Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-01-21

agitation meeting tonight; somebody Is
raising the mischief among them. wish
knew who it was" and Mr.. Breton looked
impatiently around the room a. IL he hoped
TO seize the incendiary in some corner Of his
own parlor
He met Bertha's blue eyes wide open in q
new interest She had half turf ed from the
piano, but her sleeve was caught back on the
edge of the keyboard, revealing the fair full
contour of her arm, which glistened whittier
than the ivory beneath it.
"a mystery, how charming!' she smiled;
''let me picture him: tall, with clustering
auburn hair ON his godlike head
"Pish-excuse me, my dear-but more
likely the fellow is some low, drunken jail
bird you would be afraid to pass on the
street. Some day they will find out there is
no good making working people uneasy.
They want the work, and they ought to be
glad the work wants them. Their interests
are identical with ours"
mo doubt assented Mr.. Ellingsworth, in
his suavest tones, that seemed too smooth for
satire, ''but perhaps they think you get too
large share of the dividends
''You like to round your sentences pretty
well" retorted Mr.. Breton, flushing slightly,
'but do you mean to say you, of all men,
sympathize with this labor reform nonsenseT
Ellingsworth smiled and shrugged his
shapely shoulders just visibly.
'sYou ought to know me, Mr.. Breton.
sympathize with-nobody. 1t is too much
trouble. And as for the sufferings of the
lower classes-they may be very pitiable-but
l don't see how the neither milestone can help
itself, or for that matter be helped either"
Then he glanced curiously toward the piano.
"Why, where are our young peoples"
After considerable dumb show Bertha had
become aware that Philip had some intelli-
gence of a startling nature to communicate.
so it happened that, at the moment Mr..
Ellingsworth inquired for them, the young
people stood just inside the door of the cozy
little room called 'the study"
81 am going to have some high fun to-
night, Bertha; am going to.that labor meet
ing. | want to see the business from the in
side, when the public show isn't going on"
The girl looked at him in astonishment
"They won't let you in"
"That's just where the fun is coming. 1t is
going to be better than all the college devil
try, and-wait here two minutes and I'll
| show you
| Book shelves ran up to the ceiling on the side
of the room, opposite the door. A long Of
to the high window looking toward the
street But all the business associations did
| not Cypress this elegant young woman, who
| threw herself in luxurious abandon into the
solitary easy chair. She apparently did not
find love very disturbing. No doubt she only
smiled at its poems, fervid with passion I'M
known to her calm, even life. Her young
lover had often been frightened at The firm
outline of the cold red lips, with never a
| thought of kisses on them, and at the sprite-
| like Inconsistencies of her blue eyes that
looked curiously at him when love softened
| his voice and glorified his face. She was not
| listening for his returning footsteps, not one
| line of eagerness or of suspense was on the
| dispassionate face, while she played with the
| flashing jewel her lover had placed long ago
| on her finger.
| The door opens behind her, but she does not
turn her head--no doubt he will come in
| front of her if he wishes to be-there he is, a
| slight figure, looking very odd and disagree
able in the soiled and i'll fitting clothes he has
| put on, with no collar or cuffs, but blue
flannel shirt open button or two at his neck
| His faded pantaloons were roughly thrust
| into the tops of an immense pair of cowhide
boots which apparently had never been so
| much as Swallowed by q box of backing. His
| black eyes sparkle as he holds out to her q
| bandless felt hat which shows the marks of a
long and varied history. Bertha looked at
him in dull distaste. What poor mouth he
had, and how unpleasantly his face wrinkled
| when he smiled.
| 81 wouldn't ever do this again." she said
coldly.
A hurt look came into his eyes; he dropped
his hat on tho floor and was turning detected
ly away.
The fun was all gone, and her words and
| her look he knew would come back to him a
thousand times when he should be alone.
But she put out her hand to him like the
scepter of queen. "Never mind-you will
generally wear better clothes than these,
won't your
"But l wouldn't like to have that make
any difference said Philip, looking wistfully
at the cool white hand he held. ''Supposing
was poor
She drew her hand away impatiently. If
he had known how he looked then, he would
have chosen another time for his lovers fool
ishness.
Don't get poor. l like pretty things and
| graceful manners and elegant surroundings;
that is the way am made. l should suffo-
cate if didn't have them"
"But, urged Philip unessily, "you couldn't
love anybody but me, could you"
She smiled charniingly. "You must not
lat mel" Then she rose as if to dismiss the
subject. "Are you all readyG'
In a minute more he was, after he had
fastened on his yellow whiskers and bronzed
over his face and neck and white wrists.
"Your own father wouldn't know your she
laughed, as they opened the outer door.
| Philip went down two steps
"You shake the foundation with those
boots" He was quite recovering his spirits,
now that she was so kind with him. "And
you will tell me all about it, and whether the
leader has auburn hair as l saidl How long
before you will come back-an hour1 Well,
I'll be here as long as that
He pulled his great hat well down over his
eyes and started, but at the gate he turned to
look back.
Bertha stood in the doorway, tall and