Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-10-13
syou ought to know

trea !"
The girl herself locked piteously
up in Mrs. Eldon's face.
ell go away from here" said
she, eff Jack will really be ruined by
marrying me. Ii don't want to
ruin Jack-not if / drown myself
first.n
And she burst out sobbing.
You're the sweetest little darl-
ing in the world said Jack, land
I'd like no better fun than to go out
West with you and settle on q
ranch"
But ranches cost money! said
Barbara.
"Then I'd hire out as hand, 'said
Jack, rebelliously. SIN good at
breaking horses"
"And I'd make the butter and
feed the chickens said Astrea, joy
fully.
"You are two silly childreB," said
Mrs. Eldon.
Yet all of sudden something
seemed to bring back to her the lost
sweetness of departed youth, and her
eyes were momentarily dimmed with
tears.
Mamma" pleaded Elaine, it
will hurt Jack if you oppose this
thing-and Astrea loves him so
dearly"
"But there's Gwendoline Ballers-
by, with that great East India for
tune y sobbed Mrs. Eldon, torn by
conflicting emotions.
What's fortune" cried Elaine,
off there's no love with it Z"
We'll," said Mr.. Eldon, then
the matter is settled. If Jack goes
West we all go West together. For
since j nnifer and Goldie's banking
house has failed, we're all equally
penniless."
Hurrah T. said Jack, flinging up
his polo cap. Then it don't make
any difference whethes | marry an
heiress or not ?"
Please, my lady," said the SOL
emn footman, "there's a gentleman
below; and when l asked him for
his card, he said he never had one in
his house-his principles was ag'in
it,
"Oh,n shrieked Astrea, who had
unconventional peeped over the bal
ulster rail, cts grandfather! it's
grandfather, come back from the
West"
Another pauper to maintain p
| sighed Mrs. Eldon.
Old Jethro Black came smiling
into the group, leaning on a gold
headed cane and wearing a suit of
black clothes in which he seemed to
feel very uncomfortable.
eyes," said he, "I've come back.
My brother, he's been took away at
last. and he's left me enough to keep
me in comfort the rest Of my days.
He was savin' creetur, Hezekiah
was, and there'll be nice little sum
for Astrea. 1t won't be necessary
for Astrea to take no situation
now. Don't squeeze me so tight
round the neck, child don't you
suppose a feller's got to have breath
ing room? You've been very good
to Astrea, Wallace Eldon, and
What! going to be married to Jack Z
Why, twan't but yesterday Jack was
Robin Deacon Peck's melon patch
and gittin' me into trouble chasin'
Squire Olney's young colts round
the meddersi"
1--WE are glad to see you, Mr..
Black" said Jack, cordially wiring
ing his hand. "Have you got a
farm out West for Astrea and me to
run ?"
The old man smiled.
81 shouldn't bit wonder said
he.
Meanwhile there was a buzz of
| gossip all through the Bar Harbor
circles.
Out on the decks of white-winged
yachts, in the gay streets, and on
the rocky slopes of Green Mountain,
people were asking one another:
"Haye you seen the Western mil
lionaire ?"
Have you heard how many gold
mines he owns and what those new
city lots are selling for 2"
Everywhere people stopped to
shake hands with Eldon and con-
graduate him on the great match his
son was about to make.
The very Biheryans themselves
condescended to inquire as to the
mine shares. Claude de Raville be-
moaned his i'll luck that he had not
'made eyes" at fair Astrea Black.
And Mrs. Eldon declared that she
could not believe her ears.
Little Astrea an heiressY'' said
she. "It's like dream? n
Again old Jethro smiled.
Astrea is q fortune in herself,"
said he. "All the same, that's no
reason there shouldn't go fortune
with her too. I kind o. suspicioned
this when first Hezekiah sent for me.
But / want goin' to let on. / want
ed to see how she'd be treated here.
And I'm suited down to. the
ground"