Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-03-21
A GIDDY GIRL.
BY CHARLOTTE NJ. STANLEY.

He was the owner Of the factory in
which / worked, (for mother and
were poor, and had to do the best we
could when father dIed), and when
he noticed me more than all the 9th
er girls, and made pretty little fiat
tering speeches to me as he passed
me at nay work, and rode past our
cottage of an evening sometimes (al-
though he had no business to take
him that Way, and stopped--if moth
or was out of the way--to beg flow
or from me for his buttonhole--when
he did all these things, |, being but
vain, giddy girl, was both pleased
and fiattered, and thought it grand
and fine triumph to be admired by
one whose station was in every way
superior to my own.
But wasn't bit in love with him.
Oh, mol How could | be, when my
whole heart belonged to John Arden :
whose sweetheart I had been for more
than q year, with promise and VOW
to marry him as soon as his wages
should be raised. We might have
married at once, only for mother; she
had to be provided for--dear soul
and Johns means we're hardly sufi-
cient for all three of us.
John worked in the neighboring
city, and came over to see me nearly
every Sunday, and sometime on an
evening during the week. When he
was absent l amused myself with Mr..
Radnor's fancy for mo; meaning no
harm by my Irritation, however, tho
sometimes, I confess did think, with
something like regret, what a fine
thing it would have been if | had but
been free to marry my employer, and
be lady, rich and idle, all my life.
After all, it wasn't greatly to be
wondered at that l should cast an
envious eye on ease and luxury. [
had served such a hard apprentice
to poverty and hard work; but, OF
course, as Johns betrothed, I had no
right to think Of such things in con
nection with another man. I am not
attempting to make any excuse for
my folly. However bitter my pun
ishment was, 1 brought it all on my
self, and had it been even more severe
it would still have been only just.
But girls, especially pretty ones,
will often do great deal of mischief
out of mere thoughtlessness and fri
volity, and 1 suppose the real truth is
that that was the case with me.
It was on certain Friday evening
just after I had gone home from my
work. wasn't expecting visit from
John, for he never came on Fridays,
and I wasn't thinking Of him just
then, because Mr.. Radnor had walk
ed all the way home with me, and my
heart was all futter and my head
was pretty much turned, with his
pretty, fattering speeches-well, as
was saying, upon q certain evening,
John walked into our kitchen, where
was setting the table for tea, and
stood there looking at me, without
ever saying word,
My heart jumped almost into my
mouth, he startled me SO 1t seem
for minute as if his grave eyes were
looking rightinto my secret thoughts,
and seeing how much they wronged
him. And when I regained my self
possession sufficiently to coup to him
with a little, uneasy laugh and say
GLOW you did startle me, Johnl" he
never offered to embrace me, but he
held me off with warning hand and
looked at me with such pale, sterr
face, that I knew, without telling
that something was wrong, and my
conscience made me very uncomfor
table.
So / faltered out quite peevishly
"What is it, John? For gracious
sake don't stand and look like that
Is there anything the matter'"
eyes,, he answered in low, deer