Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-11-06

| Scend eel from her room. looking
lovely, in a dark gray linen rid
ing habit, with scarlet tie con-
fining her collar, and scarlet
tipped plume flaming in her dark
gray hat.
A handsome, blonde gentleman
in dark-gray suit and hat, that
matched her own, iounged around
the corner of the farm house. A
keen-eyed, sharp-visaged Yankee
hired man followed, leading the
chestnut, and the gray. Behind
him came a boy of fifteen-his
very image-heading George
Harding's brown hack.
These two helpers looked criti-
cally on, while Miss Mayson step
ped In the gloved hand that CLAIR
ance Hester offered, and lit in her
saddle like a bird.
George won't mind, will you
George ?" she cried, carelessly,
ding the chestnut away, with
Hester at her bride rein.
George! Father, if l was in
Mr.. Harding's shoes I'd make her
mind! What on earth does he
put up with it for if he is going to
marry her?' remarked the young
chore-boy, who was at the age
when every lad believes every wo-
man TO be fool.
George Harding heard his
speech as he rode modify on
ward after the handsome pair. 1t
stung him deeply. 1t sat him to
asking his own heart a question.
How he would have answered it,
if another thing had not happened
before nightfall, who can say?
AT noon Theo and her escort
stood on mountain height.
George Harding had not over
taken them, as usual. So, after
the early luncheon, they left their
horses at the trysting place, and
climbed the breezy height.
From their post of vantage they
saw half a dozen counties spread
out far below. The forests were
dWarfed by the distance to the
proportion of raspberry thickets.
The road looked dusty, white
streak. The rivers wound along
like silver ribbons; and the farm
houses were mere dark dots upon
the level space.
Theo's dark eyes seemed to
widen and deepen as she gaZed.
"Oh, how glorious |" she cried
HRnt--hnu droo ft1I ~
She turned pale. The "moun-
tain scare" was upon her. She
could not withdraw her fascinated
terrified gaze. Yet she felt that
should she look but a moment
longer, the deep void below would
SO tempt and draw her that she
must cast herself down to meet it
and DEATH!
Lean on me-" said Hester, no.
ticing her sudden change of color.
He folded her closely to his
heart, drawing her back from the
danger land whispering all the
while, such words as he had no
right to utter, and she had no
right to listen to.
"Theo, dearest, / would be glad
to defend you from every danger
that you will eyer incur. Only
give me leave-only say the word
darling, and don't throw yourself
and your beauty away on man
like Harding, who is"
Don't say anything against
George !" she said, interrupting
hin. HE is only too good for
me-"
Good to you, perhaps. but not
good enough for you. You must
allow that. Theo, many an en-
press would give her crown for a
face and figure like yours. And
you are going 10 bury both in the
home of that awkward, silent,
stupid man."
George is not-he is good and
true and nobe!" she said, family.
"Of course / shall be his wife.
have promised"
promises may be broken,
Theodore, dear"
mot mine !"
"But Theo-"
"Please don't talk-I mean
don't ask me to talk" she said,
81 feel frightened yet from look
ing down there, over the brink
and weak and dizzy. Let me sill
down for a few moments and then
we must go back to the Others"
"By heavens, you shall hear
me!' said Hester, angrily. "And
give me an answer, too. / am nc
George Harding, to endure a wo-
mans caprices, and love her all
the more the worse she uses me
Tell me at once. Theo. if you will
give him up and be my wife ?"
mo, indeed !" cried she, turn.
ing paIer still. "Pray come away