Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-18
Written for THE VIRGINIA FREE Pass
THE STORY OF A SCAR.
RY SHANNON noRr.


81 was well acquainted with the place,
and led the way down to one corner Of
the yard, where an old apple tree stood,
or rather lay,-for it had been blown
down some years before, though still lived
on with lis trunk nearly resting on the
ground On this we took seats Now,
said |, 4 wish you to distinctly under
stand, that, though cannot dance myself
| have no intention of trying to spoil
your evening, so, just as soon as this
dance is over | shall take you back to the
house. Really | am sorry you wish to
get rid of me so soon, she said, tossing
her head and pouling her pretty lips
NO, not that, as you very well know, but,
YOU see, know something about girls,
and know they will do many dislasteiul
things out Of sympathy, and tender heart
edness, and all that, Now you see |
can't dance, and so you might 90 to work
to make little martyr of yourself just
on my account 4 have no intention Of
making martyr of myself for anyone !;
but am really quite tired and think |
shall like it out here ever so much better
than up there in those crowded rooms.-
Indeed | think | am getting tired Of
dancing. have been up here now three
weeks, aud can scarce recall single
evening when there hasn't been dance
somewhere well then, said |, it must
fall TO YOU TO make the first move. Let
me know when you wish to 90 in. As
for myself,-pardon the confession,-it
was solely to see you that came to-
night. Really l speak the truth. | only
came home day before yesterday, but /
have heard nothing since but Jessie Mar
ston. Jessie Marston' Oh, see, you
are Just like all the men girl meets !;
you begin with compliment, and will be
making desperate love to me in few
minutes. And / warn you in advance
that you may as well spare yourself that
trouble, | shall not believe one word you
say The compliment, as you call it,, /
returned, is true as for making love to
YOU | have DO such intention, though |
could easily forgive the fellow who did.
! well, said she, lets change the subject;
what shall we talk about? the moon ?
No, said |, that is too apt to lead TO the
topic YOU have warned me not to enter
upon so it is well, think ! know
several of your classmates at Yale. Do
you p Yes, there's VIII Handy; he lives
in Washington, you know, aud | have
known him well for long time viii
thinks the world Of you, and has talked
about you very often though. from what
he said, l imagined you would wear a
rather more diSsipated look, for he said
YOU travelled in rather fast company. =
Yes, | know Handy we'll he's fine iel-
low. | own that | have sown something
of a crop of wild oats in my college life,
but as ! am not beginning to reap them
vet, care very little about them. BY
the way, does your cousin 90 to Yale ?
No. l answered, he is taking course in
engineering up at Boston.
Thus we chatted along. | learned
that she lived in one of the little subur-
i ban villages that surrounded Washing
! ton that they had been forced to come
s to the country during some repairs tina
were being made at their home, and tha
l. she expected to return within a week.
But the night air was 80 soft, the moor
r shown so cleai y; the music, from Che
house, noatcd down TO us 50 soolhIugly
B. mufled by th, islanoe. that, despite al
T. warning, lou j ihe conversation al las
r, taking more sentimental turn. She haC
asked all about the manner OF my acci
s. dent, and ha expressed h,r sympathy s'
sweetly that | icIl almost glad for lh
hurt And how lo,.g will il be beior
vop can 90 about ju,t 81, usual ? she ask
ed. told n,r ,ba' ,..e a.c.nr had pal
down ii, month. but That doctors alway