Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-01-21

ing was expected yet. The colonel
reported all quiet in his last. Is poor
Major Jocolyn wounded1"
He is dead, poor fellow There
has been no fighting 1t was an nc
Cident with ON" of the guns, i'm
aginc but the telegram only said T:
Accident. JoCelyn killed. Meet train
tonight That is all l know.
Good Cod" Mrs. Tailyour ex-
claimed. Gerald Jocclyn killed
How shocking! l am terribly griev-
ed. His poor young wife! Only
married six months" The tears
rose in her eyes Az she spoke.
Yes, his wife, Captain Fergu-
son answered anXiously. Il rode
out at once, hoping to find you
here and that you would kindly
break the news to Mrs. JOcClyn and
relieve me Of the painful RESPONSE
bility. | hav" not the courage to do
it, though l don't suppose she Will
| feel it much.
He spoke with some bitterness,
and Mrs. Tailyom answered him
| quickly:
"NOu misunderstood her. Indeed
you do, Captain Ferguson. Poor
! child! Poor, pretty child, She Is
but n child, after all The shock
will be enough to Kill her. A
thOughtlcsS. frivolous creature she
may he, hut ! hrllrvc her love for
Gerald is g"nuin" and far deeper
than any one suspects, deeper even
than she herself is aware
"ShC has Il curious way of show
ing it, then, l must confess, Cap
tain Ferguson replied with aCcrbity.
Il never liked her. You know
| that. Mrs. Tailyour. a brainless,
selfish coquette, without n spark of
real feeling for any ono hut herself
| am sure ! piticd poor JoCclyn for
the life she led him last winter in
! Cairo, flirting with every man she
! met. And then that poor fellow
| Cummings shooting himself that
WAS a horrid business. However,
this will sober her if anything will
Where is she nOwl"
She is out riding with Lord Per
ccval. They started soon after break
fast and may return at any mo
ment.
"That fellow Perceval! Brutcl
wonder Jocelyn did not put his foot
down there Captain Ferguson
frowncd and rclapscd into gloomy
silence.
See that little cloud of dust 2
That is their party, no doubt"
Mrs. Tailyour pointed to the dis
tant, undulating limo III the desert.
Il dread this business. Poor little
soul! She is not of the stuff for
hearing trouble we'll God knows
how she may take it.
Some few minutes later the little
Cavalcado rode up, laughing and
joking, To the villa, all unconscious
of the two people who awaited its
arrival i'll SOrrowful silence, dread
| ing the moment when their sad in
tclligrnCe must be made known.
Maud JocClyn sprung from her horse
and ran lightly up the steps toward
them with II laugh on her lips Then
something i'll the strange expression
on the two faces that confronted her
frozc the words of merry greeting
on her tongue.
ION, my dear, my dear" Mrs
Tailyour said pitifully, taking her
by the hand and drawing her away.
"Oh, what is it, Mrs. Tailyour
What has happrncdi Gerald is he
ill: Tell me quickly. You have
heard bad nrwst' Maud stammcrcd
in terrified accents.
Yes, dear child, there is bad
news. Be brave" and the older
woman led the girl quickly away &c
her own room.
There later II voice walled forth
in anguish: "GrrIld, my love! Ger
Md! Oh, cannot bear it! 1t is not
true! Dead, my dear love! Dead
Gerald, husband! Lying dead while
l rode, laughing and testing, across
the desert :"
sThcn the thought of their last
words together flashed across hel
mind. She seemed to see again the
proud, handsome face and hear
again that pleading, earnest voice
Can trust you, Maudie2 Prom
Use me-"
And she had spurned his warning
had refused his last request and Sc
her whimS i'll defiance of his feel
lngS and wishes. As she rode by tn,
side of Lord Perceval that day Oh
the banks of the canal she had lis
tened with pleased vanity to hi
whispered words of admiration
words which conveyed to her mint
the roue's worship Of her beauty
and at the same time insisted tina
such beauty was wasted on tn
grave and serious minded soldier
who was engrOSsed, heart and soul
i'll his profession. She had liStene,
without protest To Lord Perceval'
thinly yelled sncerS at her abSen
husband. She had been diSloyal,
traitor III her pa"Sivity, false il
word If not in deed to the brave an,
tender heart which beat with sue
tru" and passionate love for her.
That evening, outside the railwa,
station, II detachment of soldier
awaited III melancholy silence tn
coming of the train which was con
vcying t" them the body of thei
dead officer and comrade, whom
they had all respected and admired
Close by thr gun carriage was stand
ing on wlivh Gerald JOcclVn WIS +