Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-11-19
10 I WORK.
OF every description, plain or color
ed, promptly done at lowest
rates, such as:
POSTERS,
PAMPHLETS,
5lLLHEADs,
CIRCULARS,
LETTERHEAps
SALE BILLS, &c.
"Neatness taste and despatch, y IL
our motto. Call and ascertain rates.
credulous look within, and ifshe lost
husband SIZE gained a friend.


husband size gained a friend.
People never quite understand
those that they see every day." he
was often heard to say. "And per-
haps it is just as well; they might
not know how to appreciate them ii
they did,
In another yea she was able to
present her mother with the cancel.
led mortgage; but it was too late to
be OF services to her.
There was another funeral from
the cottage.
Mary Mason was. laid beside her
husband and Amelia was alone.
Then Squire Goodwin asked her
to reconsider his offer of marriage.
No." she answered gently. 81
cannot give you wifely love, and
cannot take the name you offer me
in pity"
"You are right" he replied grave
ly, and the subject was never renew
ed.
But even his strong fsiendshipwas
not left to her, for the Angel Of
Death overshadowed it, AMI he was
gone.
1t was matter OF surprise to all
when it was found that his willsleft
all that he possessed to Amelia Ma
son.
The Goodwin homestead Was sold,
the mortgages and notes left for col
lection, and a ehildrsn's asylum was
opened in the cottage on the hill.
Merry, childish voices made joy
Gus music all day long, and, blessed
in q worldly way, Amelia Mason
learned to be content.
No news came of the lover OF her
youth, and silver threads multiplied
in the brown trssses which he had
praised. &.
There was one hidden habit of her
life-one strictly observed uponeach
Thanksgiving evening.
After the children were snugly
tucked into bed aud the house was
still, she pulled little table before
the cheerful open fire, set it with
pretty china and polished silver, and
eatables.
There were always two plates laid,
and wedding cake, no matter what
the bill of fare might be.
=. Then she dropped the restrain OF
years, and lived again the days which
were forever buried in the past.
At last the twentieth anniversary
came, q day that was cold and cheer
less enough.
Outside genuine New England
snow-storm was raging. The chilly
winds whirled tue binding fakes in
clouds among the signing, leafess
trees, and the weary horses plodded
slowly along a drifted road.
Inside the cottage was as coy and
cheerful as it usually was.
Contented, childish faces were
pressed upon snowy pillows in the
small nursery, and dreams Of MAN
ma 'Melia" frightened their journey
to the Land of Nod.
Amelia sat by the open fire, beside
the Thanksgiving table.
She had been strangely restless,
bat a great content had stolen into
her heart, as when or lives are
crowned with some great, unexpected
good.
The freight scftened the lines OF
her face, and gave it rosy, girlish
glow, while the dancing shadows
concealed the threads Of gray among
the silken brown hair. Alb, the
years had dealt kindly with her!
So thought the man who stood
under the window in the binding
storm, and watched her with impa-
tient, unressoning heart-hunger.
He could hardly realize that
twenty years had passed since he
saw her-that wife and child had
made home for him, and that he
had been a homeless wanderer
for half that time.
How long he might have watched
in silence, unmindful Of cold or snow
he never could tell.
A motion betrayed him, she saw
his face close TO the window pane,
and read the pleading in his eyes.
With low, glad cry she unfasten-
ed the d DOR, and held it while he
silently entered.
Then he turned and faced her,
opened his arms slowly, his eyes ask
ing the question which his shamed
lips would net utter.
And she2
With the Inconsistency Of yoman,
ever ready to accept loved ono
without question, no matter how
deep the fault to be atoned, she
crspt within the encire!ing arms
with sigh of restful conteDtl
"Ah, dear ONE he said, pointing
to the dainty table, tam / an expect
ed guestl"
"That plate has been laid for you
every Thanksgiving evening for
twenty years. she answered softly,
her ewes shining through her Glad