Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-03-05

stMr. Ainsleigh!" gasped Now
bray, almost reeling from this Sec
ond blow. !. but-but-"
Have | never spoken TO you OF
Mr.. Ainsleign, Robert?' she asked
innocently.
!" You are-you are net a widow,
then2"
oh, dear, yes" she replis d laugh
ing softly. "Mr. Ainsleigh is my
late husbands elder brother, and
acts as sort of Guardian to me. He
is very rich, and he thinks he wants
to marry me-
'sAnd you-are going to marry
him ~ asked Mowbray family
cannot tell do not know.
Oh, Robert! why did you speak OF
this hateful subject of marriage. !
don't want to think of it. | WAS so
happy just to know that you loved
me. | end it so pleasant to be low
ed. Why must men begin to talk
of marriage right away p
Mowbray was sick at heart and
miserable. He went away pursuad-
ed that his happiness had been
wrecked by a heartless woman. He
resolved never to seeher again. Two
days later she had another nervous
attack and sent for him.
.Mr. Ainsleigh is coOing next
week" she said, "and we shall
probably leave for Bar Harbor soon
afterward. Let us make the most of
the time, Robert; we may never
meet again and we are too fond of
one another to quarrel"
Poor Mowbray was too far gone
to protest; he was very unhappy
but he came to see her every day.
Then Mr. AinsIeigh arrived. He
was tall, silent man, of about fifty.
He me- Robert pleasantly enough,
and to the surprise of the young
physician there was not the least
change in the relations between him,
self and Mrs. Ainsleigh. They walk
ed and rode together as before, and
Mowbray was almost happy again.
He felt as though he might WIN Helen
yet, when one morning Mr.. Aims
leigh followed him from the room
and sent cold chill to his heart by
saying:
Doctor, Mrs. Ainsleigh and ]
leave for Bar Harbor the day after
tomorrow. Will you do me the ia
vor to send your bill to the hotel in
the morning 7"
To refuse was impossible. What
would Ainsleigh think of such an ac-
tion from stranger? Would itnot
/ arouse his suspicious and injure
II. len? Yet how could he take money
from her-his beloved? Still he was
in great need of money; and if the
bill was presented and paid it would
serve him in good stead.
Mowbray went home and thought
it all over. The result was that he
penned the following document:
"Dr. Robert Mowbray presents
his compliments to Mr.. Herbert Aims
leigh, and, in accordance with his
desire, incloses bill for services rem
dere Mrs. Ainslelgh:
| To 50 consultations at house at S.. :. 1915
| Medicines and sundries .............. .25
Total ... .....................$ $500
The next afternoon she called at
hi office. The first thing she did
was to take from her portemonnaie a
roll of crisp, fresh bank notes, which
| she laid on the table.
They conversed for short time.
without very profound emotion, on
their coming separation. They won
dered if they would ever meet again,
and prayed they might. Then a
somewhat awkward silence fell be-
tween them. Mowbray was uncom
fortably conscious of the presence of
the bank notes on the table before
him. He tried 10 murmur in his
deepest, softest voice something par
ticularly sad and loving, but the
white cypher on twenty-oollar bill,
with its delicately interlacing green
lines, seemed to stare at him like a
great hooking eye. He glanced at
Helen, and saw that she too was
looking at the money with signifi-
cant expression. And suddenly he
understood that she was thinking of
her milliner's and dress makers bills.
Then an idea occurred to him He
arose, and taking the money, count
ed out $3.50, which put in his vest
pocket, then taking the two hands
of his inamorata, he kissed them pas
sionately, and slipped the remaining
bills in the opening of her glove,
pressing her fingers over them.
DEAREST he murmured, "we
must part; my heart is well nigh
broken at the thought, but we will
love each other while we may, and
that We may never forget the happy
hours we have passed together, |
wish that we may each preserve
souvenir which shall always recall
them. Let us divide this money,
and each purchase keepsake
jewel, which will remain to us for
ever mute testimonial of our van