Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-10

"Why, ma am, is it possible that you
don't remember me?n was the astound-
ing form the girls answer took.
Remember you" exclaimed Mrs.
Maberly with unfeigned astonishment,
and then it slowly dawned upon her that
the face she was looking at was not un-
familiar
eyes, I'Ei changed, of course, cause
it's years ago since you used to come to
Miss Mabels for to stop in your vaca-
tons. Don't you remember the old
plantation down in Georgy and the old
hands2 I'm old Msrtley's daughter
Marthy, that used to be laundress, and
I'm growed up, you see
Old Martha Mabel the old planta-
ton down in Georgia! Mrs Maberly
felt dizzy as she heard the well-remem-
bered names.
"You see Miss Mabel married North
ern gentleman, after ALL and came here
to settle"
"And she-she is-our next door
neighbour" said Mrs. Mablely in faint
voice. She felt dazed II think l I'M
derstand how one might be knocked
down by feather, she said, in speak
ing of the matter to her husband after
ward.
''Mabel-Georgia, she kept repeating
to herself, "and she is my next neigh
bort If had known it l would never
have taken the house"
The brightness mad all died out of her
I'D 10 IL
hut would not allow herself to do so.
The nurses chocolate-colored face was
on broad grin. How much did she
know of the state of affairs between these
two women who had once been the clos
est friends.
mo, would never have taken that
housed" she said over and over, as she
moved On, still in dazed, startled mood
that even the sight of her beautiful boy,
waiting outside the gate for mamma,
failed to change. A cloud seemed to
have been suddenly thrown over the gray
stone cottage. Vines and flowers and
all the belongings were as if they had
never been. Mrs. Maberly turned her
face resolutely away and went into her
own house.
ooh, dear-I have found out at las
who our next door neighbor isl" she ex
claimed, as her husband entered the hall
where she was awaiting him that even
ing.
lyon don't seem to be very much de
lighted over the discovery" was his re-
ply. II met the gentleman to-day in
business affair. He is very genial. 1t
seems his wife is something of an ill.,
valid, and seldom goes out"
'rm so glad" exclaimed Mrs Ma
berly, with heartfelt emphasis.
''That don't speak much for your
Christian charity" said Mr. Maberly,
smiling.
81 don't mean that Pm glad she is
sick, but that she seldom goes out, !" said
his wife.
THAT viii make it encumbe1t on you
to call on her, won't it2"
'Tll never call on her," was the reply,
delivered with almost spiteful energy.
"Why, what on earth has happened?"
her husband asked, now really puzzled.
Heretofore you have seemed to wish
for her acquaintance. I'm sure l have
heard you wonder why she did not call. F."
every true, but then l did not know
who she was-now | do, and she mar
rated her interview with the nurse that
morning.
$50 you see know her; she used to be
one Of my dearest friends. l think at
one time almost worshiped her"
"And you have spent days at her
housed"
''Indeed l have-one of the lovelest
old plantations in Georgia In my
vacations, when mamma and papa
were abroad, always went home with
her. But now l dislike her qnite
as much as | loved her then. When
we last parted l told her nothing
would induce me ever to speak to her
again or to treat her with respect. o,
we said very bitter things, both IF us;
but it was she who was the first offender
| couldn't forget how she insulted me if
l lived thousand years. And now l
am sorry you bought the house"
''Don't you know you are nursing the
spirit of revenge?" her husband asked,
gravely.
II know that l could never respect
myself, after what she said to me, if |
so much as noticed her, and very likely
she feels the same way toward Inc. What
a pity that we are neighbors!"
81 am sorry to hear all this, as like
Mr. Warren remarkably well, and prom
hot 81, at,ll IL :
can't be helped. Here we are, and here
we shall stay, so we must make the best
of it.
eyes, we must, his wife said, regret
fully, ''but l shall never feel again
the interest I once did IN our pretty
home"
"To change the subject" SAID Mr..
Maberly, IL bought COW to-day"
80, real COW for or own" cried
Ernest, looking up from his toys.
ayes, a real cow-and we shall have
real cream" said his father. ''She is
coming here tonight"
Mrs. Maberly said nothing. She had
been very anxious for the COW, but her
thoughts were all taken up with the
knowledge she had gained that day.
The next day she carefully shut the
blinds to all the windows that overlooked
the pretty gray stone cottage, thus deny
ing herself a view that had come to be
almost necessity of her beauty loving
nature
''They shall never be opened again,
she said bitterly. II want nothing to
do with her or hers
The time went on and winter came
with its deep SHOWS and keen, biting
winds. The blinds were still kept closed
on the south side of the house, and the
next neighbor was seldom mentioned.
One day Mr.. Maberly spoke of him on his
return from business.
ats bitter night, he said, ''and 1
wouldn't like to be in Warren's place.
"Why, what is that2' his wife asked,
with some show of interest.
"His wifes father is not expected to
live, and Mrs. Warren is not ale to go.
There are some business matters to be
attended to, and his presence is needed.
It's a long, cold journey. 1t must be
hard for the Door wife that she cannot see
her dying father. l feel very badly for
them both"
at is--very hard" Mrs Maberly
l i