Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-12-16
JEANS SECRET.
BY GUINEvERE

draperies. She was dressed in pure
white, with a crimson rose at her
throat, and one in the braidS of nut
brown hair.
With her eyes half closed and her
fair, jeweled hands clasped idly in
her lap, she looked the picture of
careless unconcern, until a mans
voice without made her start and the
color flush her cheeks.
Eyes, Davis, above everything,
prize an untarnished name. The
Langtons have held themselves free
from disgrace always, nor would they
receive into their midst one for
whom they would have cause to
bluSh.'
Jean recognized the speaker. That
low soft voice, whose tones thrilled
her very heart, could belong to none
other than William Langton.
His companion laughed lightly.
''Noble sentiments and well eX-
pressed" he said jokingly, "but
rather out of date. 1t would be hard
to live up to them in these times"
Then more seriously: "Do you mean,
Langton, that person is to be des-
pissed or ignored because of an Of
Tense committed by some unfortu-
nate relative ?"
"Despised or ignored Oh, no. 1t
would reflect nothing on their char
acter, perhaps, but the stain is there,
and while | both like and respect
them, | should not want them to
share my name or be admitted under
its patronage"
A look of unutterable anguish
swept over jeans face, her lips
quivered and she clenched her hands
nervously. Leaning forward with a
forced smile, she looked at the two
men, and her eyes shone bright in
the twilight.
Are you not rather severe, Mr..
Langton ?" she asked, archly.
Willard started.
"You there, Miss Ellis ? | did not
know that | had more than one in
terested nearer. Severe =? Well, per-
haps trifle so. You do not agree
with me ?n
81 do not think an innocent person
should suffer for another's crime
she said quietly.
THAT is my opinion, Miss Ellis"
said Davis, 'but it will do no good
for us to argue with him, he will not
be convinced. l know him Of old"
They all laughed, Jean as merrily
as her companions, though she was
far from being gay and happy. Then
others joined them and the CONVEX
sation became general.
Jean Ellis had one secret of which
her friends never guessed. She had
come among them as stranger, and
Immediately won favor. OF her past
she spoke frankly, concealing moth
ing but that one epoch that embit-
tered her whole happiness.
Two years previous her only
brother, a mere lad was charged
with the crime of murder and con-
victed. No one believed him guilty,
but circumstances were very
strong against him, so the sentence
was pronounced, not of death, but
worse than death to the unfortunate
man-imprisonment for life.
Loving Willard Langton as she
did. was il any wonder that Jean
Ellis heart grew heavy with fear
and anguish, when she heard him
say that he would not receive into
his family one on whose name rested
a single stain What then, would
be his feelings for the sisterof a con-,
victed murderer?
There was a dance in the parlors
that evening and Jean came down,
looking very beautiful lin her dress
Of creamy white, relieved by clusters
Of vivid scarlet flowers She had
worn white very often since Willard
had expressed his admiration for it,.
When it was all over and the guests
had returned to their rooms, Jean
heard the air Of ballad softly sung
in a well-known voice, and through
the open window came great white
rose, thrown by the one below.
"Can't you come down, Miss
nm !. IL - -. ..lnn--n-rt - .fnrL In