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

eVitaDly at his post when Monsieur
was absent that Sylvester, with
the consistency that runs ia leash
with the passion, began to cherish
vindictive luminosity for the
plain-faced clerk, who always an
swered him politely and evident
~ understood his business
Once he ventured to inquire of
nj, Genin after mademolselle's
health, Monsieur looked surprised
did Monsieur know his Dolor !?
She waited on him one evening |!
ah /! yes-well, Dolor was child
she was studying with her Cover :
ness all the days through, but she
was not well she pinned for France,
her home-'she is all have Mon
sieur my one eve lamb.o
That was all-she was a child !
well she must COON with her gov
erness and he would wait until
"the lessons We're over, "there was
nothing else to do. So the winter
wore on to spring, and in all that
time he had seen Dolor but once,
coming from the cathedral-de-
vout little Catholic that she was
then she only passed him with q
tritie OF nervous haste in her walk,
and but for the shifting carmine
Of her cheek, Sylvester would not
have known that she had recogni-
zed him.
One gorgeous day, when fair la
dies were sweeping the streets
with fresh summer costumes and
servant girls We're calling to each
other from opposite areas, Hough-
ton Sylvester, home from a fort
night visit, idle and handsome as
ever, stepped listlessly, more from
Eabit than any good gained there
by, into M. Ganln's Emporium.
A sleek stranger stood behind the
counter
rs Monsieur in :
II am proprietor sir, [ bought
NJ Genin out"
"Ah he has left 2"
"Yes sir, on last Thursday, gone
back to his native land his daugh-
ter was quite i'll and longed for
home-he went to please her be-
lieve."
Sylvester thanked the man and
went out into the balmy day
The pretty ladies were still sweep
ing along the thoroughfares, most
of them he knew and bowed in
passing with an absent constrained
smile on his face. He walked on
aimlessly for hours until he found
himself down on the wharf among
forest of shipping, then sat down
vaguely looking out over the
water. In the lock lay a steamer,
carpenters were busily at repairs
on the deck, the quick, sharp
sou ndof the hammers rung out
over the still waters, "Where does
she go ?" he asked mechanically
of a sailor, near "Liverpoop was
the laconic reply-"when?' "a fort
night" He got up and walked
away steadily ,rapidly,as of a man
with a fixed purpose. That day,
fortnight the good ship sailed and
Houghton Sylvester was one of
the ships crew.
Christmas Eve in Paris
A genial evening, warm enough
for May. Houghton Sylvester fol-
lowed the crowd wandering on to
La. Madeleine, that superb struc-
ture near the western end of the
Boulevards. He is walking slow
ly, for he is impelled alone by
restlessness, having no slight hope
offinding what he seeks. He is still
fastidious to fault, but he has
forgotten himself and his appear
ance, his heart is filled but with
the ardor of his search ; and yet
he has not found Dolor. As he
ascends the steps of La Madeleine
bestOwing but careless glance
upon the colossal statues on either
side, a voice at the Top, girlish,
musical, but half fratful, caused
him to pause half way with tight
ening heartstrings and face
crimsonfrom their surprise. "You
know the old adage Papa, "a
green Christmas and a fat grave
yard"
"Hush ma erfdnt."
Sylvester leaps up two steps at
a time until he is right behind
them, his face is a study then.
"How long will you stay my little
one ?" II don't know-I feel de-
votional this evening-don't come
forme / will see some one / know
Sylvester lodged in time to escape
recognition from NJ, Genin, on his
way down, then he reaches Dolor
just as she enters the spacious YES
thule. He knows she will stop at
the marble fout, and he places HIM
self just in front of it. Poor little