The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-02-07

n # kept his daughter
VI H as he fidgeted with
~ M HRS paperand
Y stirred Htkhot
Ah3A coffee. JUS AS his
CIT~rJ- patience was ht an
s-.Sr2sSy end the door opened
%Zl and admitted tall,
- N handsome girl, with
bright blue eyes and determined
mouth. She held big bunch of Gle
mats in her hands.
where have you been, Mona?" in
CURED her father.
Down at the river: | found the
stone wall near the .boathouse ablaze
with these blossoms. | am sorry to
be late, dear"
"The Southern mail is in" OBJ
served the General, nodding toward
small pile of letters at her plate
She flushed slightly as she laid the
clematis on the !sideboard, and took her
seat at the table. A conscious smile
crossed her fathers face as she broke
the seal of the first letter. He turned
to the paper in his hands. and his eyes
caught this heading; "a Romance in
Real Life. He glanced at the ar
ticle casually, and then the smile died
away; his hands frightened on the
paper and his face grew hard and
stern while he read the following
paragraph:
with the invaded officers return
ing this week is young Colonel Law
renee, who was severely hurt in the
charge at San Juan. Among the
nurses who went to look after the sick
was handsome young woman whom
the Colonel formerly admired Fam
lily misfortunes had forced her to
adopt nursing as profession. Their
friendship was renewed, and when
the Colonel came home he was en-
gagged to his old love. Colonel Law
renee is to be married very shortly.
Report says that he had entaDgled
himself with another lady, who will
now find that she must look else
where for consolation.
AS he laid down the paper the Gen
eral glanced at his daughter. She
was sitting with n dazed expression
-'Sn5h er; face, gazing at letter she held.
Father, what does this mean?" she
exclaimed, holding out the letter. He
took 1T from her, and this is what he
read:
"2i West Fifty street,
NEW YORK, September II, 1895
Dear Mona-You may have seen in the
papers an account OF my being wounded:
made light OF it in my las letter. fearing
TO alarm you, but the truth Is / am wreck.
as the papers nave accurately stated. lam
1nYalfded and crippled, and III it had not
Deen Tor devoted Huising / should not be
here to-day. Under the circumstances |
do not feel justified in holding you to your
engagement; Notwithstanding the pain it
causes me TO do this I want to release Won
entirely and leave you free to marry some
one who Is not so shattered as myself: but
believe me, dearest that whatever nv flu
ture life, you will always be sbrinod deep
In my heart OF hearts. Your faithful FRIEND
"HESRY LAWRENCE"
"What does it mean?" almost shout
ed the old General. 1T means that
your lover is q scoundrel, Mona; read
this" and he thrust into her hands
the newspaper containing the "Ro-
nance in Real Life"
BE brave, child; be brave" said
her father, as he watched her aux-
iously.
After moments silence, The girl
turned a pale face toward her father;
81 will be brave, but leave me to my
self for while, and crushing the let
ter in her hand, she, hastily left the
room.
1t was a terrible blow 10 the Gen
eral; he had always liked Colonel Law
renee, and consented TO the engage
ment just before the young man was
ordered TO GHba Pacing the rooms
wratbfnlly, he gave vent TO his feel
ings. 'The scoundrell / should like
To horsewhip him myself for a whelp
OF curif he we've not wounded. What
are bis hurts 10 the stab he has given.
Mona alb when Gilbert hears this"
and then the General remembered that
his son was coming home that week.
IL was satisfaction 10 have man
around to whom he could give vent 10
bis outraged feelings.
As though in answer TO his thoughts.
the butler at that moment brought i'm
telegram yes, Gilbert was com.
ing, and, fortunately, - day earlier
than expected, bringing a friend with
him for the ball just as well 10 dis.
tract her attention, though her father,
as Mona joined him with her hat on
and a letter1n her hand.
have written a few lines to say
that his views npoH the subject Of our
engagemed entirely coincide with
mine"
my brave girl"
Don teay word more. now, father;
] can't b, sr IT,
Cube ; is coming tomorrow at .
with angdd college friend. who il
seems, has just turned up in New
York
- am glad, said Mona, quietly.
and them calling TO her dogs, she
walked quickly away
Gilbert HiRgersoRwas aRood-heart-