Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-06-21

| not speak, and persistently turned
her head away.
| "Huldah ~
"Please let 60 my hands," sh'
pleaded.
! First tell me that you love m'
| just little"
| "I-oh, let me gol'' and Huldal
wrested her small brown digits from
her lovers clasp, just as the garden
| gate swung open to admit portly
gentleman in blue broadcloth, with
a gold-headed cane and a most rubi
cund countenance, and-as he lifted
his carefully brushed tile CALAMITY
a shining bald head. ut is Squire
Peters," said Huldah. Are you
going? Shall l not introduce you ~
mo 1 thank you," Graham re.
turned, with great deal of sava
geness in word and action. IN &C
down in the orchard and look for
some cherries = he added, making a
wry face. "This is my last day at
Clovertop, you know, Miss Huldah
Au revoir ~
| And he was gone, climbing over
the orchard wall, aud striding away
through the deep grass, without SO
much as glance in the direction of
the cherry-trees, muttering to him
self, as he WENT
II believe girls are alike the world
over! But can't think she has
been playing with me. All the
same; I'm not sorry to-day is the
last.''
And Huldah sat where he left her,
on the sunny porch, her fingers,
trembling sadly now, busted with
the peas, and strange, uncomfort-
able swelling in her throat. His last
day and she had not known it i and
now he never, never would come
back! The pretty, dark eyes brim-
med with tears, and would have run
over, had not Huldah, in very des-
peration, caught up her pan and fled,
just as the portly squire Numbered
along to the porch.
Poor little Huldah how should
she suspect that Squire Peters would
ascribe her sudden departure to
maidenly modesty, and think more
of her on account of itY
sJust what l like to see ~ he said
to himself, humping on the door
with his gold-headed cane; "just
what like to see. She won't throw
herself at any man! just what I
like to see I'll speak to her with
out delay"
And so he did, delaying no longer
than until dinner was over, and
Huldah free to bring her dainty
sewing chair to the porch.
"Miss Huldah," he said, in the
first moment he found himself alone
with her, "Miss Huldah-hem T.
you are doubtless-you no doubt I'M
derstand the object of my visits
here z"
Huldah glanced up gravely. How
pretty she was in that neat muslin,
freshly starched and ironed, and fit-
ting her plump figure to perfection
The squire bent an admiring gaze
upon her.
"You must know what 1 have
come f0r,' he said, tenderly; "do
you not 2"
"To see fathers Chester Whites p''
Huldah questioned with a demure
smile, remembering sundry visits to
the pig-pens. II think you said so. -
"Quite facetious, really" the
squire returned, blandly, attempting
to take her hand. "But-'
sob, don'tl" shrieked Huldah;
and again, as once before, she fled.
And Squire Peters, looking about
him in mute establishment for some
explanation of her hasty departure,
saw a tall figure in white duck suit
striding off down the dusty, country
road.
| us that young fellow, Hathaway's
nephew ?" the Squire muttered.
"Of course be hadn't anything to do
with it. That doesn't stand to rea-
son 70
How that might have been, it is
certainly quite true that Graham
Clarke had a great to do with HUI
dah's sudden leaving. He had paus-
ed at the gate an instant, and in
thot ipotopt cha had caap him -