Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-11-27

betrothed.
"'Pity is akin to love- and so is
sympathy. So it proved.
"They were married, quietly, and
both seemed so happy-that peace
full, tranquil happiness we so seldom
see.
"The friendship of Gwynette and
Hardy continued, but Gwynette sell
dom called at their home. He told
me he vas always puzzled; his heart
wouldn't keep still.
''The old passion for Anna SEEM
ed to break out whenever be came
into Mrs. Hardy's presence. He
couldn't account for it until one
night Stuart came for him in hur-
ry. Mrs. Hardy was very i'll.
ARRIVING at the house, he went
at once to her room.
aOn entering, the same old feeling
came over him.
'sHe stepped toward the couch on
which Mrs. Hardy was lying (strange-
ly enough it was by large old-fash-
Toned fireplace) but stumbled on the
head of a large tiger rug, putting
out his hand as be had done once
before.
"The old scene came back to him
and he almost fell. He recovered
quickly his professional instincts
asserted themselves, and, taking
Mrs. Hardy's hand, was feeling her
pulse, asking her few questions,
when his fingers frightened on her
wrist-what was this
"He held in his hand the identical
fracture, or, rather, the imperfect
knitting of the bones that were SO
peculiar to Annals wrist.
"There could be no mistake. He
raised his eyes to hers-the truth
was out. 1t was Anna Hardy's hand
he held in his own-not Mrs. Shell.
bourne Hardy's.
CAT this moment Stuart came into
the room.
"tYour wife is much run down,
Stuart. / will run in in the morn
ing early. Perfect quiet and rest is
all she needs tonight. She will take
these until l see her again, and talk
of nothing, won't you, Mrs. Hardy !?
eyes, Doctor, / will rest and not
even talk to my husband until | see
you.'
"To Stuart these words meant
nothing, but poor Gwynette under
stood them only too we'll.
"Early the next morning Gwyn.
cite came and found, even against
his hopes and prayers, Stuart away.
DR.. Gwynette, we will not wait
for formalities nor questions. What
I am about to tell you I cannot ex-
plain. 1 will tell you the whole
story, and rely on your mercy not
to expose me now. This deception,
or, rather the inception of it came
to me long after / had persuaded
Miss Shelbourne to return home
with me-
| was rich in both a good hus-
band 's.loye and wealth. Were we
ever to bes hlessedEwith children l
would provide for them, independent
of their fathers money. This is the
real reason insured my life.
You remember this all occurred
before | met and knew Miss Shell.
bourne, and how, learning / would
never be blessed with child, had
this policy transferred to her, she
bad been and was SO kind to me.
One day, as she lay on my
couch, sleeping, l was struck with
her startling resemblance to me.
Some demon whispered in my ear
this horrible idea. / thrust it from
me but it would recur to me again
and again.
When she awoke / asked her
jestingly to put on my dress and ar
range her hair like mine. The trans.
formation was complete. Even che
was startled
+" That night, on retiring Cher
room adjoined mine) I heard moan,
and going TO her room l found her
unconscious on the bed.
:" i finally reused her, and she
begged me to let her spend the rest
of the night in my room.
On the following night Miss
shelbourne complained of feeling i'll
and retired carly. l looked in on
her, just before retiring, and her pc
culiar breathing drew me to her
side. She was again unconscious,
and | could not this time bring her
around. ! had been far from well
myself, and my strength gave out.
What condition my mind was in /
did not know. nor do / to this day.
Miss Shelbourne's condition
knew was serious.
i was about to summon aid
when that evil demon again entered
my mind. Change places with her,,
it kept saying. Responding in my
own thoughts, / asked: when she
recoyers-what then n She will not
recover, it echoed.
Well, it was done.
" i removed the poor girl to my