Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-06-09

| until nothing out the whites coula
be seen, as if calling upon some in
visible to attest that his veracity was
unimpeachable.
"That will do. YOU can 90, Jake, =
said Mr.. Kingsley, laconically, at
the same time opening the mail.
| All oft consisted &C business lei
tiers and papers, excepting one let
ter which was tor Mrs. Kingsley.
"Who is it from, dear mamma n
asked Marguerite as breaking the
seal and hastily perusing the con-
tents. her mother gave an exclama-
ton of pleasure.
at is only = very brief note. win
give you all the benefit Of it," said
| Mrs. Kingsley.
Washington, Dec. "a, 1859.
Dear Sister,
Meet me tomorrow at 2:30 P. NJ, |
will be on to spend the holidays.
Hastily, but affectionately,
Oliver
"Uncle Oliver coming and to-day !
| am so glad" calculated Marguerite,
her face fairly wreathed in smiles
II am glad, too, said DR.. Preston,
witha great deal of warmth, casting,
what was intended to be very sig
| nifcant glance at Marguerite, but I'M
! fortunately it was all wasted on the
| desert air" for that young lady pro.
yokingly persisted in looking in the
opposite direction. He did not say
| aohy he was glad probably he reflect
ed now he would have opportunities
for private talk
"Miss Rawlings" said he, turning
to Agnes, (whose attention he never
had any difficulty in attracting), his.
eyes twinkling mischievously, Il
warn you, be certain to carefully
lock every avenue which leads to the
recesses of your heart, and hide the
| key, for Mr.. Hamilton is fascina-
ting Nidower, and when you least
| expect it he will steal in unawares
and pluck that choice treasure and
accomplish it, too, in the most bust
ness like manner, for that is one Of
his characteristics y
II can't say am particularly par
tial to widowers," responded Agnes,
pleasantly, coquettishly tossing her
| head
"But of course you are going to
like my uncle, for my sake, if not
for his own,D chimed in Marguerite.
"Would'nt it be funny if some day
you should be my aunt" and she
laughed gleefully at the idea.
DR.. Preston was a most unmerci-
full tease, when once started, and
would, gladly, have continued the
pleasantly, but intuitively discern
ing, for try as she would she could
not wholly conceal the fact, that it
was not altogether agreeable to Ag-
mes, he wisely desisted.
The morning passed swiftly away
in delightful friyolities. DR.. Pres.
ton was equally attentive to both
girls, and the more Agnes saw Of
him the more congeniality she found
while her lamentably susceptible
heart utterly ceased to be her own.
1t was strange that, although DR..
Preston acted so fondly over Mar
guerite, she did not suspect her
friend was his fancee, but Margue-
rite was so very young-just seven
teen-and so unusually childish for
even that immature age, that Agnes
never dreamed of associating with
her the tender passion, never think
ing of her in any other light than q
school girl. Besides, was she not
Marguerite's bosom friend and con-
fidante? and would she not have
conided such a tender secret long
since? Suppose such a suspicion
ever had crossed her mind, would
she not in ali likelihood, have dis
missed it at once as disloyal to her
favorite I? There is every excuse to
be made for her blindness.
| AT three O'clock that afternoon.