Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-01-16

dropped, neatly aimed, into the ripping
blue of the lake. Sorrel colored.
Hardwlcke saw the color, though his
glance was fixed on the Approximate spot
where the three pebbles had been lost to
view. He had a way of seeing out of
the corners of eyes directed elsewhere.
He now thought that wave of color very
becoming. He was almost on the point
of saying so, but he was saved in time
by SorreI herself speaking.
Because | want the cultivation of
another year of travel and study and i
observation"
Hardwicke stopped throwing pebbles
into the lake. He leaned back against
the old stone wall, drew his hat lower
over his brows and plunged his hands
into his pockets.
"What unmitigated bosh."
This time he had certainly gone too
far. The girl started to her feet on the
grassy slope. The book in her Iap-a
bulky volume-fell to the ground. He
could see that she was trembling slightly,
ana she held her head high. Ye., she
was deeply offended. Hardwicko
started up, too.
sob, you must forgive met he said.
But you cannot realize how exasperatine
it is TO man, with mau's pulse in him,
to think of a girl like you installing so
radically the essential occasion Provi
dence sent her into the world to fulfill.
You were made 10 render some good
man divluely happy, not to waste your
youth and sweetness iu striving after "a
career, and all the rest of that nonsense
Lord what has come over the nice girls ?
All bitten by the same mania. Writers
they want to be, and artists and lee
turers, and hetveu knows what. ANY.
thing and everything but the one thing
worth being-a sweet wife"
He had talked as he followed her aud
the close of his barrangue was addressed
to her girlish back and shoulders as they
became cngulfed in the wide Swiss doc
way. She had not even vouchsafed a
glance.
With half laugh he re;rAced his steps
from the old inn to the village sqnare over
looking the lake under its centenary
chestnuts. The higher peaks of the
snow clad ranges were flushed with the
sunset Alp-glow.
"A precious, Inspiring moment, said
voice behind Hardwicke. 1t was SUIT.
terrell, the artist With him was Mis-
Ker, Sorrel's chaperon. She smiled ac-
idly upon Harlwicke. Sutterell glared
but remained silent. Hardwicke and
Miss Ker exchanged few comm ~
places, if any speech of Miss Ker 'scould
thus be qualified. Then Hardwicke had
perception that she appeared to be
lingering. Suffered, though not deli
cately intuitive, appeared to feel the
same thing. He presently strolled of.
Immediately Miss Ker spoke.
You asked Sorrel-Miss Fletcher
to walk out with you this afternoon, Mr..
Hardwicket"
II did Miss Ker."
"And if am not wrong it was with
the view-thc intention ="
"Of urging her again to marry me.
You are not wrong, my dear Miss Ker
know that you feel me an interloper
You have very exalted views for Miss
Fletcher. But [ think it quite good
enough fate for any girl to be an honest
mans wife. And so, as | love Miss
Fletcher and as consider myself an hon.
est man must warn you that | shall
continue both to urge myself upon her
and to discourage her masculine ambi
tons
A darkling flush mounted to the spin.
ster's faded cheek.
"You are at least frank, Mr.. Hard
wicke. Whether you merit other com,
incubation leave to you. Miss Fletch
er was mentally uniformed girl when
brought her abroad, though very
gifted one. She was an orphan, she
had no relative who could discover or
develop her great capabilities. l did
both. am an ardent crusader for Clio.
rious causes in which women's help is
needed, but | recognize that we need
young, fresh spirits. Here is one that
have formed. You come abroad, Just
iol an Iuie SuLuulcE, you Set !dCG that
takes your fancy; you follow us every
where; you ridicule the ideals dearest to
Sorrel Fletcher's soul and mine, and you
insist upon her going back to America
this autumn in order to marry you
Must you thus, Just for masculine ca
price, upset the labor of months. Of
years?"
my dear Miss Ker, in love and war al
is fair, you know.
Then it shall be war; cried Mrs.
Ker. "If marriage is to be brought
forward at all for Sorrel, let it be not
with such a man as you, careless of all
great subjects, out with such one this
young artist, with soul full of beauty,
who but stood here mo nent agol Al
least, with him, Sorrel's higher ideals
will not be crushed into the mire!' She
trembled with excitement
"Ah, Sutterelll" said Hardwicke
easily. "Well, am willing TO put my.
self against that beauty-iover, Miss Ker
aud sec who comes out winner"