her dresses and bangles on her
wrists, and used perfume on her
handkerchiefs and "did" her hair
after the latest fashion plates.
cit amt my fault, ma'am," said
the landlord, driven to the very
confines of despair. 81 can't stop
the freshet, nor yet l can't build a
new bridge
"Clara, dear, don't allow your
self to be so annoyed" soothed Luz
cy, canning like noiseless little
gray shadow into the room. owe
shall only be detained day, after
all, and | am sure it 10 very pleas
ant here"
ff1 am not accustomed to delays, /"
said Miss Vervain, loftily.
81 know, dear, but"
"And il l am compelled to re-
main in such place as this" add
ed Clara, glancing superclliously
around her, 81 must really insist
upon privacy"
"Eh % said Mr.. Mkt.
"That old person in the snuff
colored coat" said Miss Vervain,
with royal motion of her head to-
ward an old gentleman ina wig and
spectacles who was reading the pa
per by distant window '1 dare
say he will do very well in your
kitchen or barroom, and prefer
this apartment to myself"
ooh, Clara % pleaded Lucy,
crimsoning to the very roots of her
hair.
The landlord looked puzzled, but
the old man himself folded mis-
newspaper, returned his spectacles
to their Gaze, and rose slowly to his
feet.
Certainly, miss, )" said he; seer
tainly. If I'm intruding, I'll 90
to tho kitchen. There's always
room for me there. Eli, MIxItf'5
And he trudged with aIacrity out
Of the room, followed by mine host.
'I'm afraid you've hurt his feel
ings, Clara" said Lucy, piteously.
"Who cares for his feelines?v
said Miss Vervain, shifting at hor
scent bottles. "Mino arc much
moro to the purpose. And I don't
choose to associate with every far
mer in the Catskill."
"Clara, dear -
"Well ?"
owe are only q bookkeeper's
daughters ourselves."
Gas If that signified," said Miss
Vervain, scornfully. We are 90
ing to our aristocratic relations,
aren't we ?"
"But perhaps they won't care to