Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-09-13
bright, defiant thing, perhaps, and

| "iS uo 70 iouhu vi tuO SuoIC Va VIC
dar Creek, launching her miniature
boats amid the shadows, wading ir
the water, with bare, brown feet, as
exquisite in form as a sculptor's
model, or swinging in the fork Of an
overhanging willow, watching the
wild ducks as they sailed down the
| stream.
"She's an out-an' out Kelpie,n said
old Hawks, the Maplethorp miller
and from that hour the name chung
| to her.
i Tom made good his promises, and
worked hard and willingly for his
mother and her adopted child.
There came a time, though, when
the little slumbering town was toe
small for Tom.
His growing capacities called for
some wider field of action.
| Where there is a will, there is gen.
orally a way open.
A fine opportunity came up, and
Tom availed himself of it at once.
But it required a severe wrench
to tear himself away at Maplethorp,
and the little cottage under the shell.
4 ter of the pine woods,
| Kelpie, Pm going" he said,
when he had parted with his mother.
/ The girl was driving her lambs
into their fold.
She turned round and faced him.
"Pm going" repeated Tom, stand
ing up straight and handsome, a
wistful expression in his resolutely
gray eyes, "but I shall come back,
Kelpie."
| The girl stood like a statue. .
"Shall find you here at the old
cottage 7" he went on. "Will you
wait, Kelpie, and have a welcome
for me ~
/ A slight culver stirred her red
lips, but she looked at him with shy,
almost defiant eyes.
81 cannot .promise," was all she
said.
A shadow of pain crossed the
young mans eager face.
He made step forward, and
caught her two hands.
"You are cruel" he cried. "You
know love you-"
"Stop," she commanded, freeing
herself of his grasp: will not hear
another word. You have been kind
and good to me all my life, and am
not ungrateful; let that suffice. Go
you your way, and leave me to
mine."
Tom drew deep breath.
His eyes flashed.
"You prefer someone else," he
said, bitterly. "If it we're DR.. Tai
colt asking You for yonr promise,
you would answer him quite differ
emily, I'll warrant"
off you think SO, well and good"
she made answer, and turning from
him, followed her lambs to pasture.
Years came and went.
Kelpie grew up to wOmanhood,
straight as a dart, and graceful as a
young willow.
There was not young man in
Maplethorp who would not have
risked life and limb for smile from
her shy, red lips, or glance offavor
from her luminous dusky eyes.
But she kept them all at dis
lance, even young Talcott.
There came, as time sped on, a
spring afternoon wild with mad
storm and RAIN.
The valley was deluged, and the
mad winds tossed and bent the
pines, and tore off the branches of
the naples.
II must see that the lambs are
folded" said Kelpie, as the twilight
drew near.
"You'd better stay in doors, and
let the creatures shift for them
Selves" said the widow, from the
chimney corner.
But Kelple had win of her own,
and went out into the storm.
A little later she looked in.
"The house lamb is missing,'
she said: "Pm going to find it,"
NAY, nay p cried the widow,
"you must not think of it. Ten to
one it has strayed beyond the creek.
Let it alone.'
"The water is rising rapidly, and
it may perish. 1t is a poor, little
stray lamb, too" said the girl, her
bright eyes softening. 81 raised it
myself; / cannot leave it to die"
1 Maplethorp was fast closed against
the storm, not a creature to be seen
in the streets.
"Beyond. in the ravine in which
the creek ran, the gale had been
/ fearful.
/ Kelple went resolutely on, calling
I,ar Loot lo,,h in a oloar binh xrioo