Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-02-20


Eyes. I heard him tell you that
/ was an old fame of his, and ]
thought that probably you would be
benefited if l told you the whole
story of that little Irritation of ours
!; in anld lang syne. Ten years ago
when | first met Erie Thorne, I was
j, earning my living as a music teach
er. He was-c0mparatively speak
ing-a poor man, but he told me be
loved me, and asked me to become
his wife, and well, Miss Beauford
| was scarce more than a child, only
seventeen, and quite alone in the
world, SO | gladly consented to mar
ry him. We were to be married in
September, and was happy as a
bird I; but just one month before our
wedding day his uncle died, leaving
Eric sole heir to all his property.
Then Eric asked to be released from
his engagement to me, and said
good by; giving as his reason for SO
doing that it would be ruin for him
to hamper himself with a wife who
had been raised in poverty A year
later l married old Mr.. Gresham. and
now, as his widow. am richer than
Eric Thorne will ever be, and have
come to Newport this summer solely
to settle my old score with him.
"Did you love Eric very much,
Mrs. Gresham ?" asked Nell, after a
moments silence.
I" thought so then, but / found
out, later on, that had been mis-
taken in thinking | loved him." re-
replied Mrs. Gresham.
"Ah, then, it was not SO hard for
you as it is for me to give him up,
for-oh, Mrs. Gresham! | love Eric
Thorne better than my life, only he
will flirt so desperately"
"And SO, for fear that he would
flirt with me, You broke your en-.
gagement ~
heard that you were wealthy,
beautiful, and so very fascinating
that | was afraid you would win my
love from me. He is very sus-
ceptible, and-and-n
Miss Beauford could get no fur
Their with her defence indeed, when
she came TO look at it calmly, it
seemed a very childish piece of bus
mess altogether, and she was heart
lily ashamed of it.
"Miss Beauford,'' said Mrs. Ores
ham, kindly, "let me take this mat
ter into my own hands, and prom
Use that within three months Eric
Thorne will be at your feet again,
and think I may also promise you
that he will be effectually cured of
MS nlftlnS prOpenSltleS.@
CHAPTER II.
Edith, you know |. love you to-
day as dearly-nay, dearer, | th ink,
| if possible-than / did those sweet
days in auld lang syne. Our parting
was all mistake, darling; you for
got me and married, but Edith, l
remained single up to this time for
your dear sake"
But, Eric, am certain that l
heard it rumored that you were en-
gagged to that pretty little dark girl
who was here when | first arrived.
Beauford, Helen Beauford-that was
her name, l believe"
81 engaged to Nell Beauford
Ha! ha! ha!" Capt. Thorne was
evidently amused, but Mrs. Ores
hams violet eyes still looked ques-
tionably at him, he fastened to ex.
plain that cit was only a summer
Irritation, my dear Edith-~nothing
more, assure you.n
"You are a sad flirt, Eric" de.
clared Edith, blushing and playing
with the only ring she wore.
"Well, l will promise and declare
that l will renounce forever all my
faults on the day you give me per-
mission to take that ring off your
finger and put another in its place."
Mrs. Gresham blushed most be-
comingly, and suddenly grew very
distant and coy. 1t took an i'm
mense deal OF persuasion to get her
to consent, but she at last did So
on one condition.
"And what is that condition, my
darling :" he asked, anxiously.
/ Well, You know, dear, when
married Philip it was such very
nrosy wedding; SO matter of fact
and unromantic that vowed since
my bereavement that if ever / mar
ried again"-here the widow blushed
again charmingly-"I would elope.n
Sand SO you shall, my dearest"
replied Erie, eagerly. HWe fly to-
gether this very night. Say YES
Edith, my own,r
But Edith laid her golden head on
his shoulder and murmured softly
mo, Eric, not tonight; there is
no need for such haste.r