Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-04-18
NAPLES LOVERS.
ALIFE SKETCH.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

sing for me once more our old sweet
song-"Annie Laurie
"No, no, guardy, not that-not
now. Let me sing you something
else.pB
"Dear girl, let it be as have said"
aWell-to please you"
A. d she went TO the piano-forte,
ran Lsr fingers over the keys, and
pretty soon began the song. Her
voice was rich and sweet, and as it
broke upon the listening air it filled
the room with melody. She was in
the midst of the second verse when
her voice began to falter, and hear
ing deep sob behind her, she broke
down entirely, and turning, she be-
held her guardian quivering with
strong emotion. She glided quickly
from the music stool, and sank down
upon the sofa by his side, and put an
arm around his neck. 80 Ass
%! Dear guardy--what is it?
Tell me. Tell me- l have right to
know 7
The two persons thus INTRODUCED
were guardian and ward. In the
other years Walter Percy and Per-
cival Richards had been firm friends.
They had been boys together; had
grown up together; had graduated
from college together; and, finally,
had been in business together, tho
Richards was two years the others
senior
When they left college, Richards
was two-and-twenty years OF age and
Percy twenty, and very shortly
thereafter they entered into part
nership in a mercantile pursuit, pur-
chasing the stock and goodwill of
an old establishment, the owner of
which, in his old age, had retired
upon acompetency This owner was
John Baldwin, and in his family was
a daughter named Lydia, who rem
der the young men much assistance
in taking account of the stock in her
fathers store, and in solving many
knotty problems of book-accounts
which they had taken upon themsel-
yes to settle and square up. She
was bright and winsome maiden,
good and true, and as fair and heal
thy as she was good-natured and
friendly.
Refore the business had been half
completed.to which Lydia Baldwin
had lent her assistance, Percival had
fallen deeply in love with her, and
within month from the day Of his
entering upon the newly arranged
business with his partner she had be-
come his promised wife.
Lydia knew that Walter Percy
had also loved her; but Richard new
er knew. With true and generous
heart Walter hid his love in his own
bosom-hid it so completely that his
partner never even mistrusted it, or
if he did, it was never knowledge
of love. He knew that Walter re
spected Lydia-that he was very
happy when she smiled upon him
but of the great passion that lay hid
den in his heart ofhearts he did not
for, as it was, they were happy ant
joyous together, without q cloud tc
darken their dear home.
Lydia Richards became the moth
err of a bright-faced, beautiful child
lived to see it walk upon its totter
ing feet, and to hear it chirp merry
song of mamma, and of love; ant
then she sank into the sleep tina
knows no earthly waking.
And from that time Walter anC
Richards loved the dear departed
alike. Now the silent lover couls
worship at the shrine of memoir,
without sin, and he found a great jo,
in the blessed adoration.
When it came to little Mable i
would be difficult to tell which lovet
the darling cherub most. At al
events, the love Of Walter aPerciva
was the deepest and most sacred.