Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-04-27

utes he sat grave and thoughtful his
head leaning YEARLY on his hand,
then with q sigh that is akin to a
sob, he once more took up his
work.
! <
The Cameron carriage rolled swift
ly through the lighted streets. Mil
~, leaning back, looked straight in
front of her, her lips tightly pressed
together. She was too proud to al
low even herself to think they we're
quivering because her husband was
not by her side tonight, that he was
cold and Indifferent, and that it has
all been sad mistake.
They have been married seven
years-seven long years-and they
are strangers yet"
Wan, sad faces, branded with the
stamp of want and misery grow sad
der as they catch sight of tue car
riage rolling past and see for an in
slant being so far above them, ly-
ing back in silks and laces, crca-
ture who has never known what it
is to be cold and hungry and mser-
able.
They know not that there is pain
far keener still.
Milly Cameroe is thinking deeply.
She has brought the trouble out in
to the light and scaned it's dark hid
Gus, proportions hopelessly. Then
she went back to the dark days long
gone by. She is not Jasper Gamer
on's wife, but child, white faced
and miserable because her father is
diving and in few hours she will
be all alone in the world. She sees
a room so dark that it is with diff
Guilty she recognizes the white drawn
face on the pillow. She hears a
voice say "Jarvis, | trust my child
to you because of the friendship that
has been between as all these years.
Be kind to her and guard her life's
happiness. She will be rich; my
little Mile will be an heircss. JAR
Wis, my old friend, let no man make
her his wife who loves her not with
his whole soul. Promise All her
life long the child remembered those
words.
Years after when Milly leaves the
school, and suitors WOO the heiress,
she remembers her fathers dying
words. Looking back now those
days seem the happiest of Milly's
life. Through mist of binding
tears she sees Jasper Cameron's face
coming in upon that life and scene
of long ago is as fresh as it was then.
She beholds girl in white dress
laying her hand in mans out
stretched palm, too shy and proud
to let him see by sign or word that
he is more to her than ought else in
the world, though she has promised
to be his wife. He is timid too, but
he says he loves her, and she remem-
bers the strange agitation of Mr..
Jarvis face when Jasper c., with
her cold hand in his, leads her up to
her guardian as his promised wife.
And then comes the beginning of
the sad, bitter ending.
The dark shadow that creeps up
and takes its station between them
before they are man and wife. A
woman's voice, false and trea :her-
Gus, blois out forever the happiness
in Milly's life. 1t is limited that he
had married her for her money, and
Milly's heart is locked to Jasper c..
for ever and ever. And thus on her
wedding morning, cold and proud
she stood beside him at the altar,
and made her VOWS, and so the first
stone of the barrier between them
was laid. The same voice laughing
| ly tells him that he has married a
lovely wife with no heart, some one
had stolen it long before. The pois
on of the cruel words worked well.
He little knows that a woman's Bit
ter jealousy had planned his lifelong
misery. Husband and wife distrust
each others hearts. They have
formed the nearest, dearest tie on
earth, but they are strangers yet. "
They have nothing in common; no
sweet communion passes between
those whom God has joined togeth-
er.
All, we'll, it is sad and weary
work. The years go By, the weeks,
the days.
There is little grave in the
4
churchyard, little life has ended,
but husband and wife come no near
er in sorrow than 10 the days when
the baby fingers twined fathers and
mothers hands in one and each
drew back at the thrill when hand
touched hand. The little messenger