Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-08-30
A WOMAN OF SPIRIT.


BY LILY TYNER.
My poor, dear husband had been dead
two years and over and, though | still
wore my mourning, tempered with the
most becoming of heliotrope, had be-
gun to feel quite reconciled to nv wild
owhood. The dear man had been ever
generous during his life time, as we'll be-
came one more than thirty years the
senior of his wife, and, dying, had left
me well provided for. There was nv
city house and my rent roll, my various
securities and my cottage by the sea.
Many young woman had greater cause
for discomfort. So | reasoned and forth
with determined to cheer up and take n
more active interest in life was down
at my cottage for the summer. Nv
chaperone was with me, but | began to
long for companions of my own age. It
occurred to me that might ask some of
my girl friends to come and stay with
me, picked out two of my bridesmaids
and wrote them. Not long after | re-
oeived two letters and was overioyed Of
their contents. One was from Edith
Westcott, Boston friend. It said
''Your most kind letter received. It
viii give me great pleasure to go to you
next week. | will let you know by tele-
gragh. Mother wishes to be remembered.
Your most loving friend, etc, etc.
The other was from Charlotte-or
charlie, as she liked TO be calied-Fos
ter, 1t was to the first as prestissimo is
to allegro;
"You dearest darllngl l will fly 70
you. am dying to tell you of all nv
latest triumphs. | will talk you to death.
1t seems century since we last met,
Meet me day after tomorrow morning.
Your own, etc, etc.
Edith was two years Charlotte's senior.
but it was not all difference in age.
However, they were both children of for
tune and my very dear friends. And
how they would brighten up the cottage
could very well imagine, for the cot
tage was little sonbre, though pride
myself on its general arrangement. The
interior was just as could wish it. A
wide passage through the center; a rood
sized room on the right, with polished
floor for dancing and piano; back of
this the diningroom; on the left sit
ttng-room, rather luxuriously furnished
for the seaside; back of this and con
nected by doorway draped with a por-
tlere OF antique lace, a small library
reading room, well stocked with summer
fiction and the like; beyond this break
fast-room. The upper chambers were
mostly sleeping rooms.
L spent the afternoon seeing that
everything was properly arranged and
next morning went down to meet Char
lie Foster.
''Is Edith coming2' she asked, al
most the first thing, for l had written
her l should ask Edith
eyes" l answered; "she'll arrive
later"
"Did you know she is engaged2'
"To be married. No; to whom2 and
when2"
II dent know him." said Charlie,
tossing her pretty head. "He is NJ.
Haskell-of Boston, of course"
Charlie was perfect little beauty. -
She stood about five feet two inches and
weighed 125 pounds. Her ewes were
hazel and danced like sea water in the
sun; her hair was a splendid mass of
golden chestnut. She was precious
lump of vivacity.
-Four days after arrived Edith West
colt. Edith was very tall and slender,
exceedingly pale, with black dashed,
serious gray eyes. Her hair was black,
without a thread of color. She was the
quintessence of grace, moving deliberate
~, laughing softly and speaking always
in low tone
We three were happy enough during
the first few days, chatting together about
old friends and old times. Then solicit
tude came to me. Edith, l found, had
some peculia" notions of her own. Ee-
ing engaged, she discouraged even the
slightest attention from gentlemen other
than her betrothed. OF course there
were many young men in our circle of
acquaintances, but perceiying Miss West
colts lack of interest they would natur-
ally all turn to Charlotte, and | feared
that Edith would presently find it very
stupid in consequence.
why don't you write Mr. Haskell to
come down9" finally ventured to ask
her.
Edith colored delicately.
II believe | will, - she said, and Mr..
Haskell, whose firstsname was Harold, in
due time presented himself at the beach.
He was a charming blonde of thirty five
or more. l liked him very much; so did
Charlie.
'oh, Edith" she sighed. ''What "A
elegant fellowl Rich, too, isn't hep
You're lucky girl"
Edith's betrothed, in turn, took great
fancy to Charlie. She had such buoy
ancy, such glowing health. He could
not keep his eyes from her.
There! might stop at once and }o&
you guess at the sequel; but you woul'
probably not guess 1t quite rigat.
Some things come to pass curiously.
1t did not trouble me, as time passed,
that MI. Haskell eVinced a great liking
for little Charlie. Perhaps did not GRE
it much thought at the time, though
afterward l remembered that he danced
with her a good Geal and was very fond
of her singing.
Nor do know what Edith thought.
only know of the awakening.
A month had gone and Haskell was
still at the beach. One morning five of
us-includ'ng Mr.. Marshall, whom
had intended as Charles escort, but who
had chosen to attach himself to poor old
matronlY me-went for long walk
back into the country away from the sea
shore. Returning We took short cut to
descend rather steep hill. How it hap
pened | do not quite know, but it seemed
that Charlie made a misstep, fell and