Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-04-30

ing evening; but am quite sleepy
now. Good night! | am going
to bed
She turned TO leave the room,
but in one stride he was beside
her and held her arm in grip of
steel.
Coward. you hurt me !" she
said in sudden anger.
He dropped her hand then as
though shehad stung him.
You meant that word you
have ceased to love me! Why
did you disobey me, May ?"
because l do not propose TO be
a slave to your caprice-because |
have had my way all 10y life, and
! intend TO have it,"
And | say you shall not have
it! Choose between Mrs. Arm
strong and me-between your UNI
worthy friend and your husband
between your own will and our
future happiness-on this instant,
choose "
II have made my choice; |
abide by it. When you are more
reasonable, l will listen further.
Now, good night"
He made her no answer. She
fingered a moment at the head of
the stairs hoping he would speak
again, but all was silent.
Oh, how unhappy she was as
she shut and barred her door !!
Strange as it may seem she had
never loved her husband so well
in her life. His pale, handsome
face haunted her.
How hateful | was !" she said
to herself. GAS If / would not
give up fifty Mrs. Armstrong; for
one Jack. / will give her up, too,
but I'll do it in my own way"
Once she unlocked the door to
60 down. But not would undo
all that her firmness had accom-
piished; 80 the night passed, to
her sleepless one.
In the early morning a servant
brought her note. 1t was from
her husband, and ran thus:
At nine O'Clock / sale for Eu-
rope, to DO absent three months.
During that time my lawyer will
consult you in regard to our separ-
alton, and make it as easy for you
as possible. [ have known for a
long time that our tastes were
dramatically opposed, that all my
sweet hopes of home were wreck
ed, but not that you could defy
and outrage the love which l so
freely gave you. Do not think me
harsh in leaving you without a
goodbye, but L thought it would
be less painful to us both."
With tear-blinded eyes she
glanced up at the clock. 1t was
just eight. She had one hour in
which to act. 1t was but the work
OF ten minutes to order the car
riage. make hasty toilet, swallow
a cup eff coffee. then issue her COM
mands to the coachman to drive
at any speed but reach the peer
before the clock struck nine. One
hour to undo what might be
life's fatal work.
But time waits for no man. 1t
was ten minutes past the hour
when the pier was reached, and
already far out in the bay stood
the gallant ship.
With a low cry OF agony May
realized the whole; then the strain
relaxed, and the fair young head
fell back upon its silken cushion
in dead faint.
"a lady tainted - was the cry
which reached gentleman giving
some directions about the baggage
which he had just countermanded
being put upon the vessel which
had just set sail.
He turned quickly. There stood
his own horses, his own carriage
and within it the lovely face of
his unconscious wife.
1t was the work of an instant to
spring beside her and lift it on his
breast, trying to revive her with
Ills passionate kisses. At last the
beautiful eyes opened with wild,
incredulous recognition.
sob, | am dreaming!' she muir
Jack, Jack don't leave
me !"
"No, darling-no F! At the last
moment my heart relented. |
thought perhaps I had misjudged
you, or that l had been too
severe, and / ordered my baggage |
taken off the steamer and let it |
sail without me. Ny wifs |
thought that you did not love me
that you had chosen the world;
for my darling, no true woman
inds it hard to yield to the man
whom she can respect and love;
and surely, May, you did not find |,
ne tyrant."
But she can only sob out her
a for forgiveness--a plea only
90 EASY to grant: and even tears