Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-07-01
MISS HAR90uRTS LOVER.

snow for weeks, Miss Elizabeth,
said old Gregory, as he touched his
hat and hobbled down the icy path
way, as fast as rheumatism and old
age would permit him.
Miss Elizabeth looked down into
the sweet English garden, with its
tangled mass of shrubbery covered
with snow, and a mist came over
her eyes.
A week ! The thin white fingers
closed tightly over the yellow envel-
ope clasped in her hand, and as she
turned away from the door tear
FLASHED down upon it.
In just one week the mortgage
would be foreelosed, the letter said,
and unless the amount could be rails
ed in the meanwhile, the dear old
house where she was born must go
to strangers.
The investments that her nephew
made for her all proved failures,a and
when five years ago he had come
bustling up from London and told
her that this mortgage would save
her fortune, she signed her name to
the paper, and, for while, all seem
ed well.
How foolish she had been Why
had she not asked more about it ?
Ralph Morgan had paid the interest
for her as it came due, until several
years ago, when she received short
letter from him, and he had decided
to go to Australia.
That was all. Miss Elizabeth had
seen very little of him. He was the
only child of her sister, who was
many years older. When the father
died the property was divided be-
tween the sisters. Margaret took
her share in m9ney and went, with
her husband and child, to live in
London, where she died soon after.
Elizabeth had never left the old
homestead, and with proper manage
ment, there would never have been
any need to do so; but now-she
made another mistake.
The old clock was ticking loudly
in the great white hall, as she went
slowly up the stairs to the pleasant
room where she had spent her life
time.
81 am always making mistakes"
she moaned drearily, as she threw
herself on her little white bed. six
teen years ago to-day | made one
now | have made another"
There was no tears now in those
dark gray eyes only a tired look that
strangers would wonder at; for if
ever a woman was envied in that lit
tie village, Elizabeth Harcourt was.
"She is everything one could
desire" the poor folks said; "but
she is so good with it all"
How could they know Of the bust
ness worries, the pinching economy
and the aching heart that the sweet,
calm face never showed.
Elizabeth Harcourt was a proud
woman, and in the years gone by,
had been hasty one; and now, in
the quiet of her room, her thoughts
went back to the long ago, when, in
her hot temper, she told Jack Rain
ford she never wished to see his face
again. How could he know that in
the morning she would have given
worlds to unsay the words.
Ii had started like most quarrels
with such a little thing ! But he
had taken her at her word, and one
week from the night she gave him
back his ring, he sailed for India,
and she had never seen him since
She did not think he would stay
away; but, in the meantime, no one
should ever know she cared at all;
so she laughed aud talked more
blithely than ever, and grew pref
tier every day, until every one said
she had never cared for him; and,
away off in Calcutta, Jack Rainford
heard it, and his heart grew hard
and bitter.
A year went by and he did not
come back; then she promised to
marry Philip Dinsmore. After that
she was gayer than ever, until, when
the wedding day was fixed and the
villagers talking of the grand match,
she broke it off with him. Nobody
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