Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-11-21
W. VA. SATURDAY. NOV Il. 1895.

money Esther had so kindly bsstow-
ed for the payment of those multi
tudinous debts. On her dressing
table lay this note, with no address
whatever, and with no signature
aYou'li be as glad to be rid of me as
am OF you, hope, Gerald. Its your fault.
You were cruel, and the captains kind.
He is devoted to me. I was obliged to take
the money. Now you are bachelor, the
debts won't trouble you- As for baby, |
wish Esther would take him. It's not his
fault that he had a wicked mother. end,
I'll never trouble either of you, whatever
comes. oh, for Heavens sake-for the love
Of old times, beg Esther to take baby"
Thus it ended and Esther read
it with Gerald's mad, white face OPP
pcsite her. She could not comfort
him. She only lifted the child from
its cradle.
II will care for him. she said. Il
loved Rose once"
"And / ALSO sobbed Gerald, and
he wept with rage aud shame.
So Ess her took the babe 10 Oak
nook.
Two years had passed. The child
thrived and grew. She had heard no
word OF Gerald, no news of Rose
One day she sat with the boy up
on her knee, thinking of the past,
when there came rap at her door.
Opening it, she found without the
clergyman Of the place, newly come
there-a fair haired man, with mild
blue eyes.
He was little excited-a little
nervous. He spoke in some trepi-
dation.
"Pardon me for intrudipg; but
this is the only house upon the road
foE some distance, and l have found
q woman in the snow-dying, /
think. May | bring her here ? She
is wretehed creature, and he look
ed at the woman doubtfully.
"The more wretched the more
need of help" said Esther, gently,
and in moment more the woman
was brought in.
She was dying, so the physician
whom they summoned said, and Es-
Their had her laid upon a pleasant
bed in cheerful upper chamber, all
the while feeling a horrible dread of
the face-strange, yet familiar
which she gazed upon.
At last, with the last gasp, tue
woman spoke
Don't you know me. Esther? I'm
Rose. Think of that, Esther. I wish
you'd let my child kiss me-"
And Esther lifted up the boy; but
his dread forbade the kiss, and the
soul drifted out of the blue eyes
which had once been SO bright, with
a suddenness Esther never forgot,
and Rose was dead.
They buried her not far away, and
her chapter in the book of fate was
at an end. More than ever did Es-
Their wonder what had become Of
Gerald.
Another year passed. happy
year to Esther. She began to find
life full of Joy again. She began to
listen for a step-for a voice. A
pure, true heart was offered her
the love of a man in his full prime
holy thing, which she knew how to
prize. Tie fair haired clergyman
was often at Oaknook, and the Cos
sips began to talk again.
1t was autumn-a golden day lin.
gering long, as though it dreaded to
leave esrth-when in the twilight a
man walked through the gate at Oak.
nook, a splendid man Of middle age
well dressed and portly. Esther
knew him at glance. lie was only
altered for the better.
They sat together talking of the
child before she told him OF Roses
unhappy end. Then there was ST
lence for a while. He ended it by
taking her hand.
Esther be said, you were my
first love. | believe | have loved you
ever since. repented my fancy fol
Rose from the honeymoon. | dont
suppose you ever cared about me
but | wish you could now. | am rich
am free. Can you, Esther ?"
She looked at him with a strange
calm look.
Il did care for YOU" she said
quietly. "You tried to make me
you know that
Startled and amazed, he answer
ell:
Il know il. I guessed it. Thai
false wretch bewitched me. Oh, m,
dearl MY
She stopped him.
"Hush i''she said. Il did care, but
/ do not now I wish you we'll
very well-that is all. This is my
engagement ring, and I'm to be mar
ried il a week. You have come toe
late. 1t has always been too late
since you gave your heart to Rose,
And now | an SO very very happy
| She locked it. Her eyes were
girls eyes again. Her cheeks were
bright. The love be had thrown
away was given to another, and Ger
aid Loire left Oaknook feeling thai
he had reaped even as he bad sown.
He lives With bis boy hard by the