Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-01-15


in each word she uttered, she
speaking far more with eyes than
lips. He bad gone out from them,
cnrsing himself, and the next day
he told Kate the thing must end.
Give me just q week longer. /
don't want them TO say | was
routedn
But long after he had left her,
she sat motionless. One week.
one little week, and then she must
give up Gerald Keene forever. Of
course there could be no choice be-
tween him and Jack. She loved
Jack. II two short months she
was to be his wife, and then-and
then she must never see Keene
again what was folly now would
be wickedness then.
But what is this quick pain at
her heart, sharper than any stab !?
The memory of a soft GOOD
night" swept over her, the tender
pressure of a hand, the voiceful
glance; and then the tears start,
the proud little head is bowed. and
Kate is sobbing like child-sob.
bing so unrestrainedly that she
pays no heed when some one en-
ters the room and stands beside
her, nor gees the flash of triumph
in the dark eyes as they atch her
quivering frame-a triumph no
single tone betrays, az at LAST he
breaks the silence with but one
word, the utterance of her name.
AT its sound she starts to her
feet, impetuously dashiug away
the pearly drops with her little
white hand.
"Will you not tell me your sor-
row ?'' he now says, very gently,
taking her little, unresisting fin
gers in his. "If may not relieve
may | not, at least, share.
''It is nothing," she answered,
trying to smile. 81 am weak and
nervous to-day-that is all. 1t is
not a customary complaint with
me, Mr.. Keene, 1 do assure YOU"
"And you tell me it is cause
less p He spoke in low, incredu-
lous accents. Kate he went on,
"do you think could look on any
grief of yours unmoved? All,
how easy it is for us to feign, un-
til we encounter the real in life,
and then how hard to weigh the
gold at its true standard, when all
our scales are tainted with the tim
sci we have called real metal for
so longl
She glanced up quickly. but her
eyes lowered at the fire they met
in the counter glance.
"Kate, is this gold or tinsel ?"
he questioned.
"Gold !" said her heart. "Call
it tinsel, if you dare ~
What was the wonderful fasci-
nation this man possessed that the
lips were silent? 1t was time the
play ended. Why not look up and
laugh, and say:
"Tis time 1 claim the trophy
You have scored one defeat amid
your victors."
Dares any slave speak thus in
the presence of his conqueror
II stooped-lower and still lower
he bent his head, until his mus
tache brushed the young, sweet
lips in their rich crimson.
The girl shivered and was still.
81 may come this evening,
sweet" he whispered. "You will
be better able to see me them
She bowed her head.
AS silently as he came, he left
her to her glory and her shame.
Poor Jack I! loyal Jack! This
was his return. And she had
thought she loved him. Alb, bet.
ter spare her pity fer herself-heI
weak, frail, pitiable self! How
she writheu in her own scorn! and
yet she had meant no wrong.
But the day was wearing on. In
the evening Jack, too, was to
come, and the two men must not
meet. She could never look into
Jacks honest eyes again. Their
hurt, grieved look of awful sur
prise would kill her.
Without time for thought, she
scrawled off the lines that were to
tell him all. She ended:
Don't blame me too harshly,
Jack. 1t was better, dear, / found
out my heart before it was toe
late."
This note dispatched, half hel
burden seemed lifted; she sat
down then to watch and wait.
The afternoon heightened /; the
evening crept in upon its heels,
the shadows darkened, until dis
sipated by the artificial light.
Through the empty rooms Kate
walked, a restless spirit. The
clock struck eight, another hall
hour and he must be here? What
| would he say? how greet her?