Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-12-25

So that Christmas evening Mother and |
were alone There had been something in
mothers manner all day which | could not
not understand She seemed to have some
thing on Der mind. She was loving and ten
der to me- so tender that thought that no
one had ever had a mother like mine, and yet
sometimes when spoke to her she scarcely
heard me. But we had quiet, happy day
We always were happy togetherand late in
the evening mother sat down in her chair by
the fire and said:
@Come and sit here. Janet, your little
stool, and put your head ON my knee. have
a story to tell you night"
"A story, mother dear? Oh, that is lovely,
like being child again."
at is Il true story, Janet, of your life and
mine have never cared to tell it TO you be-
fore. but am not afraid now-my child and
I have loved each other all these years-no. /
am not afraid
"What could you he afraid of, dear
nsother2"
lyon shall hear and judge" she said, put
ting her hands on my head and then she be-
gam "When was young, younger than you
are ] was engaged TO be married. My home
was very unhappy, and when Andrew West
ern came and asked me TO marry him l was
read 70 revere the ground he trod upon. He
mad been coming anu 10
our house for some time on business with my
father, and believe that from the very first
day he saw my misery. We were-and to
my remembrance always had been-poor, but
if had been boy my father would have
possessod thousands year. ! never wondered
that he hated me, that my mother mourned
and fretted from morning till night; they had
brought me up To feel guilty Of a crime and
did feel it in my Utmost heart. 1t was no
marvel that, when Andrew asked me to marry
him. looked upon him as an angel OF deliv-
erance | loved him with an intensity which
amazed and frightened him. 1t was in vain
he tried to make mo sober and reasonable. 1t
was in vain he told me that such worship was
WRONG and foolish, that it gave him no happi-
ness, while to me it must bring disappoint-
ment | could not listen and at last wear
led him. He said little about II after awhile,
but he went away, and once more my life was
desolate He said he would como back, but
he never did lie wrote to me often, kind,
tender letters, but they chilled my heart; and
then one day lie wrote TO tell me that it must
be all over between us. He told me how he
had striven to hold fast by his old love for me,
but he could not; the mere effort panied him,
the thought of my passionate devotion filled
him with dread. He could never return such
love- be could never endure 10 have 1t Law
lshed upon him; once for all he would give it
n death blow: when his letter reached me he
should be married.
II had another lover then, Janet, and al
most hated him, but before many weeks were
over | became his wife. He loved me always,
but we quarreled. / could not pretend TO
love him, and he grew reckless; our home
was miserable, and within year he died /
was too i'll to know what happened for q long
time after that. Strange faces passed before
me, strange voices spoke kindly words OF
pity, and once every day it seemed to mo that
Andrew came and stood by my bed When
at last / woke to reason again, you We're be-
eide me- Oh, how loyed you How pas
sionately l loved you'll You seemed to me to
be all the world, and you saved my lifel
@NIy husband had net LETT me in poverty, l
had no need to work, and spent my whole
life in watching over you. made no friends,
for cared for none. forgot the miseries OF
my fathers house; forgot my quarrels with
my husband; l forgot c.en my love for An
drew, and was scarcely moved when heard
that death had visited his home as well as
mine. and that he was indeed desolate. for his
wife had died and left him childless. Three
happy wears passed away almost without a
cloud. You crew and throve Every day
seemed 70 nay delighted eyes to give a new
charm. d new beauty to my Treasures ana
then ia Tie midss Of nay JOY you fell ILL., Day
and night night and day, watched by your
bea--nav, Janet, give me no thanks % was
selfish lovel ID was all in vain that doctor
ard nurse o,oued with me | would not
leave Won It was fever and must run IT,
coalr ..-.eiI III you should recover, my
strength would be needed. when you coulc