Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-12-11
nv heart never wavered IN it


loyalty to Ross, but / silenced my
conscience when night after night
brought MI Arden TO our cottage,
or the saEse moon which had waned
and fulled since Ross had left me
now lighted our two figures as We
strollsd idly upon The sands, by look
ing down on the golden circlet which
spanned my finger, and repeating
again and again to myself that /
vas true to my troth.
Sometimes q distant figure would
waken q sudden nervous dread as to
bow Ross would receive my own
plausible theories should he sudden
" appear before US, but-what could
be expect2 I was not yet his wife.
It was absurd that time should hang
50 heavily on my hands during his
absence.
Mother F'loolg her head when foH-
ers, music and books graced our lit.
tie parlor witA their presence, but q
kiss ever chased away mothers
frown, which { sealed By telling her
how soon now / would be Ross wife,
and then how narrow would be nj
little world, II was almost time to
look for his return. The goesips
I knew would have plenty TO tell
him, but / would confess my fault
and / feared not / should find for.
gi7enesa. Would l find il es easy .
matter with Mr.. Arden?
His manner was growing warmer
and more loYe-like, but / knew he
could never atoop from his high po
sition to ne, ard SO I let ny con-
science sleep.
Three months had passed eince I
had watched with fearful eyes Ross
ship sail down the harbor, when one
evening Mr.. Arden came for me to
go down upon ths beach. We had
thrown ourselves idly upon the sand
for the weather was still warm, when
he drew G. velvet covered case from
his pocket.
The gifts he had offered me,
though brought from great dis
tance and at heavy expense, had
been such I had no hesitancy in ac-
ceptiDg, but anything Of real value I
felt / could not allow him to give
me.
"Rita," lie said, "here is some
thing I wish you to accept in re-
membrance of the many pleasant
hours We have spent together, some
thing that viii recall them to your
memory when | am gone"
Then, touching the spring, the case
flew open and bracelet of exqui-
site workmanship was revealed.
"Oh, how lovely y / exclaimed,
spGt, indeed, Mr.. Arden, / cannot
take it,"
"Not as a farewell gift from a
friend 2" be said. Listen, Rita,
have not dealt quite fairly with you,
child. I am going home TO be mar
ried, That your fresh young beauty
has come nearer MY heart than any
thing I have known in years l will
not deny, but my word is plighted
to another ard / must redeem it.
VIII you not accept this little pledge
as an assurance to me that I hare
worked you no real harm ~
One moments keen, wounded
pride rose within me. I had thought
this man loved me. What if he had
really won my hearth What then
would be MY merited punishment
But had I net done even as he
Could | take up the stone to thrust
at him I? In that minute all my feal-
ty to Ross returned, and I knew how
had wronged him.
awe are quits, Mr.. Arden,'' / re-
piled lightly, Jet proudly. II do
not know what better assurance to
give you than to inform you of my
own engagement, which is only wait
ing my lovers return from sea to be
ratified. Therefore, with many
thanks, I win decline your beauti-
ful Offering"
BY words had hit the mark. He
had not expected a little country
girl to meet him upon equal ground,
and 8 dark red flush oyerspread his