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

says %
Because it has extended Its
voice to you-because il says that
you. too, are under the spell OF
this mans wonderful fascination.
Many is the heart he has broken,
Clare-he shall not break yours p
IF what you say be true" she
replied, defiantly, cit is already
broken; but | do not-I uW not
believe it. He loves me, and L
love him Y
"He has asked you to become
his wife ?"
The question cut like a knife TO
the girls quivering heart.
"No; not in words. / did not
even miss them, so sure was | of
his purpose. Why-why do you
come here to torment me ?"
Because / would save you, and
because he shall neUer know his la
test victim. Child, look here
This was sent ME yesterday"
And she placed a sheet OF paper
in the little, trembling, outstreich-
ed hand.
1t was covered with the hand
writing of him of whom they
spoke, and it was a mad, passion
ate declaration of his love fer her
to whom it was addressed. There
were neither name nor date--only
his signature, bold and free.
"Clare, you believe now ?"
Eyes, l believe,n she answered,
softly. "Leave me to myself"
The next day, when Eben Fur
val called, daintily folded note
was put into his hand. Eagerly
he tore it open,to read these words.
II must ask you not to see me
again. You are a better actor than
/. / have Wearied Of the farce
Doubtless, with the world for your
audience, you can find some ono
better fitted to play my part"
This was all. Thus had the child
striven to hide the wound from
which was pouring what she vain
ly hoped would be the life current.
With a bitter curse ending in a
groan, the man crushed the paper
in his hand.
sob, God ~ he said, beneath his
breath. after all these years, is
this a second time to be my re-
ward +? Is there no truth in wo-
man?
And his soul echoed, "None !"
But Glare had been half-child,
half-woman. Only yesterday her
eyes had looked with worshipful
light into his. There was some
mistake, some treachery. He could
not let her thus escape him. He
had been Worldworn and weary.
Her love had been like finding the
cooling spring in the aired desert.
Must he pass it by, and perish of
thirst? Not SO! He would write
to her, and beg her to tell him if
indeed she had been playing with
him. Ii so, to let her silence an
swer; if not, to bid him come to
her.
His very soul seemed to pour it.
self out upon the senseless sheet.
The next day he himself saw it
delivered at her door. What he
unhappily did not see, were the
hands that received it.
ut will but make the child
grieve mere" reasoned her aunt (;
and, with the seal unbroken, laid
it on the flames.
For what had Clare hoped as the
weary days went by? Had she
expected any answer to the poor
little note with which she had
struggled to bolster up her pride +?
Paler and wanner she grew as
her hope died. Truly she was "un-
der the SPELL" said her aunt, sad
ly; but her own lips wore dumb,
until the strain on brain and heart
gave way, and the name she had
held so long unspoken was breath
ed in every accent of love and
despair from her fever parched
lips, as she lay tossing in delirium.
Her aunt, good woman though
she was, could have cursed the
names owner as she listened ,shud-
deringly, to its repetition.
MY one poor little eve lamb ~
she would whisper, tearfully; "why
might he not have spared you ~
But one day, when the whisper
had spread about that Clara Well
ling was dying, man, haggard
and white, forced himself into her
presence.
"Let me see her !" be entreated.
Some spirit rose in the crushed
heart at sight of him.
"You would see your victim ?"
she questioned with scorn. "Wait
until your work is complete-it
will not be long,
"If you have woman's soul,
within you, tell me what you
mean ?" he answered. "My vic
tint Do YOU know that one little