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

But, Charlie though trembling, man
aged to laugh.
81 am not hurt" she quavered. "Put
ne down quick. I'm terrible weight ~
We all laughed Historically. But
Haskell was still pale with fright
Immediately we had reached the Get
tage Charlie sank upon sofa,
"Im awfully shaken up, you know"
she said. 81 shall not stir step for an
hour" she said
Edith was going to her room before
luncheon. Charlie called after her:
"Wonld you mind tossing down my
book, Edith, dear2"
~ will bring it down." Edith au-
swered.
Neither of the girls had brought maids.
Charlie always preferred to dispense
with hers when she could, and Edith
had my own at her service
A few minutes later Twas in the break
fast room giving some orders about
luncheon and talking to Mrs. Webster,
my chaperone. Mrs. Webster, good
soul, turned from the room out through
d rear passage and turned to re-enter the
library, when the sight saw through
the antique portlere beyond transfxed
me. Harold Haskell the betrothed of
Edith Westcott, had clasped Charlie
Foster to his heart and was kissing her
passionately.
"My darling, love you" he muir
INJURED.
slipped from the breakfast room into
the main passage, feeling cold with hor-
ror, when, glancing up, saw Edith mid
/ way on the staircase, white as death and
supporting herself by the handrail
Had she seen or heardl l felt i must
say something.
''Are you coming DOWN." l asked.
81 was coming down." she replied in
strained voice, 'but l don't feel well.
think the sun has affected me. I will
go back and lie down. Here is Charlies
book. Will you give it to herl"
She dropped it to me and crept on up.
''I am so sorry" l said, vaguely.
"Shall l send you anything2"
''No; l will be better presently" she
answered in a weary way, and heard her
door close with a sharp sound
Luncheon was announced then. The
Others must have Thought me unusually
quiet. felt as if l were the guilty one
and dared not look in their faces. Aud
yet l was not angry, only sorry. 1t
seemed like misfortune.
After luncheon they went out on the
piazza together
waited little, then went up to
Edith.
She was lying down, with her hand to
shade her eyes. The room was darkened
and could barely sse her face.
"Yes, l am much better now," she
said. "Where is Charlie2"
"Gohe out with Mr.: Haskell" l an.
swered, almost painfully Somehow 1
felt almost as if the fault were mine.
Edith spoke abruptly then.
"Charlic is in love, believe"
started.
sin love! You think so2"
eyes, am sure of it. 1t may sur
prise you when / tell you"
"Surprise me9' l repeated, with in
decision of tone.
"Yes, because Charlie is in love with
Mr.. Haskell"
edith, | said, with a shocked ac-
cent which was not all assumcd-for it
seemed really horrible to hear the fact
announced in cold-blooded English
Edith, your fiance-"
"a few words will alter that" she re-
piled, calmly. "You see, Nora, we are
all apt to make mistakes"
"You do not love him." interrupted.
Edith forced laugh
you see, it will be all right eventually
right for all of us. They love each
other, and II never could marry him.
sighed with intense relief to hear
this.
II shall want a little conversation
with Mr.. Haskell alone" she went on.
CATER dinner will do. If you will take
Charlie out, you know"
promised promptly.
That dinnerl Shall l ever forget how
silent we were-all of us7 How painfully
the time dragged?
Charlie went out afterwards during
the evening to walk with me, but we
had not much to say to each other. 1t
is almost impossible for me to dissemble.
Charlie finally strayed off and stood
alone, gazing out upon the sea. myself
turned back to the house, not intending
to enter, nor for a moment supposing l
should see or hear aught of that final in
terview
But Harold Haskell's words came float
ing through the open windows: 81
thought feared
Then Edith's voice stopped him.
1.-The woman who perists in loving a
man who does not love her, but loves
another, is fallen very low, indeed. Am
l not right"
Yes, you are right" he answered
quickly.
Edith stepped to the window and
called Charles name.
Charlie had already turned to come
back and continued at the same not rapid
pace.
did not go in with her, but stood
without gazing through the window.
Edith stood before the door into the
library. She had reached behind her
with one hand to part the curtains.
"Charlie, she said, smiling family.
q could see her looking very pale.)
''Charlie, Mr.. Haskell and l have been
making a mistake for some time past
l have just been explaining myself on the
subject and Gcturning his ring) I think
perhaps you are interested in knowing
about it.
Charlie burst out laughing and cry
ing at the same moment:
"Oh, you dear Edith am SO glad
you don't care for him and rushed to
her arms.
Edith moved slowly backward. Ihave
seen just such motion in plays-the slow
motion of one suffering yet concesling
anguish
The lovers looked in each others
eyes, but I-out in the night-looked
only at Edith, moving slowly, with pale
face and piteous smile, backward through
the parting draperies, back into the dim
ness of the library, whence she might
pass understandable York Mercury.
The Land of Ducks.