Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-17
Charlie whistled bar of "a Life

man" be said with sudden grvity.
Il wonder who his Friday night
companion is this time ?' Say,
7 Paul, if it should be the Squire ~
But the girl had fled within TO her
tea tables and to see if her little
maid -of-all-work had watched the
cake carefully.
Everything was right, and dain
tier or better served table was never
presented to hungry mortals than
that to which the minister invited
his guest within an Incredibly short
timeiafter Paul had disappeared from
the gate.
Charlie was right-it was the
squire.
The young girl bowed calmly to
the grave, courteous man her brother
presented. her eyes resting the while
upon the dish of ripe, red strawber-
ries, with an indignant thought of
his barred gates and notices.
A puzzled look came into her face
as the stranger talked on. and she
glanced furtively at him only to
meet his grave eyes full upon her,
and to feel the floor rock beneath
her feet.
so they protest against my claim.
ing my own" he was saying, in
answer to the minister's report of
the discomfort in the village "They
will become obedient when they find
out | am not tyrant."
Paul could hear no more. She
dared not look mp as the minister
helped his guest to the strawberries;
but. with a hurried excuse for the
cream (which was in a little silver
jug beside the berries all the while),
she left the room with eager steps.
She was gone so long that Charlie
came to hunt her up, and found her
back step.
''Oh, Charliel" she cried. "He
was the tramp y
The gentlemanly tramp!" and
the boy sat down beside her, aghast.
"What shall do ?''
She was so wretched and pale that
Charlie rose to the situation at once.
81 wouldn't mind, Pauline ?" he
said cousolingly.
''Oh, but | must mind He is
going to raise David's salary, which
means so much for you, Charlie, and
to repair the church. And, after
all, he is right. | didn't see it until
| heard him tell David his plans and
and-ideas, and-and what does he
think of me 2"
Here a miserable little sob choked
the pretty voice, and Charlie grew
desperate.
"Just come in and have it out
with him." he urged. make clean
breast of it, and he'll have to be
polite then"
But Paul lacked courage to con-
TESS her fault, and when the Squire
was frequent guest at the cottage
and d klEd friend to the whole vii
lage, could she gain strength to
speak, and ask for some little of the
kindness he gave others and denied
her.
The strawberries were ripe again
at Deep Dell, and Paul was walking
sadly down the lane past the corner
fence she used to climb so deity,
thinking not of the berries, not of
Charlie away at college, nor of the
new cottages down in the village,
but of her own unpardoned fault,
which lay like heavy cloud upon
her, when a shadow fell upon her
path, and looking up she saw the
squire quietly regarding her. She
paused humbly.
"Have you nothing to say to me,
Paul 7" he asked, in a strange tone.
After one long year, have you no
word for me ?"
With a break in her voice that
seemed part of the tears that would
come, Paul forgot her defiance, and
thought only OF the heavy heart she
had carried so long, and made her
confession then and there.
1.-The accused pleads guilty, and
is recommended to mercy" said the
Squire with bright laugh; "but,
Paul, | did not mean that" She
looked so eagerly as he took both
hands. ''And if / give you free
pardon for trespassing on my prop
erty and stealing my fruit, what
shall | ask in return for the piece of
mind you have robbed me of in this
last Year,"
Paul thought of Charles advice,
"to have it out with him." and so
said softly but earnestly:
THE heartache you have given
me by your GOODNESS"
"She looked at him fearlessly now,
smiling and flushing, and he crushed
her hand.
"Will you hear your sentence ?"
he cried.
EYES," she softly laughed.
Then you are henceforth and for
ever to be mistress, not only of Deep
Dell, but owner and manager of the
heart and devotion Of"
1.-The gentlemanly tramp - said
Paul, saucy with happiness.