Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-12-29
MARTINsBURG, W. VA, SATURDAY, DEC. 80. 1888.

had thought OF all OF them while had been
away, still holding both her hands in a
hearty clasp.
II wish you Happy New Year and many
Happy New Years." said finally. ''Your
welcome makes me very, very happy. Now,
let us go and find Alma"
"Do you really mean it, DR.. Masonn and
sho looked up at me with a strange, yearn-
ing expression on her plain face, W hich was
flushing with red, like an early morning sky.
mean it'll Mean it every word, with all
my heart" and held her hands tighter than
ever in my enthusiasm. .'Now let US find
Alma, for whom have what hope may be
glad tidings."
She smiled, ard her smile was very sweet,
although she was so plain. noticed, too,
that her eyes had strange light in them
which made them resemble the eyes we some
times see in dreams, which speak so much
more meaningly than do those we see in our
waking hours. This light was the light of
joy and nothing else. One does not see it
often in woman's eyes. Sometimes only
once in life time.
She slipped her arm in mine and we walked
into the house down the wide, old fashioned
hall to the sitting room.
s.Alma, DEAR said Laura, as VIC opened
the door and the tall, dark eyed goddess of
nv heart arose and came towards US, .Dr.
Mason says 1 have made him very happy,
and hs wants to tell you OF it at once, and so
do In
The goddess glanced at both of US, q faint
pink color coming into her white cheek, and
smiled ut us as she would have smiled at two
children, while was longing to take her in
my arms and tell her that adored her. In
stead of greeting me, or giving me a chance
to greet her, she bent and kissed Laura, and
then turned to me, saying:
''You have won the sweetest heart in the
world. d.. Mason. congratulate you.
know that you win return an equal amount
of good wishes when tell you that have
promised to marry Mr.. Carey. We will be
married next month and 60 to New York to
live at once"
Istood, as the novelists say, ''rooted to the
spot.n The whole scene seemed unreal. /,
who few moments before was full of joyful
anticipation, now found myself engaged to
marry woman whom 1 did not love, and
hearing the woman did love tell me that she
was soon to marry one of my rivals. At first
could not understand what Alma meant. ]
thought that she and Laura we're enjoying
some joke too obscure for me. At last the
beaning look in Laura's eyes enlightened me.
She, being somewhat deaf, had mistaken my
warm greeting for declaration of love, and
responded affirmatively.
With Laura's arm still within mine
walked to a sofa and sat down, she by my
side. had not uttered O word since l met
Alma. Speech had utterly forsaken me. And,
indeed what could says Could / tell the
trusting creature by my side that it was all a
mistake; that she had misunderstood me;
that l did not love her; that | loved her
beautiful cousina No; | was too shocked and
dazed to do anything but sit there in silence,
with the perspiration standing in cold drops
on my face and my eyes staring vacantly
ahead of me- l think | could have
spoken had it not been that Alma stood
before me looking placid and even happy i'll
telling of her engagement to Mr.. Carey.
accepted the situation in desperation. The
whole face of life had been suddenly changed
for me and l saw nothing but gloom ahead.
thought myself strong man, but is il
any wonder that wept like any child on my
pillow that night What New Years that
was! Whittier had my expected good luck
gonei
put the best possible face on my misery
and went on in tho dismal path fate had
marked out for me- Since | could not have
Alma, what did it matter whom married
Ugly little Laura would do as we'll as any
woman. 1t was fortunate that she expected
no extraordinary demonstration of affection
from me. Truly could not have given it
Ny heart seemed frozen or dead. Yet