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

sometimes reDelll0uS, DuC the Deau-
tiful view from the windows of the
old house on the hill where she Gagged
her wards, and the merry life at the
Hall, compensated for all else.
The new summer hotel, conve-
niently by, was thronged with visit
ors, and al ways some new amuse-
ment to enliven. The garden party
at Earndon was s'the affair of the
season." Twas here that she met
quiet, stately DR.. Linwood, appar-
emily thirty-fve, handsome and of a
warm, generous disposition. Edith'S
face attracted him. Twas not q
particularly beautiful face, but frank
and truthful, showing the lights and
shades of all her thoughts. Theatri-
Gals, riding, boating, and picnicing
wore the bright summer all too rap
idly away. "All went merry as a
marriage bell" Cecil had generally
escorted her, but the Dr. had almost
imperceptibly taken his place.
There were no more delicious
moonlight drives with Edith for him;
twas DR.. Linwood's manly form and
learned conversation which accom-
panied her, and Cecil devoted him
self to Minnie Hampton, of the Car
,olina family by that name. He spoke
to Edith in mock reverential tones
of "Miss Dignity's Perfection. !"
"He has the wisdom of Socrates
combined with the perfection of
Apollo" he remarked one evening,
as DR.. Linwood passed them, stand
ing by the lawn gate, on his way to
join a gathering at the Hall. 'And
some others have the wisdom of
Wanda the Witless combined with
the projections of Uriah Heep," was
the sarcastic reply, as turning on her
heel she left him. There was always
war of words between these two,
the rock upon which they split, SO to
speak, was DR.. Linwood. Edith ad-
mired him and Cecil disliked him for
the same admiration. Had she turn
ed to look behind when she left him
so abruptly at the gate, she would
have seen no mockery in the dark
eyes which cast after her a lingering
loving look as she disappeared among
the trees. On among the shadows
| she came upon DR.. Linwood resting
on a rustic seat apart from the mer-
ry group of pleasure seekers. The
moonlight fell upon his calm face
which kindled into admiration as the
| woman who was all to him came to-
ward him. Stepping forward he
drew her hand within his arm, to-
gether they walked down the shady
avenue to the summer house, which
Cecil would have said twas an APP
propriate place." as he had several
times remarked that "the DIR. was
always appropriate and considered
the fitness of things" While the
music of the falling fountains sound
ed in their ears, this man told her of
the one love of his life and besought
her to shed sunshine into the shady
places of his existence. Just then
certain rebellious words of Cecll's
rushed into her mind aud she whis-
pered Eyes"
Cecil lounged up the walk and the
| golden harvest moon looked down in
sorrow on the betrothal Oh the girl
he loved and DR.. Linwood. He had
offered her his love, but she thought
him JEST z with her and had an
swered him accordingly. Cecil love
He who had always ridiculed the
idea, and he observing her preference
for DR.. Linwood, considered him II he
cause of her ridiculiug his 1--we. Thus
it ended, and he did not know that
when she pledged her hand to DR..
Linwood, her heart went not with it.
On to the Hall Cecil went singing
an old love song. The sound of his
voice grated harsh on her ear, as he
to whom she said "Whither thou 60
est will go and thy people shall be
my people, /" led her up the steps and
his lips touched the cold forehead of
the unresisJing girl who submits to
his caress. Up in her room she leans
carelessly back and heard the click
of the lawn gate, as it closed upon
her lover.
X
Months have passed and a New
Years day finds Edith gone to a
friends, and DIR. Linwood at his pro-
fession in the city, carrying with him
her promise, and soon he is to return
to take her with him: but somehow
her life seems weary. He is all that
could be required, model lover, yet
they seem farther apart than when
they met on that summer night at
Earndon. Without, the snow is ST.
lently falling: within, a fire burns on
the hearth, but it has burnt low and
throws fitful shadows on the walls,
decked with bright holly and ever
green, wrought by her fingers into
quaint devices and old English let
tiers. Just over the door hangs the
Norman horseshoe, surrounded by