Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-12-12

had told her / was coming tomorrow
for her approval.
Miss York had been very kind,
but acted rather strangely, and said
she would see me, but she could not
consent. as she did not wish to lose
Ella. Ny dear girl went on to say
that she had in vain tried to pc.
from Der any more than this.
II wa. in curious frame Of mind
as went next morning to see Miss
York. What could her objection
really be 7 Surely not to me! My
position, my family, my life here
we're, ! hoped, beyond reproach.
Even if it we're a question Of money,
had enough private means, as you
know.
As for Miss York, well, Of course
it would be lonely without Ella at
first, after so many years. compan-
ionship, but surely she didn't expect
her never to get msrried ! It was
preposterous.
II was destined to know her OBJ
lection. As | approached the lodge
the porieress met me.
"'Oh, Mr.. Bourn, this is shock
ingl'
II was more puzzled than ever.
Why my engagement TO Ella should
be shocking / couldn't see, and /
no doubt expressed it in my looks.
so sudden. too, STRIP said the
woman. Nobody expected it =
"Whatever is the matter r said
t.
Why, haven't you heard that
Miss York is dead? mol Oh, dear!
Poor thing had fit in the night,
doctor says, was quite unconscious
when Miss Ella got there, and died
at 8 O'Clock this morning.
any heart sank. / felt faint and
giddy. 1t was some minutes before
| could move. You will never know
how it feels, Howson, unless you
have such a blow, which | hope you
never will. But / am bound to say
my one thought was my poor, lone
Is, darling EllaP
"There were no more details to be
learned about Miss York's death.
She was buried in Lowmarket church
yard.
ELLA was i'll for weeks, and could
not see even me. When she was
well enough to attend to business it
was found that she had inherited all
her aunt's money and as she had
already accepted me, We were mar
ried a twelve-month afterward.
"She had been awfully lonely, she
said, Miss York's death, but no cou-
pie had ever lived happier and been
dearer to each other than Ella ard ].
May God bless her |"
"Amen y said I, solemnly and
| reverently.
ELLA and l." pursued jim, "could
never give the remotest guess as to
her aunt's objection TO our engage
ment, and it would probably have
remained mystery to me. as it has
to Ella even now, had it not been
for the following circumstances.
"Some time ago was sent for at
the prison 10 see rather desperate
character, whose end was very near.
He had been sent to seven years Pc
nal sefvitude some three years be-
fore for forgery, and after serving
three years at Portland had been
transferred to Lowmarket.
His appearance was superior to
that of the ordinary convict, even
when forger. Although / had
seen him several times, ard certain
ly teen struck with his face and
appearance, we could not be said to
he friendly, as he had been indiffer-
ent to my advances.
Il found him lying in the hospital
and | soon saw that he would not
live very long.
"'You seem pleased to see me p
| said.
Yes, sir, replied No. 1852, Il am
glad You have come; hardly ex-
pected you would, considering how
stand offish I've been. But I want
ed to see you, as the doctor says I'm
not likely to last much longer-per-
baps not till tomorrow
"'There, well. never mind. Keep
your courage up, and you'll proba-
bly, deceive the doctor
~ talked to him about his soul
and spiritual things. That we may
pass by, Howson / believe he was
thoroughly penitent. | asked him
if there was anything / could do for
him.
Eyes, sir, there is one thing, If
you will. It's such curious one, /
hardly like to ask you His eyes
looked eagerly at me.
$50, on said ! III do tiff pos
sible.'
I've had queer lite,' said the
convict. i might have been some
body and done soue good but
got led astray after marriage, and
broke the heart of my wife who died
soon afterwards. Yes, I've led a
bad life, and it precious few friends
I've had lately anyhow. But / hope
/ 7 mor ho foroivau 90 won eav Go1