Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-09-08

may be--urged me to undeceive you;
SO ! have come to you. Now I have
told you, and there is nothing more
to be said by either OF us, and now
must be going. / wanted to spare
You future misery, for you would
surely have discovered, what my
presence has shown you, some day y
hesitatingly, then turned away--a
loathsome, STOPPING figure, toward
the door.
George she called after him,
forgive me. You did not mean to
be unjust, | don't think. But listen
to me-" her voice rising like the
wind. Years ago you blighted and
destroyed my youth, burying it for
ever in dishonored sepulchre. You
murdered my happiness, my faith,
my love-everything l had Of conse-
quence, and now that, after all these
years, ! have, through Gods mercy,
come into fresh store, to serve and
cheer me through the remainder of
life, you take that away as you did
the first. Past and future, you have
robbed me of all ~
Mr.. Tregallas stopped when his
wife's voice severed the quiet, but
he scarceley turned his eyes; lie had
not enough courage to look at the
woman he had so dreadfully wrong.
ed, standing amid her flowers, in the
bright sunshine, with every vestage
of its light faded fiom her noble
face. Perhaps he had not forgotten
the expression Of the sorrowing black
eyes and feared to meet them. But
after a moment OF silence, he turned
around and without looking at her
said
Hazel, it is vain to talk of grief
for such wrongs as yours. This
world may never see them alleyiated
or righted, and they all lie at my
door. But you must always remem-
Der that the law of justice is on your
side 1t is for you to say whether or
not you will appeal to it.'
"But you know" he said, "that
] never would. Long ago elected
that such grief as mine could not be
righted in such fashion; and can
not consent now" ss1t
There was no answer to this, but
after moment he continued
Hazel, you need not give up in
despair. You are young. Life has
gone very hard with me,n dirty
scarlet dying his cheeks. II do not
look like one who will be here much
longer. The sands of my life are
well nigh run.u
"Oh, George" she exclaimed, her
voice softening, II am not bitter
or cruel enough to care for JOY or
pleasure gained in that way. What
have / said" her voice becoming
tender, ''that could induce you TO
think that way ?" and she surveyed
his worn attire. the sunken cheeks
and the dark blue circles around his
eyes. Surely the past has some
hold on you, or you would not have
come here this morning; for know,
George, you only meant well toward
me, though you have crushed the
love in my heart, and almost driven
life from the body, and sure, it must |
have some hold on me, for it grieves
my aching heart to see you looking
so wretched."
There was no answer but he took a
few steps more towards the door aud
there once more stopped.
''It is inhuman and cowardly |
suppose, to wish one self dead but
that is what wish for this morning.
All, me, life hangs so persistently To
those to whom it is of no value"
Another suspense, then a faint |
crimson sweeping over her cheeks,
Hazel asked quickly
"Where is she ?"
"In the tomb ~ he groaned, with
a ring OF genuine anguish in his |
voice.
The composure and tenderness de-
parted from the black eyes, the tones
of her voice grew hard and bitter.
eco" she said "You took your |
choice--you took your happiness ut
the expense of mine, and now. when,
after weary years OF misery, | have |
love offered me once more, it is 10 |
you-through you again, that l must |
lose it. Oh" with sudden vehe- |
mence. raising her hands to heaven,
Ego, pray you'll It's all ask of |
you, all you can ever do for me-go,
and never let me see your wretched
face again." fe
Before the echo of the last words |
had died away she sank down on the |
floor, burying her face in her arms,
thrown despairingly among the |
crushed flowers, and George Tregal-
las tarried one moment in the door
way to take a last look at her. He |
saw the reclining head, the morning
sunbeams turning to soft brown the |
jet black hair, the forlorn figure of |
the woman i'll the spotless gown,
with the red and white roses by her |
side. where they had dropped from
her hands; the mjdsummer's sun
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