Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-09-11
A STRANGE WOOING.

l am Casper Athwold. l was
born beautiful, but one day a nurse
dropped me from her arms down the
Whole length Of an oak staircase.
There is no need to say any more.
Yet l was happy caild. As l grew
up I built such castles in the air as
other youths build, and in my castle
l began to see Kate Norman's fig.
ure, Katie's da1k-eycd, crimson
checked face smiling On me from
visionary Preside there, and hear her
voice singing lullabies in The far-olf
future.
We met often. She was always
kind and friendly. / had fancied
something more.
One day l went in the heat of the
afternoon to a shady spot by the
river side, my own ground. l lay
upon the grass, reading a book, when
behind the glossy leaves Of the
plants which the little ones called
"bread ard butter bushes | heard
the sparrow-like twitter Of girls
voices.
"She'll have him." said one.
"Fancy such a bridegroom ~ said
the other. "All his money couldn't
buy me-"
"He don't want you, but Kate"
said the first.
Zone must be at ones last prayer
to want such an admirer. No one
could like Casper Athwold."
'Of course not" said the first;
shut then he's rich, and Kate is poor
enough
"You are right; no woman could
love him but money will marry
anybody"
There was rustic, sound fleet
on the grass, and the chipping voices
died away in the distance.
X
l shut myself up in the old house,
among my books, and stunned the
sight of faces and the sound of
voices. 1t was the best thing that
man whom no one could love could
do.
So the months wore away.
Some times l had met her, but /
always looked another way. and our
pleasant greetings had come to an
end.
| had seen hurt flush en- her face,
and taken no heed of it. Lad even
been diseourteous-but | loved her
just as I had loved her all along.
One day / went to the cid lawyer
who had bad charge of our estate
for forty years, and babe him draw
me up a will, in which LETT all that
| possessed to Kate Norman, with
letter which only her hands we're to
unseal, only her eyes to read, after l
had gone.
This was the letter:
SKATE NoRMAN-You never cared
for me you could not once heard
q woman say no one could; but
loved you. Had | cherished one
faint ray of hope | would have striv.
en- to win your heart; but learned
in time, what folly it was; and, in
pity for myself, held aloof from you.
AS it is, it gives me some pleasure
to think that you will dwell under
this root. When you read this you
will pity, not deride, the love of
CASPER ATHWOLD."
This note lay unsealed and direct
ed, 'tTo be given to Kate Norman
after my death y apd the will was
also aigued and sealed, and l walked
home.
AT my door the elm shadows lay
thick, and in them stood bent,
crooked figure, clothed ip rags, a
beggar, who began his dolorous
whine as | came up;
"a little help, Just little; I'm
not q strong man, sir; I can't work
like the same. Yer ism t strong yer
self; yer'll be krowin' what that is.
a wakely ould crater that would be
thankful fer any thine-a penny or
an onld coat, or q sup e q bite, yes,
eir.lg,
tossed Lin coin.
&C., ! said. Don't loiter here
The man looked at me curiously
as though he had expected more
pity from me. The coin had fallen
at bis feet. He stopped ard picked
it up.