Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-03-03
he almost stumbled orer Jane Graves.

He almost stumbled orer Jane Graves.
A green tinted cologne bottle stood near by
and he bethought himself TO dash the cool
contents into her face, and felt quite doc
tors surprise to SEQ any good result follow his
ministrations The banished blood stole slow
" back into her olive cheeks. He bent over
her and lifted her shapoly little hands, as
dainty as q princess, and tried to arrange
them In some graceful position. How pretty
she was: il her lips were a little full that was
very pardonable fault
A sudden mad thought warmed his body;
why not wait till she opened her eyes, this
charming little girl, and then swear to her
that he loved herr What was love then that
such a pretty face and form as this should
not have itl She was no cold woman; her
kisses and endcarments--but his eyes had
crown cold and hard while he looked at her.
If she were Cleopatra she could be nothing
to him. her kisses would only stifle him with
her passion; her clinging soft arms about his
neck would only stranglc him. He knew to
his sorrow what it was to love, and pretty
sham, no matter how its voluptuous articles
might make his hot blood surge through his
veins, could still for one moment the immor-
tai longing il only Knocked. She moved a
little as she lay; and he started and went out.
The girls eyes opened slowly ON the rich
blue lambrequins and the rare frescoing Of
the room. She vaguely wondered for one de-
Iicious moment if she awole some rich gen.
tleman's wife and her old line of poverty was
mast forever. Why, she was in Mr.. Filings
worth's bed chanber2 How came she herel
And her hair was wet and the rufiies on her
neck were damp--it was cologne. Then she
remembered everything, and roso from the
august couch she had unworthily pressed.
She laid back the great pillows and tried to
smooth out The outlines of her form on the
spotless Counterpart and then made her way
down stairs The house was so still it fright
ened her; it was as if everybody in the world
had died while She lay in herfaint Tho hall
below was empty, too, and the outer door
shut She opened the parlor door; she felt as
if she must find somebody to case the tension
Of her nerves.
Mr.. Ellingsworth sat with his head bowed
on his hands: he knew it all; his homo was
desolated, his pride outraged At tho noise
he uncovered his face for a moment and
looked up, and tho cruel light falling on his
distressed face revealed the marks Of ago his
TRANQUIL course Of life and selfish and COM
placent philosophy had so long softened and
covered He saw the graceful figure of his
maid in a pretty attitude of hesitation on his
pleasure. He was alone in the world but for
her: deserted in his own home only for her
"Come here, Jennie,n be said in a broken
voice.
She came into the room, anda few steps
toward him. Then she stopped. Her face
was almost as pale as when she tainted, but
her black eyes shone with unusual feverish
brilliancy.
"Give me your hand, dear"
The girl started, and half turned as if to
escape. Then strange thoughts darted
through her brain A warm, red flush
mounted from her neck. and spread itself in
tingling waves Of shame to the very roots of
her black hair. She came up TO him, and
reached out her little hand. He pressed it
gently, then he laid it against his cheek. Her
heart bounded in sudden revolt, but she con-
trolled herself with an effort of sheer will,
and did not move, but her startled eyes
sought the floor. And so this was her proud
master. But what harm if he wanted to be
foolish and sentimentall it was no matter to
anybody now, no one cared for her unkissed
lips.
"Jennie," he said at last, "come nearer to
me-
And she kneeled by his chair, in a sudden
impulse she dared not define, not yet. She
put her other hand in his, and lifted her
dark, wet eyes TO his face. Then he bent
down to the upturned face, that never
finched, and in another instant he held il
his arms her form that seemed to shrink only
that he must clasp her the closer.
"Will you be my wife, Jennieg / never
loved woman as I do you. Will you be
my wife, Jennief
YES" whispered the red lips that never
once turned away from his thick raining
kisses.
In Bertha Ellingsworths own parlor it
was, with her mothers face looking down
from the painted canvas, in thu room where
the daughter of the house had so coldly en-
tertained the heir Of the Breton mills. Ali
yes, and where she had taught Curran, the
prophet of the poor, to love her, and she the
very essence Of the spirit he taught them to
hate But how her proud face would vince
nowi Ii she were only herel Her father,
the haughtiest of men, TO everybody in the
great world beneath him cold as an iceberg,
they said, arrogant as any duke Of courtly
circle, could it be he praying, with hot
breath, the love and the hand of his servant
maidl Could il be he holding her 50 fondly
in his arms, where he might have gathered
coy DANES of the statelicst rank, lavishing
honeyed words and mad endearments on his
poor servant girl, whose only nice dress il was
he was crushing so recklesslyl All! it was
worth the cost, if she had TO tear her heart
out. for all that wealth can buy viii DO hers.
CONTINUED
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