Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-11-05

treasured momento, she found it
crumbled to pieces, Il elinquish
my hope,' she said with sad smile,
and flung it to the wind.
WANTED. An agreeable lady as
companion to an invalid. Address
Invalid, Atherton, n. Y.
Rubie Aston, glanced over the
advertisements in the daily paper,
read the above and paused.
Companion to an invalid" she
repeated. "A querulous old lady, l
suppose; perhaps something better.
At any rate it seems the best l have
seen yet, and I'll try my luck"
A few hours later, pink-tinted
missive lay in the Anterior post-Of-
fee, addressed in a pretty running
hand writing, and signed Louise
Maynor." What motive actuated
her to choose fictitious name A
mere whim, but she was glad after
ward, that she had done so.
Mrs. Cassington turned the letter
over in her white, jeweled fingers,
upon receiving it, and noticed how
neat the superscription was, and the
faint oder of wood violets that chung
to it. Then she perused its con-
tents.
1t was modest lady like note and
pleased her; dainty epistle, entire
ly different from it's companion let
tiers, one of which, to Mrs. Casing
toms great horror, was written upon
coarse, orange -colored paper, and in
a heavy, masculine;like hand.
cit is certainly the most satisfac-
tory said the lady, leaning back
against her satin cushion. "But
only nineteen-so very young, and
likely inexperienced. Yet"
A glance at the orange-colored
thing decided her. "She shall come
at once" she thought. 81 can en-
gage her on trial at least"
So a letter to that effect was sent
to "Miss Louise Maynor," and on
the following day the young lady ar
rived at Aolia, the residence of Mrs.
Cassington. She was ushered at
once into the pretty green and gold
reception-room, and few minutes
later the rustling of garments in the
hall warned her that the mistress
was coming.
care you here Miss, Maynor?"
asked low voice, for the room was
dimly lit, and Rubie sat in a dark
ened corner.
The young girl came forward, and
as the mellow light that streamed
between the heavy curtains fell up
on her, Mrs. Cassington perceived
how beautiful she was. Her man
ner, too, possessed a certain degree
of dignity and pride, and the pa
tronizing condescension with which
that lady was prepared to treat her
vanished at once.
"And now," said Mrs. Casing
ton after pleasant chat, 81 suppose
you would like to see your charge ?''
eff she is so disposed" Rubie re-
piled.
THE invalid is not a lady," said
the other smiling, "but my broth
er."
Rubie looked surprised and some
what confused; then she laughed
merrily,
Somehow" she said, 81 had con-
ceived the idea that it was a lady.
Is he very i'll ?"
"He experiences no bodily suffer
ing, Miss Maynor; he is blind"
blind Oh, how pitiful -
Rubie spoke impulsively. She in
agined what a terrible thing it must
be to have the light of day excluded
forever; not to see the sun and the
flowers and all the beautiful world.
Pitiful, indeed Her black eyes
filled with tears; Mrs. Cassington
saw them, and although she made
no comment, mentally thanked her
for them.
"Let US go to him." she said, and
Rubie followed her up the broad
staircase to large, sunny room in
the south wing, where on the cush-