Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-20

Rose Dalton, came to me and asked
my advice in regard to a proposal OF
marriage which she had received
from this very young man, told
her to wait bit, until she had dis
covered how many similar proposals
he has made this summer to different
young ladies in this village. You
know, Lena, that besides being at
tentive to you and Rose, Drury has
been calling great deal lately at the
house of the widow Dexter. She has
one or two pretty daughters, and in
short, it is my belief that Ralph
Drury passes his vacations in the
country solely for the purpose of
winning the foolish hearts of good
and innocent girls, who are daZzled
by his handsome face and agreeable
manners. After asking them all TO
become his wife, he returns to the
city never to hear from him again.
This summer he has chosen our viii
lage as scene for his crusade against
woman's hearts. l propose to ex-
pose and punish him as he deserves.
Go with me tomorrow night to Mrs.
Dorchester's lawn party, Rose will
be there, and if there are not some
astonishing developments my name
is not Will Holland.
Our heroine possessed good deal
Of good sense; she had rather die
than know she had been imposed up
on by a contemplate flirt. so she
agreed to the proposition which Will
had laid before her, and thus the
trap was set.
The next morning, Mr.. Drury, re-
quested the pleasure of attending
Miss Lena to the lawn party; she
thanked him sweetly, but regretted
that she had made a prior engage
ment with Mr.. Holland and his
cousin, Rose Dalton. She glanced
curiously at Mr.. Drury as she men
toned that young lady's name, and
saw that his face crimsOned.
The party at Mrs. Dorchester's
was quite pretty affair. The lawn
was brilliantly illuminated, there
was a band of music, rustic seat in
cosy hooks for flirtations and all the
usual concomitants of such scene.
In pure white, Lena was one of
the prettiest girls present. Evident
ly Mr.. Drury was of the same opin-
ion, for his efforts to monopolize her
were strenuous, but Lena laughingly
evaded him. After a time he con-
trived to beguile her into walk in
a retired part of the grounds and
once alone they seated themselves on
a rustic seat under great tree and
very near tiny rote arbor.
"Now is our time, Rose" whis-
pered Will to his cousin, and they
hurried away to be soon joined by a
pretty little somebody in f1uttering
pink with roses in her yellow hair,
and just inside the rose arbor the
trio seated themselves to await fur
ther developments. Mr.. Drury was
saying tendeIly:
LENA, my darling, l have long
sought an opportunity to tell you of
my love! l love you so intensely that
my life without you would be a
waste, desert, "a"
"Just exactly what you remarked
to me last night !" cried a merry
voice, as Rose Dalton emerged from
the arbor. els that the only pretty
speech you know, Mr.. Drury; do you
change the object of your hearts de-
votion as often as you change your
gloves Only last night you swore
you loved me alone !"
ana you asked nae TO be your
wife not week ago." exclaimed a
voice, as pretty Nellie Dexter ad-
vanced and confronted the astonish-
ed and chagrined Drury. "And here
is a note," she went on Indignantly,
signed, Ralph Drury, which 1 found
in the room of nv vOunper sister
only fifteen, in which he tells her of
his lasting love. Girls, what SEN
tence shall we pronounce upon such
a mani"
Lena arose and come forward.
"He is not worthy the name of
man ~ she said in cold, cutting
tones. "He has been tried in our