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

kept that sacred gift for me-"
mo, Paul. I did not love him, !"
rousing herself, and her soft, sweet
voice hardening, land I am prone to
speak of a time or a person whose
memory l wish / could stamp out of
my life. But I must tell you some
thing, and after to-morrow's sun"
After tomorrow, you will be no
longer widow, but my wife," There
was a ring of proud triumph and
exultation in the voice, which SEEM
ed waited away by the soft, low sigh
that followed it-a sigh that was
almost Immediately followed by the
words that broke so abruptly in on
it.
II did not lose him first by DEATH !"
A pause, quick, painful breath,
that told OF the crimson cheeks-and
the quiet around seemed all hushed,
like the mans dark, silent figure, to
listen to the fast flowing words.
"No,four months after / was mar.
ried, woke to realize that it was
not love that had induced him to
wed the heiress of Arlington, and
Two months afterward he preferred
a life of trials and poverty with the
lady he did love-"
Silence, till the last echo had died
away, and then a stir in the trees
overhead, asif they had stopped to
hear the secret and were now whis-
pering it abroad +; then tremulous
movement of the man 8 dark, silent
figure, and his arms were firmly lock-
ed about the tall, black shadow.
s'My poor darling" he whispered,
tenderly, drawing her near to him,
till her face was half hidden by his
fast beating bosom; "What grief,
what agony, what painl But it is
all over now. From this day on,
you have to forget it all-it is a dark
ugly dream of long ago. With the
name the remembrance will be ban.
ished. You give me all your love,
don't you ?" M
Eyes, Paul" in a low voice, sit
is yours entirely. / am keeping
none back. Alb, me,' drawing her
self from his tender embrace, and
standing erect, 'there is more in all
the world for me to keep any back
for. A betrayed wife, and now a
widow, who is there for me to love,
save you?"
THAT is the past, he imploringly
urged. "The future is what you
look to ; and did ever any one know
a brighter prospect? Young and
lovely, and to be married on the
morrow to one whom you love and
who loves you more than all else in
this world, yea, more than life it.
self"
"And now, look at the other side,
Paul." said she.
"There is no other side"
"Ah, Paul, | cannot help seeing
it. You, so loving and eager, with
all the great world before you, and
I, with my sad, unhappy past, my
wifehood, my years of widowhood.
1t seems so cruel to balance your
future with my past. 1 would be
much happier If l were younger than
you in years, if not in experience,
but l am not. What is the difference
in our ages?'
81 was twenty three last June.o
"And am twenty nine. Six years
between us and ON the wrong side.
Oh, Paul, the thought frightens me
The differences too great" in trem,
bling tones, 81 have passed through
so much sorrow but let me pass you
by, and not throw the shadow of my
sorrowful life across yours ~
II will trust you," he said, firmly.
"My own life shall now stand be-
tween you and your past l will be
your protector through the remand
er of life's journey. So. you must
not fear, Come" placing a gentle,
protecting arm about her waist, "let
us go out of this hideous darkness,
and you will be drawer of mind, and
l will seethose dark sweet eyes that
/ love so WE'LL" He lead her quietly
toward the open window as he spoke
and through the vision of light they
passed into the house together from
the shadowy darkness that lay with