Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-02-21

light airy clouds are floating across
the deep blue Of ether space. She
sees them not. The reverie is now
one of anguish. The crumpled pa
per at her feet is tear-stained where
big, blac.- headlines tell of Brave
Man, What can it meang 1t is
only story of a brave act. Fire
breaks out in the hotel at Melbourne,
when every room is occupied by
pleasure seekers. All are probably
saved. A heart rending shrek tells
different story. Then a mother
points to the fourth story, where a
fair-haired girl appears at the win
dow. The building is wrapped in
flames, and none dare venture to the
rescue. None? A stalwart form
pushes through the crowd, catches
up rope and blanket, and is lost in
the smoke and flames. An eternity
of waitingl People stand around in
mute despair. A cheerl The man
appears by the side of the child,
fastens the rope around her body,
and lowers her to the outstretehed
arms below. She is carried beyond
all danger, and those below look up
to see the brave rescuer. Ny God
that crash ! The building falls. The
brave rescuer is lost in the ruins.
That is all. No, not all. The brave
hero is the wealthy Hon. Raymond
Flood.
No wonder Kittie Rawley's heart
is full of anguish. No wonder the
glories of the heavens are unnoticed
by her. In her heart she feels her.
self murderess-feels that she is
false to her nature and responsible
for the death of this man-this man
who she has loved through all these
years. Tears vain tears
A footstep sounds on the gravel
walk. Her husband has returned.
aCrying again, dear wife, when the
heavens are bright, and | am near n
with sneer.
Eyes, Jack, | have been crying
over the death of a brave friend, =
and she handed him the paper.
His face grew pale as he read; in
a few minutes he tossed it to the
ground.
"Served the pup right, he said.
sob, Jack II
How pitiful the words were utter
ed. His wife's emotions were no
longer comfortable, and she burst in
to tears.
Jack Rawley looked at the tremb-
ling form beside him, and shade OF
compassion rested on his face.
But it was like peep of the
sun in a tempest. Wine had blunt
ed his conscience and destroyed his
manhood. In towering rage, be
said:
"And you love him still. Love
him more than your honor as my
wife. You"
He did not finish. Springing to
her feet she faced him in her naughty
indignation. The girl is at last 0
women. All the wrongs and insults
of the years, have now returned to
animate her utterance.
"Jack Rawley, you are wronging
the dead and slandering the living
0 that had never met you; that ]
had died when my blue.eyed baby
darling was taken from me. You
are brute to reflect on my houor-
base ungenerous man. o Ray
mond, Raymond
*** ~
"Kittie dear, Kittie dear, wake up
/ am here by your side. You naugh-
ty girl. What are you doing out
here in the dew and the night 7
Dreaming of beasts and of me
Kittie springs to her feet. 1t is
night. The stars are keeping vigil
in the heavens. The katydids and
crickets are chirping their roundelays
She shivers in the air.
20 Raymond. is it all a horrid
dream (? You are not dead, I'm still
Kittie Lee. 0, I'm SO glad
"Still Kittie Lee, and dearer than
ever to me. Kittie will you not give
me your answer now, here in the
soft glow of the stars
Raymond, l love you alone.
Now, more than ever. Riches, do
not want them. A name, it is a
mere trife. Let me only feel that l
am sure of your love, and / win ever
be happy"
my darling, can you doubt it
Men love true women, and who is so
true as my Kittie Lee 7"
The frogs croak their evening
songs. The nightingale sings from
the 10 w-land. The moon peeps over
the blossoms, and two hearts grow
happier still in the holy communion
of love. e. S. G.. PITzER.
Procure from your druggist a
small bottle of tincture of benzoin,