Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-03-03


ceased, and again and again
"And is there another fire, your honorTs
The hroad faced chambermaid had come
up from the kitchen and stood with arms
akimho, trying TO make her rich Irish voice
| heard above the sounding gong.
''Do You know where your mistress isgn
''No-a; il she he not inside indade"
"Didn't she go over to neighbours some
whereW questioned Philip eagerly.
Not that | knows on, sir
''Has anybody been here's Didn't you tend
| door, you ninnyln
''The bell didn't ring till now, sir; but lavo
me think bit, and the woman rubbed her
head meditatively.
Quick, cried Philip, between hope and
fear.
Don't scare me, sir, or / can't do nothink y
He moved his feet restlessly ON the inlaid
hall floor and he had bowed his head as if
| studying the artists design; but it was for
| fear he should catch some terrible signifi-
canoe in Jane Graves black eyes. He could
! hear her dress rustic; he knew she was look
| ing at him, waiting for him to lift his face;
| but he would not have met her eyes at that
moment for all the world.
'sYis, there was rumblin' team come up,
and thought hearn man come to the
| dure and thin go back; but the bell didn't
| ring, sir, and | didn't make no count on it.
No, sir, hewitt hearn missus movin' roun
sense, and knows she be all over the house
| before
The creatures tongue was Embossed and
| she kept on talking, but Philip had bounded
| up the broad stairs and thrown open the door
of the room he thought was Bertha's.
In another moment the gas blazed up to
~ 4 L 4 -
from side to side as if he thought to find
heart breaking story written all over the
gold papered walls. Then his eyes became
fixed on the black walnut bureau with its
long mirror coming down through the CEN
ter. On the marble slab at the foot of the
mirror he saw a satin covered handkerchief
case, and pinned upon it a piece of paper.
In three steps he had clutched little per-
fumed note, with a ribbon fastened ON it as If
for a signal, delicate bow Of white ribbon.
Mr.. Ellingsworth's name was written on it.
1t was all here, and yet Philip hesitated
moment as o man would hesitate to cut off
manned and poisoned limb. And it was al
most unconsciously at last that his nervous
| fingers tore the note open and let the bit of
white ribbon flutter to the floor. He seemed
| to read very slowly and the flush faded from
his face and left it very calm. There could
| be nothing very thrilling written there surely
But every line and curve was branded for.
ever on his heart.
~ have gone with Curran. knew could
not stand your reproaches, butI can only be
happy with the man love. Society win dis
own me. He is more to me than ALL,
BERTHA
He crushed the bit of paper in his hand,
and looked up to see Jane Graves standing in
the doorway, pale as death. Beside her stood
the red checked chambermaid, speeches.
again, this time with astonishlnent to see the
young man make SO free in her mistress
chamber
"Gone with Curran; oh yes, it is all writ
ten out. Well, that is joke; a man who
don't wear cuffs, and Bertha loves him
Why, / never could dress to suit herr And
he threw himself into a chair and burst into
| commissions of laughter till the tears came.
"Well, there may be something else,n and
he stepped jauntily up to the bureau again.
Certainly, jewel box with my name on
/ it; OH to be sure, our engagement ring He
held it up to catch the sparkle Of the solitaire
diamond eyes, yes, a very proper and deli
cate spirit. l wasn't mistaken in Bertha, she
always had a nice sense of propriety"
He came a little unsteadily toward the
as death, with her two little hands pressed
tightly upon her bosom. Philip wondered
impatiently what was the matter with the
girl. If he could treat the whole wretched
business like q huge joke, what the deuce
was the use of her playing tragedy queen over
it2 What childs play life's solemnest woes
and failures are after all mans dread of
theml 1t is mixing up flesh and blood with
them spoils their grand effects. Men and
women are only fit for the cheapest kind of
low comedy. How it must amuse the inn
mortal gallery gods when a man attempts to
sustain the tragedy pitch in his experiences
If one can only get the true point of view,
there is no such thing as a noble situation,
glorious victory or desperate dilemma. The
dignity of sorrow is a ridiculous misnomer.
Everything is only more or less funny ac-
cording to its pretentiousness-for example,
the astonishing denouement of his love epi-
sode.
Now Norah, the chambermaid, with face
like pumpkin and eyes like sauoers, was
suitable lay figure for such an occasion.
"Why, here, Norah, this is really a very
good diamond. l bought it for the best per-
NIT me to present it to you. Bertha, your
late mistress, mean, was large woman; no
doubt you can wear it over your little finger.
Consider il as q reminder of this charming
evening. All, let me put it on, you are not
used to jewels-thus. Now, my love, you
may run down stairs and show your pretty
present"
He turned his strangely bright eyes to the
wall at the foot of Berthas bed.
"My picture, too. How the girls heart
must have glowed night and morning over
it," He took it down and held it before him
a moment,
"a foolish face" he muttered between his
teeth, the wild merriment fading out of his
features. He bent and laid the picture glass
upward on the floor, then he ground it
viciously beneath the heel of his boot, and
walked away without deigning to cast an
other look at it.
Berthas pure bed, which her graceful form
had pressed so many years-an inscrutable