Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-10-09
morning. be handed her a note.
For Miss Marjorie, ma'am,' and
was as quickly out eff sight.

was as quickly out CT sight.
From John Harding. Some low
ers' quarrel reconciled. Suppose I
keep it just few days. She will
thank me for it some day. I viii
think it over and thus soliloquiz-
ing, she slipped the letter into the
capacious pocket by her side, where
it was destined to remain long days
ere it was brought to light.
Sudden move, that of young
Harding. | thought be was too
sensible to let the western feyer in
fuence him when he was doing SO
well at home. Better let we'll enough
alone.s But understand be has cold
out everything, leased the farm and
started out anew. He gives no rea-
sons to any one. I'm sorry, for |
always liked the lad ard good old
Farmer Hayes, rising fortnight
later from the breakfast table, shook
his head with wise shake.
Poor Mrs. Hayes As she listen
tened, her ford face grew pale.
Perhaps she had made a mistake af-
ter all, and at the memory of that
white envelope, hidden away some
where in some deep pocket, weight
of iron was resting on her heart.
She stole stealthy glance at her
niece. Her cheek had lost its color,
her hand trembled little as she
raised cup Of coffee to her lips, but
otherwise she gave no sign.
That evening Squire Arnold call
ed, and when he left he carried Mar.
jorie Hayes promise to become his
wife.
Thus Mrs. Hayes ambition was
fulfilled, but vainly did she console
herself with the thought. Some
thing within forbade self congratu.
lation, and the ruddy color often
left her cheek at some forbidden
memory.
Squire Arnold had no cause to
complain of capricious behavior.
No spice of coquetry tinged Mar
joriels manner now. With quiet
calm she moved about the old house
busy with preparations for the now
fast approaching nuptials but, oh
what would Mrs. Hayes have given
for one mischievous glance as of old,
one ripple of merry, girlish laughter,
one burst Of happy song.
Days merged into weeks, until
one bright beautiful morning in May
Marjorie rose to the consciousness
that her wedding day had come.
\
There was strange tenderness In
Mrs. Hayes manner, as she helped
robe the bride. 1t was as though
she prepared lamb for the sacrifice,
but it was too late now, she whisper
ed ever to herself, and so hustled
here and there in busy preparation
50 that none noticed how seldom
she smiled or how wan and pale she
looked.
1t was over at last.
Marjorie had gone through it all
as in dream, scarcely needing the
words which bound her to another
or hearing her own voice in re-
spouse.
Then came congratulations and
farewells, and she had left her child.
hood Is home wife. Then she awoke
from dream life to reality, then fol
the first time knew how stern duty
she had imposed upon herself, and
she wondered if her strength would
not desert her.
But Squire Arnold was too proud
in her possession to dream her any
other than satisfied, and for six
months she did her duty well.
Then sudden, sharp illness pros
trated her husband, and before the
new year opened she stood, clad in
widows weeds, beside his grave.
But when she went back to hel
desolate home she missed even the
duties, and as she realized how dread
and empty life was, a new, hard feel
ing crept into her heart against the
man who had, in his stern, unrelent.
ing anger, worked her this misery.
No word came from the wanderer
He seemed to have passed forever
from their lives, but in the spring
her aunt's health failed, and she
gladly obeyed the summons to hel
side which allowed her TO close the
great, lonely house where she dwell
alone, and go back to the dear old
farm, to the place her aunt had SC
long filed.
Soon would it be empty.
With great start, the girl first
saw the awful change which had tax,
en- place. She rarely spoke, bul
| Marjorie wondered often,at the visit
full gaze which followed her every
movement around The room.
But when a few short weeks had
passed all knew the end was near.
One evening, Just as the sun was
sinking to rest, and Marjorie and
her uncle, with a strange forebodiug
at their hearts, watched by the suf,
ferer, the sick woman, moLioning
Marjorie nearer, whispered
"The letter--in my p-pocket-
fhouohf. ii heat cr.fnroive-t,