Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-03-31
S-;5seate=-S Ass
--.rSsscezzs<ssa 80 80
DIefoD MILLS
BY CHARLES ]. BELLAMY.
Copyrighted by the Author, and puplished
by arrangement with him.
BY CHARLES ]. BELLAMY.
CHAPTER XVIII.

be was too much ABSORBED with MS delicate
errand to take any notice of her. Bertha
was alone somewhere, deserted, unprotected.
Something must be done for her. 1t was a
strange place to seek pity for her, in the
woman's bosom which he had seen heaving
in hate of her; but magnanimous heart Is
won't to count ON the generosity of others.
The maid had said Mr.. Ellingsworth was not
in, and so he was left to appeal to the woman
ly tenderness of his wife.
He rose suddenly from the satin covered
sofa and looked wonderiEgly at a woman's
form in the doorway. Could this be the poor
little factory girl, this fashionably dressed
woman, with a train like queens! lie had
stupidity enough expected to find her in the
+. same old calico dress, perhaps with the
dingy, plaid shawl about her shoulders.
But the girl was not so sensitive as to be an
noyed Had not she kept him waiting while
she dressed ON purpose to enjoy Triumph
And now she was quite pleased at the plain
evidence Of it. She smiled rather consciously
as she extended her jeweled little hand to
him
"Why haven't you called beforeE Her
voice had lost the desperate or sullen tone he
remembered in it of old, but he was not sure
he liked it any better. He bowed, like any
us ITO bDuChCu t4Sl MANU- thh
noticed the great gold bracelets on her slim
wrists. Philip was unpleasantly reminded of
nanaclcs and then the massive chain around
her neck, with huge locket shaped like a
paddock, had suggestions, too, of sort, he
fancied, the girl would hardly have liked if
she had thought of them. He glanced at her
olive cheeks, and the slightly oblique eyes,
and the voluptuous fullness of her form.
How could an American village have pro
duced so perfect an odalisque!
81 did not wish to interrupt your honey
moon" He seated himself again.
She was looking oddly at him. as if curious
whether he had forgotten her indiscreet visit,
when she had told him of her own broken
heart.
Philip suddenly met her eyes as she sat OPP
posite him. THE truth is, Mrs. Filings
worth, have hardly been in the mood for
polite calls of late. | suppose you under
stand.n
Glow should II" She elevated her dark
crows rather unpleasantly as if to dismiss,
once for ALL any further condolences with
him Philip smiled, in spite of himself, at
ner tactics.
''Do you know where Bertha jsf' he asked,
simply.
A sudden flash of color lit up her cheeks.
~ hate the very name of her, she exclaimed,
as she rose as if to leave him. She was not
get wonted to the customs of her new rank.
"Don't CO." he urged, 81 am SO anxious to
know where she is. No doubt you have
cause to be angry with her" Philip did not
notice the growing passion in tho girls eyes,
-'but you surely would not have her starve to
DEATH or suffer and die alone"
''Perhaps not;n Jane meant to smile, but
she only produced the effect of showing the
;ruel white of her teeth Hasn't she got"
che word stuck in her throat, 'himF'
"Why, didn't you know cried Philip
oreathlessly, "she has left him? She is alone
somewhere, for all we know, in want; think
of it, and she too proud to-"
LEFT her husbands"
''If he was her husband didn't inow,n he
hurried on, as if afraid of the answer that
woul come; 81 never heard, and / didn't
like to ask"
She had seated herself ON the pink satin
beside him and caught his hands as she bent
toward him to read his thoughts before he
spoSe.
''Did you hear they were not marriedw she
almost Kissed at him.
"Why, yes, that is he looked away in
his shame. cit was told about the village
but you know better, of course He tried to
laugh, then grew sober again. Glow vile of
them to whisper it, and it was vile of me to
let even the faint Of fear into my mind"
But she did not answer him yes or no. Her
eyes had grown preternaturally large, and
there was happiness in them rs if she looked
right into the gates Of heaven. All the com
mon expressions were gone from her face
One could read there now nothing but purity
and sweetness, such as make up the substance
of dreams of love,
"And he is alone Obi where is he2 I
must know I must go TO him. 1t cannot
be true" The angelic look fitted, the ex-
quisite dropping at the corners of her mouth
was gone,
''If you have dared to lie to me-" Philip
was perfectly astonished at the sudden
change in her face and voice. Her black
eyes blazed ungovernable passion into his
The quick transition from the height OF
blissful hope to the depths of deep despair
seemed to bear her over the line OF humanity
"Tell me, have you lied to make a show OF
megn
She trembled for an instant, like wild
creature before spring, then she clutched
with her hot supple fingers at his throat,
magnificent as a tigress and in every motion
perfect, terrible grace. Philip threw her
from him as he would some untamed animal
it was hard TO remember her womanhood
then.
She sat where he had left her, as If just
awoke from terrible nightmare, her fingers
parted and curved and moved spasmodically
as il she yet held him by the throat. Then
she buried her face in the cushion in n food
OF tears.
81 didn't know what | was doing" sho
/ sobbed 'Don't remember it, I was mad -
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