Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-12-26

phrase.
"Fine, enterprising young fell
low--great pity Totally ruined
reckless extravaganza of his
wife,
All these vague fragments !
heard, and then some one said:
"And what is he going to do
now ?n
"What can he do? / am sorry /;
yet he should have calculated his
income and his expenses BETTER
"Or his wife should. Deuce take
these women--they are at the lot
tom of all a mans troubles!n
And they laughed /! Oh, how
could they? I had yet to learn
how easy it is in this world to bear
other peoples burdens.
| rose hurriedly up, with my
heart beating tumultuously be-
meath the pink azaleas, and went
back to the lighted corridors. Al
bany Moore was waiting to claim
my hand for the next redowa.
Are you i'll, Mrs Glen ? How
you look.n
Il ann not very well. / wish
you would have the carriage called
for me, Mr.. Moore" For / now
felt that home was the best place
for me.
Hurried by some unaccountabic
purpose | sprang out the moment
the carriage wheels touched the
curbstone, and rushed up to my
husbands room The door was
locked, but j could see a light shin
ing under the Threshold. | knock
ed wildly and persistently.
"Gerald for heavens sake let
me in ~
Something fell on the marble
hearthstone within, making me-
talic click, and my husband open
ed the door a little way. / had
never seen him look SO pale before,
or so rigid yet SO determined.
"Who are your he demanded
wildly. why can't you leave me
in peace 2"
ut is / Gerald--your Madeline
your own little wife,
And / caught from his hand
the pistol which he was trying to
conceal in his breast--its mate lay
on the marble beneath the win
threw it from him.
Gerald, would you have left
me?"
II would have escaped ~ he
cried, still half delirious TO all APP
pearance. s'Debt, disgrace, misery
her reproaches-I would have
them ALL"
His head fell like that of a wea-
ry child on my shoulder. / drew
him gently to a sofa, and soothed
him with a thousand murmured
q thousand mute caresses /;
for had it not been all my fault ?
And through all the long weeks of
fear that followed | nursed him
with unwavering care and devo-
ton. had but one thought--one
redeem myself in his
to prove to him that
/ was something more and higher
than the mere butterfly of fashion
had hitherto shown myself !
Well! the March winds had howl
ed themselves into their mountain
the bright April rain
drops were dried on the bough
and spray-and now the apple
blossoms were tossing their frag-
rant pillows of pinky bloom in the
deep blue air of latter May. Where
were we now 1t was a pictures
que little cottage just out of the
city, furnished very like a magni-
fed baby house. Gerald sat in a
easy chair on the piazza
Just where he could glance through
the open window at me working a
batch of biscuits, with my sleeves
rolled up above my elbows, and
the "gold-thread'' hair neatly con-
fined in a silken net.
What an industrious fairy 1t is
he said, smiling sadly.
"Well, you see l like it ! It's a
great deal better than those soma
tas on the piano |
'sWho would ever had thought
you would make such notable
housekeeper?"
/ laughed gIeefully-I had a
,hild's delight in being praisedby
him.
"Are you not going to Miss De-
ancy's croquet party ?" he pur-
sued.
"No-what do j care for croquet
parties !? I'm going to finish your
shirts, and you'll read a loud to
ne."
Mad line, | want you to answer
ne one question:"
"What is it ?'
l had safely deposited my pan of
in the oven by this time,
and was busting the flour off my