Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-10-30
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BoYDToN, VIRGINIA,

a short story which nope Will interest,"
your young readers, as | know il will
surprise my father. This story was
written by him for this eounty's paper
more than thirty years ago.
At present am visiting most love
able lady of the Old Virginia school.
To me her face is q picture of beauty.
Her movements have the dignity, free
dom and ease of 1.-THE first lady of the
land" and withal she is so coniding |
and so entertaining in stories Of the
days of long ago that cannot help be-
ing charmed with my visit. Her house
is an ideal home Of the proud class Of
Virginians to which she belongs.
To-day she was happily reminiscent |
and confidential, and. drawing her
chair close 10 me, told me many things
about herself and my father when, Is
she expressed it: s'We were young To- |
gether, and dear, dear friends" She
has many little mementoes that would |
be priceless TO me, and it Is from her
scrap-book that l copy the story.
need only say in prefacing the story:
That all the large plantations in Vir-
ginia have names on the county maps
and some of these plantations are a.
well known by name as villages and
towns in idaho. Hence, this story Of
Wilton plantation.
A WEDDING NIGHT At WILTON.
Wilton was a magnificent tobacco
plantation. Il was one of the best in
all the Roanoke Valley. Its fertile acres
extending up and down the banks Of
the Roanoke river were carefully culti-
waited and always yielded bountiful
crops. Everything belonging 10 the
farm showed systematic management
and thrift.
Wilton was the home Of the MERGERS,
proud, aristocratie and wealthy fami-
IL. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer were English
by birth and education, and, although,
as they believed, thoroughly Ameri-
canized, we're English in many Of their
ways and customs. Their home was
constructed and furnished after the
true English style, and while their
greatest efforts were to live and TO en-
terrain as Americans, still TO him who
WAS Hnative TO the manor born, they
seemed livery, very English, you know"
An only child blessed their home. A
daughter was the only gift 70 them BY
which to preserve the proud name of
the MERGERS, and TO inherit their i'm
mense wealth of landed estate, negro
property, stocks and securities. But
that one was magnetic enough to draw
all the love of parents TO herself and TO
hold it. She was the idol Of their hearts
and Of their home. During her school
days every advantage was given her
that money could buy. In her first years
she had the influences Of home and the
instructions of cultured and accomplish.
ed gOyernesses. In later years she
graduated from the best female college
in the State and afterwards spent two
years at conservatory at Boston.
Then followed eighteen months abroad
travelling through the British Isles
and over the continent of Europe un
der the chaparonage OF Mrs. Mason
wife Of U. $. Senator Mason. WiItor
was ablaze with splendor and alrnos
royal in its magnificence the evening
she returned from her foreign journe,
and made her debut in society. TIL,
beauty and chivalry Of the county hat
been invited to welcome her return
and to participate 10 the festivities ii
her honor. The old county Of Meek
lenburg had never witnessed sucI
splendor at one OF her homes, and n,
fair daughter had ever acquitted her
self with more true womanly modest
and good taste than did Miss Meree
that evening. Being naturally brigh
and gifted, she had profited by he
early training, education and trave
and stood test with ease as she BEGAN
the cynosure Of all eyes that evening
The magnificencc Of the occasion wa
the talk OF the county for months fo
lowing.
It will not be surprising for us to Tel
that Miss Mercer had many admireri
yea, lovers. II would be surprising
II were otherwise. Her beauty, her az
complishments, her social standing an
her prospective wealth in her own nam
and title, the heiress of all Wilton, al
with it all her native modesty attracte
to her beaux by the score. Some ,
them were OF the best families OF VII
ginia; all OF them passed as elegar
young gentlemen. But in the cours
Of time the visits of number Of thes
lovers ceased and it was the report I
Dame RumOr that one OF two would
the fortunate winner Of her heart an
hand. Thf Dame said the father favoI
81 young planter. william Berkeley