Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-09-15

She half stretched out her open
hands as the words of anguish fell
on her ear, and then, as il thinking
OF all that lay between them, drew
back and clasped them tightly to-
gether
paul, what would you have me to
say 20 she began. 1T seems to me
that / have spoiled your life for you.
What can l pray for your I think,
my dear the kindest prayer that / can
offer is that God may be very good to
you, and teach you to--to-forget, !"
and as she noticed the look Of ex-
treme agony in his face, she contin-
ued, mo, Paul, my dearest, do not
mean anything unkind, though it
does just now seem so, but life is not
given to us mortals just to fret in,
and you are strong and ambitious,
and have SO much to do in your life
that you will be brave, will you not,
for my sake 20
GOD bless you, Hazel, my darling
one, may Gods choicest blessings
ever rest with you," lifting her hand
to his lips. "Yes for your sake l will
try to be brave, and IL will wait"
and then he turned away through the
glowing rays of sunlight into the
cold, uncharltable, unfriendly world,
which for him lay far beyond the
reach of Hazel Tregallas' smiles.
= ~*#
In the brightest, happiest life, ten
years make many changes !; the point
of seeing becomes altered, the line of
hopes and fears get shifted about.
To whom is it given to look back
ten-yea Eve years, and say: s'Those
whom l loved then to them do my
thoughts turn to day, as they were
first then SO are they first to day ?"
Gentle reader, have you ever thought
of this |? If not stop for one mo-
ment, and allow your mind to roam
back in the depths of the past Ah,
the hallowed memories, the precious
words, the care and heart aches,
that come gliding DER our memoir
les.
To Hazel Tregallas, as she walks
impatiently up and down pretty
st. Louis drawing room, no such
thoughts came, no such retrospects
of to day and yesterday. For was
not this the tenth anniversary Of
her wedding day, that had risen fair
and cloudless as to day had done ?
And had she not in her bosom let
ter-a note which told to her how a
weary troubled heart had wrought
out its life task, and now slept
peacefully-forgotten alike its sins
and sorrows-by the blue Atlantic
waves.
$50 now," raising her gentle,
black eyes and smiling softly, in
such way as to make one forget
she was no longer young and foolish,
"now, he may come back. Now /
may write him the talismanic word
Gomez Even," with sad, weary
smile, "if he no longer cares for me,
that l may at least see him. All,
Paul." clasping her hands together,
elf only to see your face and hear
your voice."
1t was quiet, peaceful summers
day best enjoyed in comparative idle
ness-and in that manner had Haz-
ell Tregallas played with each passing
hour. The little note hidden away
in her breast seemed to carry COM
fort in its touch, and during the
morning hours she tried, though not
effectively, to take up one task after
another. And at last admitting her.
self defeated, she told the servants
that no one should see her, and nest
ling herself comfortably in an easy
chair in the Eoudoir from which ev-
ry ray of light was excluded, she
shut her eyes-trance like--and gave
herself up to thought.
"Three O'Clock, have three hours
to think and write my letter." a lit
tie flush of crimson coming into her
face. "What shall say to him ?"
"Four O'clock" as the silvery chime
broke her reverie again. "How the
time flies! Now, the time has
come. / must write to him." She
advanced leisurely to writing desk
o,oJ lraxx, =, =, Il