Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-03-23

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There had been little rustic bridge
leading to the hillside beyond, but
this had lately been washed away by
heavy rain.
She could see as she approached
the spot one of the posts still stand
ing; and-wasn't that Jue leaning
against it like statue, his legs
folded and his eyes bent upon the
deep little pool which the rocks had
Just here bent in?
A sudden fear seized Kitty
Surely, surely Joe could not be
thinking of drowning himself.
She stood still and breathless,
watching him. Presently he started
as if from a revcrie, and with lips
compressed into look of firm re-
solve, picked up a coil of rope which
! lay at his feet.
Then be walked round and round
tall and straight tulip tree growing
close to the edge of the stream, look
ing up into its thick foliage, as if for
convenient branch to which to at.
tach it.
| Kitty's heart froze with horror.
For moment she felt paralyzed !;
but, as she saw Joe carefully make a
moose on one end of the rope and
prepare to climb the tree, the spell
was broken.
She rushed forward with wild
shrek, and threw her arms about
him.
| "Oh, Joe-dear Joe-don't do such
a dreadful thingl Don't hang your
self, Joe-for my sake, don'tl Oh,
forgive me-forgive me, dear Joe,
and I'll never, never tease or grieye
| you again y
| A strange expression came over
Joe's face. He looked down into
the white face of the sobbing girl,
and his stern eyes sof ened. But
then he said, gloomily.
sHow can I believe you, Kitty ?
You have as good as told me you
did not love me. And without you
don't care to live"
Don't talk so dreadfully, Joe
II do love youp'
"Answer me truly, Kitty! Do you
really love me?"
@Yes," sobbed the girl. 'Indeed
| do, Joe! Please, please throw away
that dreadful ropci"
"Not yet, Kitty. Do you love me
above everybody else in the worldP'
"Yes-oh, yes!'
"And will you marry me, Kitty?"
ayes, will, Joe-indeed l will y
aWhen 2"
sAny time-to- morrow W."
said Kitty, in desperation-"if you
will only throw away that dreadful
thing and come home with me-"
"There, then"
| And Joe flung the coil of rope into
thicket of laurel on the other side
of the stream, and drawing Kitty to
him, kissed her solemnly.
Remember, you have promised
to be my wife, Kitty"
"Yes," she answered, meekly.
And SO, hand in hand, they went
through the orchard and the garden
to the house.
"Of all the unaccountable critters
on the face of the earth" said Miss
Jemima, surveying them from the
pantry widow, recommend me to
a young courtin' couple! Idon't be-
lieve they know their own minds five
minutes at time, anywaysm
Uncle Jerry was sitting on the top
step of the porch.
"Well, Joe," said he cheerfully,
shave you fixed that gum-tree with
/
the rope all ready to pull it down in
the right direction?"
"No, sir" answered Joe, quietly
"I'll attend to it tomorrow.
"Well, don't forget it, for the
sooner that bridge is finished the
better, if We want to get the hay over
ia good time"
Kitty stopped and looked straight
up into Joe's eyes.
aYou've deceived me p she said
Indignantly.
"No, Kitty, / haev'nt. You de
ceiyed yourself, dear, and I'm very
glad of it, assure you.'
"Glad ~ said Kitty, reproachfullJ
and with her face all crimson will
bushes.
because but for that | might
never have gotten you to say Yes,
and we might both have been forever
miserable. But now how happy WI
are going TO be for the rest of oul
lives!''
"Still it was a dreadfully NEAR
trick!" Kitty murmured, as she al
lowed Joe to kiss her again behind
Uncle Jerry's back. "And il yot
ever say word about it to any on'
I'll never forgive you-1ever p
Saturday Night.
The Doctors are Guilty.
Grave mistakes are made by ply
sicians in treating Heart Disease
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