Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-11-07

INJURED, with note OF reproach IN hef
tones. lyon would scarcely have said
so at one time.
The man laughed, little bitterly.
IT suppose not, I" he said. II should
probably have torn my hair and thirstedI
for the blood of the estimable Yeend.
I've grown philosophical, Bertha. "
(Which is only another name for for.
getfulness-eh2"
There are some things I can never
forget even il / wished to do so,' he
whispered, trying to peer into her face.
"Ahi that sounds more like Leslie OF
old days" she said, looking round at
him gratefully II thought you had be.
gun to hate me.
lyon have never taught me to dc
that. But tell me--you are happy IL
your marriage, even though you have
left certain dreams behind? / suppose
we all drop those on our journey
through life; they are but cumbersome
luggage
"You have grown philosophical in
deed, " she replied, laughing. well, ]
don't mind telling you--you are such
been hideous blunder. +"
"Rather sweeping" said the man,
sending "a long wreath Of smoke out into
the night air, land decidedly strong.
"Not bit too strong" she replied
calmly. 1T was all right at first; after.
ward it developed into a nightmare,
from which I have never awakened. y
| She shuddered little and sighed, anG
then went ON, in lighter tone: "Well,
we won't talk about it. Tell me of your.
self. What have you been doing?
ooh, I've been wandering in the same
aimless fashion about the world, writ
! ing poems which nobody reads, painting
pictures which no man buys, gambling
a little, running into debt great deal. y
"And you are not married?' she
asked.
"No; I'm not married." he said
slowly, looking at her "Did you expect
that / should be?"
She did not answer for moment
she only looked shyly up at him, with
flush on her face
poor boyl" she murmured at last,
softly. 81 remember that you were aw.
fully fond of me--in those old days. -
eyes / was fond of you, replied the
man. without looking mt her.
II see that III spite Of your advice tC
me you still carry some of your dreams, =
she said wistfully.
"Some of Them" he said.
"And you are still fond of me, Les
lie?' she said.
"Can you doubt it?"
"You poor boy, I treated you very
badly in the old days, very badly in
deed. Iwish l could make it up to you. ;
Something in the tender, regretfu
voice touched the man; he bent nearer
to her.
tAnd you thought l had forgotten al
about you You thought could forget?'
he whispered.
She looked down the lamplit path
and suddenly sat upright and stiff.
go away now," she whispered
"Yeend is coming. l can see his figur
in the distance. Come back to me again
I want to talk to you. -
She was sitting quite calmly. evi
IDENTIFY very much bored, when her hus
band came slowly along the path ant
stood before her.
"Well?" she said questioningly, glanc
ing up at him.
Its all Finished he said in a hol
low voice. "This is the end. "
lyon don't mean she began.
81 mean" he broke in, "'that l hav'
lost tonight as heavily as before-mor,
heavily, in fact. l have 80 francs left.
Thirty francsp she calculated
fiercely.
THAT is all. wanted to save enough
to get us some dinner and--and carr,
us elsewhere in the morning. The hote
bill-well, We'll forget it. -
He laughed grimly, and the woman
shuddered.
$50 this is the end, a" she said slowl,
without looking at him, "beggary anC
shameful flight and nothing in the fu
ture This is all you have to offer me?'
ave are still together, Bertha" h,
said, looking at her hopelessly.
BAH That is the worst part of it, ;
she said scornfully. "Rich, you wer,
tolerable; but, poor She made {
quick gesture of disgust and turned
away from him.
"And you can say this to meat THU
hourl' he said bitterly.
at is such moments as these tina
teach men and women honesty" she
} said, with laugh. You have beer
, blind not to see it all before. You know
] / never really loved you.
He turned away with almost sob IL
his throat. She looked at his bowed
head curiously. Suddenly she leaned
toward him, almost eagerly.
"Herrick, she said, ''give me the 81
francs. Let us risk all or nothing. II
| try my luck. "
He looked at her modify, then drew
the coins from his pocket and tossed
+ them into her lap GAS you will, " HI
said at doesn't matter now. ="
She caught the money quickly to
gether and rose.
J I'm go alone" she said. "You't
{ spoil the luck. Something tells me