Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-08-15

an died? Three years, upon my
word How time fiesl 1t seems
like last week, and yet I know it is
months since / have thought of her.
But what is that--does Miss Barrows
play the guitar ~
He leaned out Of his window, for
he thought he heard a low vibration
like a musical string rapidly untun-
ed. No, it seemed in the room be-
side him. He shook himself fire.
quently, murmured something about
taking cold, and then went down
stairs where Miss Barrows was
lounging in the surset glow. She
gave him sleepy little look as he
took the chair beside her; the heat
had silenced her for few moments.
Fielding took the fan from her hand
and slowly piled it back and forth
until her closed eyes and regular
breathing suggested that she might
be entirely oblivious of his presence.
He surveyed her with feeling Of
something like aversion, in spite Of
her beauty. There was no intelli-
gence in the heavenly brightness Of
her eyes, no trace Of thought on the
brows that seemed almost chiselcd !;
the slip-shod English that came from
her full throat in q voice that was
at times unearthly sweet, dismayed
his fastidious ear. He slightly push
ed back his chair and thought ofonc
Summer night when he had forgot
ten how the time passed when Dora
Varian and he paced up and down
the garden path, softly talking. Miss
Barrows stirred and Enclosed her
eyes when he moved.
"Have you missed me?n she said,
quietly, and again the guitar vibrat-
ed on the air.
What was the matter with the
girl? Those were her eyes surely
that he sat gazing into aghast, and
yet, where had they caught that look
of Dora Varian?
"Well,n she said, with Dora's own
smile, II have waited and watched
and the time has come at last when
l can see you with living eyes and
talk with living voice. Yes, you
are right. am Dora Varian."
A chill shook Fielding from head
to foot. What horrible hallucina-
ton was this? Had his close appli-
cation to work crazed him at last,
and was this the form his madness
was to take? Half timidly he touch
ed her hand; it was warm and soft
as ever.
"You need not answer me Just
now" she said gently withdrawing
from his touch. "Let me explain to
you first how this came to pass.
When died told you / should see
you again, and three long years
have been beside you day and night,
trying to give you some sign Of my
presence. Whenever you thought of
me I knew it and tried to tell you
so, but all efforts only resulted in
some strange sound. ] felt that you
heard it, for you always looked
to account for it in some natural
way. But oh, Mark, it is six months
since / have entered your mind"
"Where is she-where is Miss Bar.
rows?" inquired Fielding, adapting
himself as one does in some grotesque
dream.
Sleeping, and so / can be with
you. Shall / come AGAIN."
"Amyv' called the mother from
the house. The girl in the chair
whoever she might be, closed her
lids for q few moments, and when
they opened Miss Barrows made
some fiippant remark about her nap
with disregard of grammar and
vowel sounds that kept Fielding in
irritated silence. She gave him a
coquettish tap with the fan she had
snatched from him, and ran into the
house. Fielding slowly followed
her, and persuaded himself that he