Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-03-07

ciasned open aud smut, ana tnea ne knew
he was alone again.
Alonel A hideous sense of loss, and
bitter, hopeless desolation, such as he had
never felt and never dreamed of, over
whelmed him. He did not think; he did
not dare to think. He staggered to bis
feet, opened the gate and passed out.
To run away, to elude this thing as if
it was some sentient, pslpable pursuer,
was the FIRST impulse that possessed him,
and he hurried on, blindly, stumblingly,
he cared not where. How far he walked
thus he had no means of knowing, but
when he stopped it was on a thronging
| thoroughfafe, before the window a great
emporium, s4uiver with electric lights.
He drew long breath and pulled him
self together. An Illuminated dial that
punctured the gloom of the upper air
marked after midnight, and faintness
began to assail him. a deadly reaction
that turned his knees to water. The
careless, alien crowd Jared on him, the
barbaric spendor of the windows smote
upon his brain; he wanted to be alone,
and presently he saw the open doorway
of cafe aud entered.
A few people sat at tables here and
there, and on one hand were the cur-
tanned doorways Of d row OF little rooms
or stalls. He walked instinctively
toward one Of these and drew the
drapery aside. A man within, who was
musing, apparently, over bottle and a
| hnlf ,naa1 ran of ho
and the room mates looked one another
J ia the face.
Ashton was the first to recover him
self, and sprang up with outstretched
hand.
i'Why, my dear fellow p he exclaimed,
''Am | indebted to insomnia for this
pleasure2"
Hadley took his hand absently, but
did no. at once reply. What was there
about that voice, with its plausible, vi
brating timbre, that thrilled him so2
81 have been a little troubled" he
said hesitatingly, ''and tried to-walk
1t off"
"Hal And came ia here. dare say,
to drown it in drink, as the proverb
goes. My word for it, trouble is the
thirstiest thing on earth. | tried to
drown small sorrow in drink once, and
when | was under the table there was the
sorrow, sober as a Judge. But I'll tell
you something, Hadley, it won't stand
feeding. The proper thing to drown
sorrow in is mutton chops and fried po-
tatoes. Suppose We put it to the touch.
Waiter"
"Hold" said Hadley, who burned to
stop this badinage, ~ am not hungry
not in the least. Let me sit down mo-
ment and think"
He sank into a vacant chair and gazed
at the other with sudden, haggard in
tentness. A thought had just occurred
to his distracted mind. Why was not
this man, so bright, so versatile, so self
contained. so en- rapport with the great
world and its usages-why was not he the
very man of al men to give him counsel
In this predicament2
"Ashton," he said, 81 am in distress.
Will you give me your advice2"
Ashton smiled grimiy.
"You have come to good shop for
advice" he said. "My whole life is
more or less a warning. However, if |
can be of any service to you, blaze away.
Out with it, my boy"
But Hadley did not find the story SO
easy to tell
az am engaged to be married." he
said, at length.
/ "Hoi ho!" cried Ashton. az forsee
a stern parent with a prejudice against
! literary characters" Then something
in the Others face checked HIM, and he
dropped his tone of levity. 'Forgive
me-" he said, gently. "What is this
trouble of yoursl You need not men
ton the ladys name, of course. Make
it hypothetical case"
''Oh, noi' said Hadley, 81 can con-
fde in you. She is the best girl in the
world. Her name is Alice Tyler"
Ashton was leaning over the table
toying with a glass, bu. at the words he
rose Involuntarily and fixed his eyes upon
the other with strange and challenging
regard. Hadley paused for a moment
/ with a dim and troubled conscience that
he had touched some hidden spring;
| but only for moment, and then, slowly
and incoherentlv, he told his story.
/ Ashton sank back as he proceeded and
! heard him in silence to the end.
''Do you know this mani" he asked,
when it was done.
''No," replied Hsdley, gloomily.
"What does it matter who he isl"
Ashton did not reply; he seemed lost
in thought.
"Hadley," he demanded, suddenly,
edo you really intend to marry this girll
But pshaw9" he continued, ''you are too
honest to be trifer. And this fellow
I why, a thousand to one he is amusing
himself looking for a new sensation, and
has no more use for wife than he would
have for bishopric. You must have
saved some money, have you mott"
"Yes," said Hadley, rather surprised;
81 have few thousand dollars in bank. F."
"Well," sighed Ashton, "this is a
world of fact, but we can't all grasp it.
Some men are made for homes and some
are not. might have ten times your
income, and the last chapter would find
me vagabond. tell you, Hadley, you
have no real rival This is a shadow
that has already passed, and shadows
leave no trace.
"What shall do?" he asked.
'Do2 Why, do nothing. For heavens
sake don't distress the girl with questions.
tell you this belongs to the past. For
get it. Bury it. Act as if nothing had
happened, aud all will come right in the
end. If were YOU would make it con-
Fenient to be away fol few days Sh
will miss you, depend upon it, and you
can begin where you left off. Can't you
arrange to go away2"
al think So" said Hadley. "When
had l best go2'
$50 tomorrow. You will come back
new man and find her eager to welcome
Fou."
Hadley reflected moment.
81 will take your advice he said.
When he returned home, at the close
of the week, from brief visit to neigh
boring city, he mounted the stairs with
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