Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-02-19
UNDER THE SPELL.

happiness. Some one ought 10
warn her of the rocks in her
cOurse.n
So spoke the world, watching
the Irritation between Eben Fur
val and Glare yelling. OF cou rse
it was Irritation, this same world
decreed: not, perhaps on her side
the warning would not have
been needed then-but on his.
She was but eighteen, with
something o, the clear young soul
shining through the dark blue
eyes as they uplifted themselves
to her hero's face.
Yes, he was her hero. The
world, for once, had spoken truly.
She had not begun to reason. She
only knew that her heart beat
more quickly at the sound of his
footstep-that, had one asked her
ideal of all manly beauty, uncon-
ciously Eben's dark, handsome
face would have instantly pictur-
ed itself before her though she
might have vouchsafed no spoken
answer-that to her ear was no
sweeter music than the low, melo-
dious utterance of his voice.
Of course he knew his power
The world remembered number
less instances when he had used it
but too mercilessly; therefore,
they felt sorrow for the yonng ,un-
tried girl who also had fallen 'Un-
der the SPELL
Yes, as she stood tonight by
Ben Furvaps side, the tall, slen.
der figure draped in soft, white
folds; a brilliant color on her
cheek, lending new luster to her
eyes: the soft, fair hair, curling
itself in myriad rings soon the
low, white brow; she seemed
picture of girlish happiness. Could
it be that he who made should
mar it? If SO, how perfect his act
ing!
"Clare," he Whispered-never
never had her name sounded so
sweet before-''are you tired ?
Shall we not finish this waltz ?"
For answer she let him slip his
arm about her waist.
Tired with him? Had the mu-
sic lasted, she might have gone on
forever.
She sighed when it ended, with
a crash, and he drew her into the
dimly lighted conservatory.
What meant the look with
which he pierced down through
the azure eyes into the hidden
depths of her soul.
He spoke no word, but there,
amid the flowers and fragrance,
with half-sleepy canary warb-
ling his goodnight song above
their heads, he opened wide his
arms.
A moment she resisted their
mute entreaty he drew a step
nearer then with a half-sob of
the most exquisite happiness she
had ever known, she left them
fold themselves about her and laid
her head, like h tired child, upon
) his breast. He held her close and
long. t -.
"Clare, you have me ?" he half
asserted, half questioned. "Oh,
child, what sweet, fair page has
been the life upon which l may
dare inscribe my name"
AT these words Ofself implied re-
proach, she raised her head. In
his face was light she had never
seen before. With glad thrill
she knew that her hand had iliu-
mined the torch.
Il love you'll love you'll" she
repeated, softly, until he hushed
the words with his kiss.
"Do not tell the world our se-
cret," he pleaded. ut Is so sweet
to have ID one share it but our
selves.
And to this wish of his she glad
ly gave consent.
On swiftly joyous wings the
days followed, merging them
selves iuto halcyou weeks; yet
some lives, she had heard, were
filed with misery. Could she ever
fathom the meaning word ? All,
she Waa young TO SAX the ques-
ton! 1t was 10 be answered all
to soon.
Poor child? she had no mother
perhaps a mothers hand would
have been more gentle with the
knife; but one day her aunt, with
whom she lived, came into her
room to rudeiy break in on her
day-dreams.
"Clare," she said. 81 want to
talk with you This Mr.. Furval
who is here so often must come no
more. The day might dawn when
you would become interested in
him, and | would he sorry to have
my singing birds song cease
They tell me he is fascinating