Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-06-05
The Wanderers Return.

Inc wanderers Return.
On a wild October night, Elsie
Raymond sat beside her solitary
fireside in deep thought-in tho't
that, truth to tell was tincturcd
with sadness. 1t was not often
that she sat thus, for she was the
most cheerful and busy of little
women, the best of sisters and
aunts, and the kindest of neigh
bors. This being the case, she
found little leisure for thought or
solitary musings, for in some one
of these relations, work enough
was provided for her.
But tonight she seemed to have
arrived at one of the hating
places in her life. Her younger
sister, Sophia, the last of her
charges, had that morning bee n
married. The old gray home
stead had been left desolate when
her smiling face went from it-at
least SO Elsie thought. True, she
had a tribe of small nephews and
nieces staying with her, while
their mother, Eisie's sister Mary,
and her husband accompanied the
bridal party on their tour, but
they had not long been asleep, and
there was no token of their pres
ence in the somewhat trim-look-
ing room, except a great basket
of playthings in corner, and a
row of shoes, headed by Willie's
"new boots and closed by baby
Elsie's tiny bronzed slippers, that
were ranged against the wall.
Elsie's father had died sudden
ly, the victim of a fatal accident,
and his widow, overwhelmed by
the sad and terrible bereavement.
soon followed him. With her
dying breath she commended her
youngest children to the care Of
their oldest sister, and exacted
from her promise that she would
devote her life to them. The girl
could hesitate ut no demand made
in the last feeble accents of her
dying mother. She had lifted the
little unconscious babe from the
feeble arms that clasped it, and
holding it close to her bosom, and
looking upon the fearful faces of
the little group gathered around
that death bed, gave the required
promise.
In an hour her mother had
ceased to breathe, and Elsie's life
work had begun. But it was not
until the sad ceremonies of the
funeral were over, and the little
family had returned to their DESC
late home, that Elsie fully COM
pretended all that she had under.
taken. r'- ~ hfa aa
None who have truly loved will
fail to comprehend the struggle
that for the following weeks went
on in Esie's soul. 1t was no
slight sacrifice that was demand
ed of Elsie; duty and love, her
promise to the dead and her vows
to the living, were the antagonists
that contested every inch of
ground. John Francis loved Ell
sic full well enough 10 havo aided
her in her life task. He saw no
reason in the duties she had un-
dertaken why she should not full
fill her VOWS, and in becoming his
wife divide the burden of her res
possibilities and care.
But she thought differently. She
felt that she had no right to allow
his generosity to lead him into
such a sacrifice. He was young
and life lay bright and long before
him. Should she allow the shad-
ow of her care to project across the
sunny path? Should she seek to
lay upon his sholders the burden
that weighed her down and DOOM
ed her to life of toll? She could
endure and sacrifice much for the
children, so dear to her by ties OF
blood-the sacred legacy of her
dead parents. But TO him they
were Dothing save for her sake,
and she might have seen him
grow weary and disconnected with
the untlmely cares that marriage
with her must throw upon him.
So Elsie and John Francis
parted, as they feared, forever.
When her lover found that no ar
guments nor prayers could change
her purpose, that she hnd solemn
ly recorded her vow to the dead.
and was fully prepared to perform
ii to the uttermOst, even to the
sacrifice of her dearest hopes and
most cherished wishes, he disap-