Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-07-03

tlced nattery.
Such sublime audacity, such con-
sumate falsity, stunned her. With
a look of whitening scorn she turned
and left him in utter disgust.
81 pity Greta, cross and selfish as
she is" Dodo thought, as she vent
slowly up the steps of the old yellow
stone mansion.
As she entered the pleasant fami-
" sitting room Greta passed rudely
and sullenly past her and tripped
up the stairs.
Mrs. Gray was weeping almost
convulsively in her invalid chair be-
fore the fire.
''What has happened, aunty 2" the
girl queried, anxiously and afee-
tionately.
Dodo was sincerely attached to
her invalid aunt, whose trials had
indeed been many and grievous.
''It is that mortgage" was the pit
eous answer. ''There is to be an i'm
mediate foreclosure. We shall be
absolutely homeless there won't be
800 left after the sale. | don't
care for myself, nor SO much on
Gretta's accountable can earn her
own living if she chooses but there
are the poor children-Tommy and
Willie ! What will become Of
them 2"
Dodo stopped and kissed her aunt
in gentle sympathy, but she was ST.
| lent.
"Dodo, | can't ask you to do any.
thing that might make you unhap-
Ply" the weeping woman resumed,
'and it seems cruel to remind you
that | have been like mother to
you. But, my dear, If you would
only consider everything and then
decide to do what / would like. And
George is in the parlor, now. He is
waiting for you, dear"
Dodo's pretty face flushed with a
sudden sense Of her own lack of feel
ing for others. She had not con-
sidered everything as she might
have done-that was certain.
Mrs. Grey had indeed been like a
mother to her. la her orphaned
and penniless childhood she had
been taken into the family as one of
their own.
She had shared and shared alike
with them in everything; no hint of
her dependence had been permitted
to pain her. Even the selfish and
sometimes disagreeable Greta had
treated her entirely as sister. And
when the dear, kind uncle left them
she mourned him as one who had
been to her like an indulgent father.
The flush had vanished from her
pretty cheeks; her face was pale and
her large brown eyes were serious as
she opened the parlor door and adj
yanced rather timidly toward the
gentleman waiting for her.
The serious eyes dropped and her
voice choked as she glanced at the
earnest face and fine Saxon-looking
figure of her patient, true, old lover.
How could she have tried to shut
her foolish heart against the love of
one all noble and loyal, ever she
wondered.
Bat she meant to be frank with
him; she would confess all her folly
she would even tell him about that
dreadful mortgage, and then, if he
loved her no longer, she could not
blame him.
He misinterpreted the agitation
of the pale face, and checked the
confession before it was begun.
81 am not here to hurry your an
swer, Dodo," he said very gently.
"You shall have your own time
about that, my darling. have come
on quite different errand. | have
| just learned that your aunt has been
threatened with some financial trou.
! BILE, and I have yentured to adjust
| the matter by buying the mortgage,
I know how hard it would be for her
to give up her old home, and how
hard il would be for you to see her
in such distress when she has always
been such good mother to you,
And 80 I just took the affair in my
own hands, and her trouble is ended
Why, Dodo, my little love, what is
this ~ he finished in surprise.
For Doda had suddenly flung her.
self face downward on the sofa, and
was crying as If her heart would
break.
sand it was the mortgage which
had come between you and me
George she cried with q nervous
laugh, mingling with the sound Of
tears. l wouldn't marry You just
because poor aunty wanted your
| help about it, and | tried to hate
you, and"
"And you couldn t." he interrupt
ed, in voice shaken with its sudden
deep gladness, as he took her in his
arms and kissed the wet eyes and
quivering lips.
And SO George Carlyon won his
| hr;1a