Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-03-13


the young man thought long and
despondently.
He had hardly realized TN now
the true depth of the love which fill
ed his heart for the girl who but
yesterday was his promised wife.
In vain the birds overhead war
bled their sweetest strains, and on
every side the allnring attractions
Of Nature appealed to his eyes.
Royal needed them not. For him
the future to which he had looked
forward with such joyful anticipa-
lions would henceforth be a blank.
How long he remained there lost in
thought be knew not. At last he
rose and walked slowly away.
The next week Mabel recen ed a
short note telling her that by that
time he would be far on his way
West, IS he had accepted an invita-
ton which had been extended to him
by some friends to join them on a
tour through California.
News from home frequently reach
ed Royal, and sometimes in the let
tiers which he received Mabel's name
would be mentioned. He heard that
preparations were being made for
her approaching marriage, and then,
later, that her mother had suddenly
died.
The Young man had tried ever
since their last interview to drive
the haunting sweetness Of Mabel
Lowerie's face from his mind, but in
vain. Day and night it rose before
him. At length he received a letter
from a friend containing the follow
ing sentences:
Have you heard Of Arthur Doane's
sudden marriage? Much to his par
ents rage, and every ones surprise
he has married young girl who
was governess to his sisters. You
can imagine what a sensation it has
made.
That was all, but it was enough to
cause glad hope to spring sudden
ly to life in Royals heart. Conf
dent of Mabel's love, he felt that,
after all, the future still held happi-
ness for them both. But though he
longed to return home Immediately
and try his fate once more, he was
unable to do SO, for he had engaged
to travel a couple Of months morein
the Rocky Mountains to make q few
sketches for pictorial periodical.
1t happened that an artist friend
named Reginald Eaton was about to
start for home So, to him he in
trusted a message to Mabel, together
with some of the sketches he had
made of the exquisite scenery of the
Yosemite, through which he had
travelled.
Meanwhile for Mabel the time dur
ing which she had been separated
from Royal had brought with it SER
ious changes. First she had been
called upon to mourn her mothers
death, and then had come the news
of her cousins sudden and unexpec-
ted marriage.
Since the few lines in which he
had hidden her farewell, she had not
heard from Royal: but the girl was
waiting for his return with an expec-
tant heart, longing to tell him thai
she was free and that the love she
had once cherished fer him still liv-
ed. The days went by, till one
morning the papers were filed with
accounts Of terrible railroad acct
dent. A train had been thrown
from the track, and q great many of
the passengers had been seriously
injured, and some killed. With di-
lated eyes, and a face CHASTITY with
horror, Mabel read of one gentleman
who had been crushed beyond rec
ognition, but who was supposed to
be an artist named "Royal Esmond, !"
rs his clothes were marked with the
initials ar e., and some sketches