Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-02-24
The Second Love.
"Isn't she lovely ~

astically. His was nature not Of
ten stirred but very deep and ear
nest and Fernand Wallace looked
into his face and wondered, with Il
half smile, how it would seem to feel
things below mere surface depth.
He was handsome, this Fernaud
Wallace, with soft,treacherous eyes,
features like the Apollo Belvidere,
and Lutte sweet voice; and Tom
Charlesworth, who read every one
according to the keynote Of his own
noble nature, loved him as if they
had been brothers.
"She's well enough" said Wal
lace, debonairly. Nose just a bit
too short, and the lips full, but 9TH
erwise what the world calls beauti
full. SO you're hard hit, my boy ?"
81 love her dearly" said Tom, in
a voice, quiet and unimpassioned;
"And God willing, | will be good
husband to her, and you had better
remain, to be my best man. 1t is
hardly worth while to return to Ex-
eter for three weeks"
"Well, perhaps you age right, old
fellow said Fernand Wallace but
any enc a trifle more observant than
Tom, would have noticed that the
handsome, restless eyes evaded his
gaze with strange subtlety.
'Do you hear, Elsie ?" said Tom,
exuNantly. "Fernand will stay to
our wedding. / knew we would
pursuade him.
Elsie Mordaunt looked suddenly
up from her fancy work, and some
thing wild and piteous in her gaze,
attracted Toms attention.
"Elsie, are you i'll 2"
Elsie laughed little Historically.
"No-what nonsence, Tom, I'm
we'll enough. Don't get any absurd
notions into your head
The night before the wedding Tom
strobe over the fields toward Elsje's
heme.
The little room where she was
wont to sit and wait for him was
dark and the window was open.
Tom leaned his elbows on the case
ment and looked in.
"Elsie, darling I"
But there came no answer. Elsie
was not there.
He went around to the orthodox
entrance, feeling little disappoint-
ed he scarcely knew why. Mrs.
Mordaunt met him in the hall, with
white and scared face.'
"Oh, Mr.. Charlesworth, we were
just going to send for you ~ she ex
claimed.
"To send for me - Toms face
blanched. "What has happened
Is Elsie i'll ?''
Mrs. Mordaunt's lips trembled but
gave forth no sound, as she placed
in Charlesworth' s hand a note stain.
ed with her own tears-a brief note
written by Elsie.
Don't blame me, mamma, nor
let him blame nae, because | could
not help loving Fernand the best.
Tell him not to feel bad !: for indeed
indeed | was not worthy of his
love, and he will be happier without
me-poor Tom ]"
And it was signed with the one
word Elsie
Charlesworth quickly gave back
the note, and walked forth into the
starry silence of night. No eye but
that of the All.seing should witness
the secret anguish of his heart.
X
smother thought you would come
sir, lift you knew how poor she
was, and that father was dead"
A burst of tears checked the
child's voice as she stood, with her
dropping head and hands tightly
clasped together, in Mr.. Charles
worth's library.
"But, my child, you have not told
me who your mother is, nor who you
are"
81 am Margaret, and my mother
is called Elsie Wallace"
Mr.. Charlesworth arose and took
the child's hand.
Come, child, land take me to your
hOuSe.O was all he said