Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-07-03

Il III @iQOl.
.You must like your situation at
the squire's, Min. she remarked one
morning as Ermine was about start
ing upon her long and early walk to
the Beach mansion. "Your eyes
are like stars, your lips bright with
smiles, and your step lightas fairy's
whenever business calls you in that
| direction. / never knew you to be
SO remarkably devoted to your work
before"
II do like my place." returned the
| pretty dress-malSer, quick blush
/ springing to her cheek. Both Miss
/ Clara and her mother are exceeding.
| " kind and pleasant to me. And as
to the old squire, why, he's jolity it.
self Yes, indeed, like my situa-
tion,0
"Are you sure that the young
squire hasn't something to do with
your extraordinary contentment2 n
inquired Lisette, mischievously.
Ermine's only answer was a saucy
move and toss of her pretty golden
head, while the blush on her fair
cheek deepened into flaming crimson.
But she was gone before roguish
Lisette could say another word,
| stopping an instant in the flower
garden to tuck some blue ragged
robins in her leather belt ere her
Wiling feet FASTENED onward to the
great white house on the hin beyond
! their farm.
~ do believe / hit the TRUTH So
liloquized Lisette, looking after her
with a sly, shrewd smile. "She
doesn't mention him often of late,
but she used to be quite enthusiastic
in her descriptions Of handsome
Walter, of whom the family were all
so proud / wonder what the jolly
old squire would say if his son-the
handsome, college-bred heir to all
wealth-were to fall in love with his
sisters seamstress. / wish he would
Bless Minis dear little heart y she's
| good and pretty enough for a king?"
| She stood there, making a very
charming picture herself in her ex-
quisitely-fitting dark print gown and
snowy collar, cardinal bow at the
throat and another in her dusky
hair setting off her dark, glowing
beauty well, until Ermine was be-
You'd sight and hearing. Then, with
a restless "Heigho! but this morn
ing is too delightful TO waste in
DOORS" she turned with dusky,
shining eyes to her beloved rifle.
| "a splendid morning to practice"
she thought, lifting it down with low
ing hands. "And who knows but |
may actually bring down some game
to-day? I'm sure | ought to be a
dead shot by this time, I've prac-
ticed faithfully enough"
And DOMINIC coquettish little
round hat Of dark straw with car
dinal wing in front, she locked the
cabin door and sailed forth to her
daily target practice.
She was about to stop at the usual
place when some object moving about
among the young trees that fringed
the creek below caught her atten-
ton.
GA deer, as true as live !" she
cried, with the enthusiasm of born
hunter. "Now, Lisette, just see if
you can't cover yourself with glory!"
And, creeping stealthily to place
of vantage, she raised her trusty rifle
to her shoulder, took-a sure aim, and
banged away.
| There was fall, and then sound
that she fancied like q human cry,
reached her ears.
Fastening to view her prize, a
thrill of some indefinable dread ming
ling with her triumph, what was her
amazement and horror to find that
she had shot-not the deer she had
been so sure of-but stalwart young
man, who lay moaning upon the
| ground his clustering yellow hair