Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-10-26
you are a thorough coquette and

I
you are thorough coquette and
| would
"Oh, since you know so much, Miss
Wisdom she interrupts angrily, "it
would be useless to enlighten you
further. "Good-night,'' taking up
her candle.
| "Oh, Gwen. don't, don't CO." !
implore, Mortified at the thought of
being left alone. "Finish the story,
please. do so want to hear how it
ended"
ct never quite ended at all,' she
says, quietly, almost YEARLY. "It
stopped abruptly, that was all. You
know how cratic Aunt Helen is and
in what short order we were bundled
off from Paris. / went my way. lie
went his. / wonder sometimes if he
finds it quite as dreary and desolate
as l do. suppose not, or-or-but
| am going upstairs all the same.
Goodnight, Dolly. You know too
much for small person If your ten
der years. laughing exasperatingly
as she takes her departure.
L regret my impetuous outbreak
and ponder on the wisdom of the
proverb that silence is golden. /
regret the odd, unforeseen freak of
fate that has resulted in our being
left alone in this gloomy, grand old
house for this one night. l regret
that ! am not at home in a cosy cor
ner of the drawing room with Charlie
Singleton at my side. / regret the
terrific storm that is raging with.
out.
/ regret the unexpected telegram
of the morning that had called uncle
suddenly away, for my courage is
not of an heroic character. We have
| not drawn the curtains and left the
shades upin order that the light may
serve as guide or beacon if he
should by any chance be homeward
bound. walk to the window and
peer out. Ugh! what gruesome
night it is. 1t is no ordinary snow
storm, but veritable, whirling ,swir-
ling blizzard that is growing wilder
every moment.
AS / press my face against the
glass I gradually become aware that
am not staring into unqualified
snow and darkness, but directly into
another face-a bold handsome face,
the lower part protected by sweep
ing, blonde whiskers and mustache,
and the upper part by brigandish
somebrero.
I shrink back with an irrepressi-
BILE shrek and draw the shade. I'm
mediately there is sharp rap on the
window and deep, melodious voice
says:
"Do not be alarmed, l implore you.
i am gentleman and a friend. /
intend no harm, believe me.''
This sounds well, certainly, but
nevertheless, all the terrible, blood
curdling stories of tramps and burg
lars that ] have ever heard rush
through my memory, and 1 am re-
solved, at once, to be both circum-
spect and diplomatic. Here is an
opportunity to distinguish myself.
| I, who have heretofore been tacitly
relegated to the unenviable position
of simpleton Of the family may now,
not only refute the allegation, but
acquit myself with lasting credit and
honor.
"Who are you and what, then do
do you want? 7" | demand boldly, in
wardly quaking with fear.
81 am astr2nger in a strange land,
which should commend me to your
mercy at once. am a benighted,
inofensive fellow.being, who has
missed his way in the storm, and is
well nigh famished and frozen"
SIS that all ?"
"All Heavens Is not that
enough ? What more can / say to
arouse your pity? / have been STOP
ping with a friend, at his shooting
box, somewhere in this vicinity.
Perhaps you know him-Mr. Regi-
maid Langford "a name, by the way,
nav never heard). / came out
alone ! lis afternoon to hunt. See, /
have my gun. The snow storm be-
wildered me, lost my way and
tramped aimlessly and helplessly
around this blessed light arose, like
the Star in the East of old and guild
ed me thither. I swear to you Tim.
PATIENTLY am almost exhausted.
You must admit me, or my blood
shall be upon your head"
Here is a predicament. What
shall / do? Allow fellow being to
perish of cold and hunger,at my very
threshold. Admit burglar into the
house where Gwen and / are alone
and unprotected Arouse her, ex-
plain the situation, discuss the pros
and cons of the case finally open
the door to find-what? A corpse,
a man frozen to death, cold and rig
id because of the squeamishness of a
girl. No. No. / must stand upon
my decision, but decide at once.
II will give you shelter upon GER
tain conditions" 1 say with impos-