Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-09-09

she asked IONCliuS - .;,.b
though she feared the SOUNDS nishV
reach those below.
"Wrong, dear.
Eyes. He is growing TO look 50
thin and haggard. Nelson is qulte
concerned about him. | suppose
| YOU. seeing him every day notice the
| change less than we who only meet
him at Intervals"
"Perhaps that is it, answered
almost coldly, for it hurt me thaG
anyone should know more OF ms ap-
pearance than |.
When they were gone | looked at
Phil, and my heart sank. AiteI
closing the door upon the PAIR, lshad
entered the room so silently ne dld
not hear me, and now | could watch
him without his knowing. Only a
minute, and then he had caught a
half sigh that would have vent.
"You there, mother?"
Eyes, dear" / drew my chair to
his side, and took his hand in mine.
"Phil, dear, will you always wear
a mask before me?"
He was taken aback. felt his
start, and he turned his head, SEEM
| ing to look at me.
IF | do it is to save you pain"
"Philip, it breaks my heart !"
Then he told me the truth at last.
He loved Phoebe Carroll.
We sat there in silence, after he
had told me all, | trying to stifle a
feeling of jealousy. 1t had never
seemed possible that he could fall in
love.
"Have you ever asked her, PHILIP"
"Mother ~
"Wby not?"
"Ask her to devote her life to a
poor helpless wretch like me i
would die sooner ]"
"Philip, do you think / have ever
felt what | have TO do for you a bur
den?n
He raised my hands to his lips.
"Hush, mother That is different. |
There, | have told you the truth-all |
my long folly and madness. All
these months have been struggling |
to crush it out-with what SUGGEST"
Mother, we aoill go away. Help me,
and | will not, yield again to the
longing to be near her. Let us go ~
Darling, do you think she |
guesses?"
"She does not. In that at least |
have been strong"
The next day but one | went to
Phoebe Carroll.
"Ph9be," | began, with futile
endeavor to control my unsteady
voice, 81 am in trouble"
In an instant her arm was round |
me, her soft cheek against mine.
"Can | help your" She whispered. /
"Tell me what can do.
1T is about my boy"
us he ill?"
'No-yes. Phoebe, he has learned
to love some one; sand he is blind Z"
She turned very pale, and her head
sank OF my shoulder.
Poor fellow | am afraid she does
not care for him. But il she did,
what would his blindness matter?
She would feel it the greatest happi-
ness she could know TO wait on him,
to make him forget his loss. Ii she
did, he would be ten times dearer
for his very helplessness. y
"F5r time, perhaps, Phoebe.
"For always. | am certain Of il"
but you think she does care for
him?"
II feel sure she does not. )"
"Quite sure, Phebe?" And | drew
back and looked searchingly into her
eyes. Her lips quiyered, and a rush
Of color flooded her face and neck.
"Do you not mean Alice Vores?"
"Phebe, | mean you. He loves
you, dear; he is wearing himself out
with fighting against it. He has told
me how it is, and | have come to
you. Can you help me?"
"How?"
She was trembling, and kept her
face: but knew the truth.
/ took her straight back with me,
and together we entered the room
where Philip was sitting.
Whom have you there?" he ask
ed, for Phoebe was too much agitated
to speak.
"PhGbe," | said. my boy l have
told her."
"Motheru' he cried out reproach-
fully, starting TO his feet, and then
covered his face with his hands.
She ran to him and drew his hands
down, to hold them tightly in hers.
"Why did you not tell me, Philip?
l have been waiting so long,"
He tried to draw back, but she
would not let him. | crept away.
A week after this Nelson Vores
came again.
"Where have you been all this
timer Philip asked him, after the
first greetings were over. Il have
missed you. And what's mp? Your
voice is not like ITSELF
II have been out Of sorts, and it
seems too bad to you to bring the
blues here. But l thought / would
come to-day to see il your patience
and cheerfulness would shame me
- l.oE -. - ~ ~. ,E IL -