Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-08-25
Miss Lena1's Method.

beach, dotted here and there with
dark piles of shining sea- weeds a
broad expanse of restless, heaving
pillows, tapping with frothy tongues
the cleaning shore, tempted Helen
Leman to pause and finally sit down,
even though it was in the middle of
a summers afternoon, and the sun
was pouring down scorching heat
upon the unprotected rocks and
glittering sand.
Miss Leman had a broai-brim-
med hat and sun umbrella, either
of which were sufficient to protect
her fair complexion, and If Harry
Ashland was not thoughtful enough
to provide for his own comfort, he
must suffer the consequences.
She had no heart-the world said
so.
Had she seen the look Of pain and
disgust that played for moment on
the gentleman's face it would have
called forth no pity-not the slight
est.
He was not obliged to remain with
her.
There was the hotel just above
them, and he could fine the coolest
place on the broad, well-shaded
piazzas, where be could lie undis.
turbed all the afternoon.
1t certainly seemed very foolish to
make oneself so uncomfortable for a
lady; but for Miss Leman he would
have sat for hours in those real thin
clothes upon the hot rocks, and I'm.
dergone tortures innumerable, pro-
vided she would smile upon him oc-
casionally.
But Miss Leman was very silent
and grave that afternoon, and poor
Ashland hitched about on his warm
seat without drawing from her one
smile, or even look of apprecia
ton.
Getting tired of such thankless
martyrdom, he burst forth, after a
few moments Of silence, with:
"What is the matter, Miss Lee
man %
Nothing. Can't one think with
out having something the matter
with them ?' she asked sharply.
The gentleman stared at her very
earnestly and meekly replied:
"Well, then, what are you talking
about. Mr.. Ashland / was think
ing. Would you care to hear my
thoughts ?"
"Oh, yes, above all things.
Il was thinking of that great body
of water before us. 1t so reminds
me of the lives of some people | have
met-so full OF restless yearnings-
Always coming and going-pausing
never, never firing Oh, it is so
strange, yet SO grand and beautiful"
"Yes," murmured the martyr,
moving uneasily, and thinking that
indeed it was very strange, and very
grand aud beautiful.
"And yet it ever tells the same
same story-the something for
which it yearns never comes. SO it
is with life. We spend life time
with an aching void in our hearts,
and die still longing"
Yes"
Helen Letnan turned with an eX-
preston in her dark eyes which
said:
"What a stupid creature.''
She modified her meaning to-
oven, Mr.. Ashland, have you not
heard word 2"
"Oh, 'pon my honor, Miss Helen,
! heard every syllable Don't you
think that it is COMPOUNDED hot ?"
Hot 2" Very comfortable | was
thinking"
BLESS me, | am quite baked -.
Then let us 90 to the hotel"
The gentleman arose with alacrity
but as he walked along he felt un-
easy, for he was not quite sure that
he had pleased the lady, and rather
than displease her he would willing
ly have sat on the hot rocks for one
hour longer, and suffered without
murmur.
Mr.. Ashland was in love with
Miss Leman, land had been a perfect
slave to her caprice all tie summer.
He had met her in the city during
the preceding winter-had seen her
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