Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-05-15
Rose Forrester's Escape.

SILK, lifted tn broad lids from her
clear eyes for moment. as the
speakers words reached her ears;
then she bent over the photo
graphs upon her lap again.
She handled the pictures with
an enthusiastic appreciation OF
their worth, SO absorbed in their
examination as TO be totally un-
conscious of the tall, fair inan who
stock quite near, looking down at
her with an apparent suddenly
awakened interest.
Belonging TO such nice fami-
ly, an heiress, and so beautiful -
The continued words of the
speaker reached Howard Manley's
ear, but evidently Rose Forester
did not hear them. She turned
with sparkling smile to her
hostess, and was still talking with
her of the photographs when Mr..
Clinton brought Howard Marley
up for an introduction.
AS she rose in the full light it
revealed that she was quite young
scarcely twenty, yet tall of stature,
and with a certain marked repose
of manner.
Her beauty was not conspicuous
she was too pale; yet Manley
saw.how perfectly cut was every
feature, how clear the dark-gray
eyes, how dark the curling lashes.
The ripe lips shut over little teeth
as white as milk, and the contour
of the face was perfect oval.
The girls natural and spontane-
Gus manner told that she gave
the young man, at first, no unusu-
al attention. Little by little she
observed him-the fair hair shad-
owing the fair forehead, the dark
blue, penetrating eyes, the unusu-
al grace of figure, the faultless
dress.
Her manner was so cordial and
friendly, and Enthusiastically
charming that Manly racKed his
brain for the chance of a next
meeting, but was obliged to aban-
don 1t when Miss Forester was
joined by her brother.
She left the room, but instantly
he thanked his good fortune at
the finding of q ruby scarf-pin
which he recognized as hers. 1t
was easy to decide the ornament
too valuable to be entrusted to a
messenger. It was a presumption
which he would manage with ease
to call upon and restore it..
Rose was not a belle. She had
too much depth and passion of ma
ture to ever be a society woman;
but she had her admirers, and out
of them she soon chose Manley.
She could not tell why, but his
looks. words, every act, had a
charm!for her. and the eloquent
blood tinging her cool cheek at
his approach told him the story of
his power.
He was a proud mamie mis- ht
well have been happy One-but
he often bore an air of noticeable
WEAKNESS and depression. This,
in answer to Roses gentle in
quiries, he attributed to ilI-health.
Spring was opening, with its
vivid sunshine, its balmy air, and
Rose was very happy. 1t seemed
to her that the pleasant influences
of the season which made her
daily ways so light; the tender
colors, sights and sounds surround
ing her daily walk with Manly
in the park, which made them so
enjoyable.
Perhaps they helped to make
her spirit strong so that she dared
say to herself, ~ love him !" and
say it without reservation or fear;
for she knew that it was but a lit
tie while since she first met him,
and of his past history and much
of his present she knew nothing.
Nor she feared nothing for her
self. To love and be surrounded
with tenderness was happiness
enough for her; she asked
for no more. Yet some instinct
or trace of worldly wisdom
made her withhold her confidence
from her brother, who was her
guardian; he knew nothing of the
intimacy.
from the night she nad nrSt
met Manley at Mrs. Clinton's par
ty, she never knew any one who
knew him intimately. He told
her that he had no living female
relatives-no home. .
He evidently had means at COM
mand, and procured for her, with
an ingenuity which was almost
genius, the rarest and most beau
tiful gifts. Her delighted recep-
ton of them seemed a mutual Joy
which prevented any possible feel
ing of obligation on her side. In
truth, full of the passionate inn
pulses of youth, she was deaf,
dumb and blind for anything but
the fullness of the present.
Her brother came into the