Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-13
HIS COURTSHIP.

The moon, incOnstant as of yore,
popped out occasionally from be.
tween tho clouds which were scud-
ding along over the expanso of sea.
Horo and there twinklod tiny star,
and the ripping waves as they roll.
ed gently up tho beach made low
murmur that was soothing to the
hearts of true lovers.
And must you leave mo tomor-
ROW." she sighed.
II must, my darling" he replied
as he gazed down into tho depths of
her lustrous eyes wide "ha penny
shocker'D. " Twill not be for long.
l must get back to business, but l
shall be pining for my Stella and
will quickly mako arrangements for
our boing united to part no more!"
Tho moon conveniently disap-
peared again. All! Was that the
sound of lips?
The gentleman, who had given his
name as Mr.. Mark Leigh, had been
passing a three weeks vacation at
Slopton on Sea, where he had made
the acquaintance of Miss Stella
Storey, whom he had, perhaps some
what precipitately, wooed and won.
She was the only daughter of the
widow of a smack owner, who added
to her little income by letting apart
ments during the summer, and Stel-
Ia was so pretty and winning that
the wonder is she had not been car
ried off by some adventurous swain
long before, but the fact remains she
had not, and as this little story is
nothing unless true the fact must be
recorded.
Mr.. Mark Leigh openly confessed
his love for Stella, and her mother,
who, apart from populations upon
her dodgers which are not regarded
by seaside landladies as prohibited
by the eighth commandment, was
really very respectable old soul,
had given her consent to the match,
which she regarded as being a good
one for her daughter, Mr.. Leigh be-
ing a colonial merchant in London.
But the best of friends, and of low
ers, too, must part, and the next day
Mark took his leave of Slopton and
of Miss Stella Storey, with many
promises to write early and often on
his return to town.
1t proved, however, that poor
Stella was left deserted and forlorn.
She neither saw nor heard anything
further of the heartless villain, Mark
Leign.
1t happened that late in the season
MIR. Speaker of the we'll known firm
of Speaker & Spottley, solicitors,
staid at Mrs. Storey's, and hearing a
word or two as to Stella's faithless
lover he persuaded that young lady
to confide her tale of woe to him,
with a view to his firm commencing
an action for breach of promise of
marriage against Mr.. Mark Leigh,
who, as Mr.. Speaker we'll knew, was
good for costs.
Mr.. Mark Leigh, as known to his
business friends, was successful
merchant of about 35 years of age,
q bachelor and likely to remain so,
for he had never cultivated ladies'
society and had become so welded to
his business that no charms of ma
ture or of art had hitherto been able
to allure him from the market, and
the desk, and the ledger. Arriving,
as was his wont, at his Office one
morning just before 10 o'clock, he
was accosted by a self confident sort
of young man, who produced doc
ument from his pocket, which he
handed to Mr.. Leigh, saying:
From Messrs. Speaker 81 Spott-
ley, sir. A writ at the suit of Miss
Stella Storey for breach of promise.
And, flashing another document N
the eyes Of the astonished merchant,
here is the original"
Mr.. Mark Leigh turned very red.
What do you mean?" he asked.
II don't know any Miss Stella
" udO o-hcI -hdLuoB L hcTS bOIno mis-
takei"
The lawyers clerk winked his eye
in a peculiarly irritating manner.
eve done my duty and served you
with the writ, sir. That's all 1 know
about it, Good morning"
Mr.. Mark Leigh stood as If in be-
wilderment. What did it meanp
Could he have so soon forgotten that
pleasant little Irritation at Slopton-
on-Seap However that might be, he
knew that writs were things which
must not be forgotten, SO he at once
walked round to his old friend and
solicitor, Mr.. Standwell, in Mining
avenue, to whom he handed the
hateful paper, telling him he knew
nothing whatever about the lady or
the promise.
Mr.. Standwell looked somewhat
incredulous and probed his client
with some rather sly questions, but
on Mr.. Leign's repeating his inno-
oenoe and showing q little irritation
he desisted.
"Um u he said. It's very strange.
Perhaps there's been some mistake,
but Speaker & Spottley are sharp
peop1e-very sharp people-and it
xvonrk In I'm ERNST To that Yn,, wish