Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-06-23

bAilNs SIG HlCdiSNt, III ditg hiSh. lloN
truly thankful / am | leave to-mor-
row. Oh, | do hope Marguerite's
suspicious are not aroused. | should
die of modification | have no one
but myself to blame for my folly,
this is punishment well deserved,
for giving my heart unsought,' and
with similar distressing reflections
her mind was harassed, until ex-
hausted nature found surcease in re.
pose.
An hour later Marguerite, enter
ing, softly kissed the tear stained
cheek, as she sympathizingly muir
INJURED, II am so glad dear Agnes
could sleep.
CHAPTER V.
Upon rapid wings, dear reader, a
year has flown since the events re
corded in the last chapter.
A year TO DR.. and Mrs. Preston Of
unalloyed happiness, but oh ! repete
with bitter sorrow and anguish for
Agnes. A deep ohasm has been torn
in her tender heart by the loss of an
idolized mother, that most heart
rending, overwhelming Of all afllic-
tions; laying upon her young soul
burden too grievous to be borne
had not compassionate Saviour,
with that sympathy and love great
er, in its intensity, than fond moth
er grieving over q child, sent the
holy spirit to whisper comforting
messages ofpeace.
Oh it is only suffering and Attic
ton that can draw us nearer to God.
That "peace which passeth all under
standing now, mercifully became
hers, and henoeforth she will be a
"bright candle of the Lord fol-
lower of the Lamb, "whose ways are
pleasantness, whose paths are peace,
whose end is perfect JOY"
The lovely orphan has become an
inmate of her material uncle's house
hold, in the ''city of magnificent dis
tances,' where, with sustaining
strength from above, she has brave
ly taken up again the cross Of life.
1t not unfrequently happens that
many young ladies, after setting sal
upon the 'sea of wedlock," allow
their barques to drift, with rapid
tide, from their girlhood's friends
| and associates, to whose welfare they
become callous and Indifferent; but
| not SO Marguerite.
Frequently letters are interchang-
ed between her and her ci-derant
| con fdante, but, owing to her recent
sore bereavement, Agnes has never,
as yet, availed herself Of the many
invitations urgently extended by the
former to visit her in her own home
at Richmond, where, since her mar
| riage, she has resided.
A cold, frosty December day is
drawing to a close A.; its respondent
light superseded by that sombre
gray, almost weird-like twilight, so
strangely saddening, yet, withal, pc
culiarly fascinating in its aspect. Not
one whit, in the capital of our Union,
has the busy hustle of the day abat-
ed, but as faras one person, at least,
is concerned, the ceaseless rumbling
of vehicles passing and requesting,
and the incessant clatter Of the null
titudinous voices, so distracting to
one unaccustomed to the noise, fall
upon deafened ears.
For the last half hour, in her cozy
department, Agnes has been listless-
ly reclining in an easy rocking chair,
dreamily gazing into the CRATE, retro
specting,
"Busy memory flashing DER brain"
carries her back to the same period
one year before, and fondly dwells
on the memorable days spent in Mar
guerite's happy home. The flood
gates Of the past thus opened, a per-