Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-05-29

that you are, Ruth Forrest, to sup
pose / didn't"
Then why in the name Of COM
mon sense, Nell, did you send him
away so summarily %
"Oh, dear. how stupid you are,
Ruth! Don't you see | had TO,
after what I'd said ? i know /
shall die, but I don't care; ! wish
1 was dead this minute, for what's
the use of living if I'm never to
see Tom again ?"
And, with this final summing
up of her woes, Nellie ran up 10
her room, threw herself into a
raging sick headache, a not I'M
common sequence to girlish sor-
rows, petulauce and penitence,
such as Miss Nell was most justly
suffering from.
A week weat by, but Tom did
not come. Nellie hoped and wait
ed, and secretly thought he might
write, or in some way give her an
! opportunity of making up their
absurd quarrel, but Mr.. Chandos
did nothing of the sort.
His exasperatiDg silence arous-
Ell her pride, aud she declared
that she would go home the very
next day, just to show him that
she WAS not breaking her heart
about him by any manner of
means.
"But you intended to spend the
summer with me, and it's not half
gone yet. What will people say ~"
remarked, pretending to be
nightly surprised.
II can't help what people say. /
am not going to remain here and
allow Mr.. Chandos to think | am
pining for his RETURN xt
"Oh, nobody would suppose
that, Nell, least OF all Mr.. Cham
dos. He has given you up, dare
say, and troubles himself very lit
tie about you, one way or the 9TH
err" A8s8s9
"Indeed You are very wise,
Miss Forrest; and now / will GO
home, since you presume to know
Toms thoughts SO well,' replied
Nell. with great dignity.
The above conversation took
place while we were on our way
| to visit q poor woman who was
quite i'll, aad whose husband had
recently died of consumption,
leaving her entirely destitute, with
three childrn to support, and not
friend or relative in the whole
wide world. ktas
We found Mrs. Hammond much
better, though still very pale and
weak and, sitting beside the bed,
attentively listening to the poor
| widows tale of want and suffer-
ing, was handsome, gay, careless
Tom Chandos.
| Nellie's face grew crimson, and
the hot tears sprang unbidden TO
her eyes; but Tom did not seem
to notice her confusion. He bow
ed politely and arose to 60, but /
detained him. ~ n
! "Weli, really, Mr.. Chandos, this
does surprise me; for, of all places
under the sun, this is the very last
where I'd ever thought Of meet
ing you" .l.. - .
"'That's because you believe me
thoroughly selfish, and 50 lam as
a general thing, but Mrs. Ham
! mond has no small claim on my
beneyolence, and / came to do
wha. I could for her in her present
sore distress"
"Claim! Why. how can that
be ? / don't understnd you at all,
| Mr.. Chandos"
| Perhaps not; but there is moth
ing so strange about it. Mrs.
Hammond's husband, whom /
never saw, was a miserable Mason,
which explains the reason of my
being here, and sinks me still low
er in the estimation of at least one
fair lady, i feel quite sure" he said
glancing roguishly at Nellie
"Oh, please. Tom, don't say an
other wOrd!' she sobbed. at
isn't that / want to be restored to
my old place in your heart--I dare
not hope so much-but only TO be
forgiven, and then go home and
die; for Pm hateful. silly, will
full little plague, and no good to
anybody, and I'D just as lief be
dead as not! Hs
The trembling hand she timidly
held out was quickly put aside.
Tom caught her in his arms and
kissed her half a dozen times, re-
gardless of the astonish ment of
good Mrs Hammond, and the gap
ing wonder of the three little
Hammonds. dYaa
81 began to think you did not
love me Bit" she said, smiling
through her tears. II DTi
"Well. / m ust contest i did not
take it much to heart" replied
Tom, with the utmost assurance.
/ ON Afs1c MIL II