Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-12-08
NO. 27

"oeNA SdSCs "nCtO tuOt 0HuoSA
themselves sscrunchiDg" barnacles
on the vet rocks and seeing how far
they could walk without slipping in,
which they did every three or four
steps, with shrieks of laughter.
When lunch time came, / whistled
on my fingers for the children, a
useful accomplishment taught me by
Bob. They came climbing up, dirty,
hungry, with handkerchiefs full Of
skates eggs, periwinkle spawn, peb-
'bles and sea moss.
1 wiped their faces and set about
laying the table. Bess decorated
the cloth, and Bob turned hand
springs in the grass. / had packed
rather more lunch than usual, and
the sight of two fried cake men clio
tied shrieks OF delight from Bob. He
insisted on saying grace, which he
did with one band on the bigger
man, for fear Bess should snatch it
while he was engaged in religious
observances.
When we opened our eyes there
stood the milkman watching US. He
had book in his hand and looked
even more surprised to see US than
we were at his appearance.
won't you take supper with us?"
| said, forgetting that he was milk
man. He hesi;ated q moment, then
accepted. Bess looked askance at
him for moment, for she was rath-
er shy with strangers, but was soon
amicably offering him an arm of her
fried man. .
While he was dismembering the
victim l stole glance at him.
He looked thoroughly high bred.
His clothes were loose, but of fine
material and unquestionably well
cut. His shoes and the feet within
them were faultless in size and
shape, though the shoes were rather
the worse for wear.
"Pretty old, aren't they ?" said he.
He had way Of divinlng my
thoughts which was to me marvellous.
''Not very" returned, smiling,
and he again turned his attention to
Bess.
When the children had finished
lunch, nothing could keep them be-
side me, though l tried my best, for
without the excuse of the milk I
found conversation with the milk
man embarrassing.
"Miss RUSSELL" he said, looking
away from me over the water, II am
going away tomorrow. Won't you
try to forget / am the milkman and
remember me only as q friend who
-who-likes you very, very much?n
Tomorrow 2" / echoed. "Surely
not tomorrow |"
eyes, tomorrow !" He was look
ing at me keenly. "You will miss
our little chats over the milk ~
$50 much" / was beginning to
realize how much, now / knew lie
was really going.
"And now you will talk toSmith?"
"You know / will not.n
My eyes filled with tears. I looked
away from him to conceal them.
"You will let me thank you for
the happiness knowing you has been
to me-" he went on after a moments
pause. / shall miss you so much"
ut has been pleasure to me,
too" replied little formally.
He leaned toward me entreatingly.
"You have been so good, so sweet,
to me all summer, won't you forget
am a milkman just for this little
half hour ?'
Il always forget it," said gently.
"You never do. You talk for
few moments, and then you remem-
Der, and you freeze at once. / don't
blame you, but-tell me-is that the
only reason ? If were not milk
man, would you despise me still 2"
II don't despise you now"
"But mean, do you think--do
you think you could like me little
Miss Russell-Sylvia-I must tell
you'll have no right-but I love
you. Don't be angry with me. 1
am going tomorrow. l could not
help speaking-but-you won't look
at me Are you SO angry? He put
his hand pleadingly on my shoulder. l
could not answer him. / was so
surprised, so happy. / only turned
nag cheek against bis hand. He
seemed astonished for moment,
then caught me in his arms.
"Sylvia, Sylvia, darling |"
We didn't say much for awhile,
but by and by be said i:
"Sylvia, do you think you can
bear a severe blow 7"
thought / could endure any
thing with his arms around me,
but a vision of the widow and nine
children suddenly doomed up in the
distance, and / said family:
81 don't know
TRY, dear. It's this /: 1 don't
think you quito understand about
me. Sylvia, you see, I'm not
milkman.
"Not a milkman n l echoed.
"You see, / offered to drive the