Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-11-06
~ - ~ ~ - =
I TWO PERAMBULATORS
4 BY AGNES SAGE.
s>e~e~s~e~e~e~s-

VII ooSh3 OeSn AOu oAS AZ
one ray of hope amid Egyptian dark
ness l"
And little Mrs. Henley precipitat-
ed herself headlong npon her broth
er's breast, regardless Of conse.
quences to very stiff and emacu-
late shirt bosom.
ut was SO good Of you to come
early, for never was woman nearer
the verge of nervous prostration.
You know the Whist Club meets
here tonight and that Charlie has
been suddenly called out of town on
important business.
"Then this morning the cook had
fare up with Ruth, the nursemaid,
and took French leave Silverman
& Co. have failed TO send the fan
such beauty painted in orchids
which / ordered for first prize; the
baby has just cut a tooth and is
is--well, not quite so angelic as
usual while now, to cap the climax,
here comes note from Mrs. Sher-
man saying she is down with an at
tack of la grippe and cannot be pres
ent this evening, so one table will
be short, as it is nearly four O'Clock,
altogether too late to invite anyone
else"
And when she paused for sheer
want of breath all Jack could ejacu.
late was "By Jove ~
He succeeded in looking so SYM
pathetic, however, that it was like a
tonic to his depressed sister, who
soon rallied.
"Yoa will help me out, won't you
Jack ~
"Sure; if | can. But, though there
is considerable Of me, | hardly think
I could divide myself into two, and
the fellows in camp decided that golf
and basket ball were more my forte
than cooking. Too apt to sugar the
soup and salt the strawberries"
: "Then you shan't make the coffee
or turn out the ices,' laughed Mrs.
Henley. "I'll let you off at once that
if youll 60 down to Silverman's, see
the manager or somebody else and
demand that orchid fan or his life.
And, oh, Jack, would it be an awful
bore 10 take Harold with you in his
little carriage? The poor child is
really suffering for breath OF fresh
air, and it would be a positive chari-
ty to Ruth and me, who have a hun
dred things to do"
Now, if Jack Finton had rot been
just the big, unselfsb, kindly chap
he was he would certainly have re-.
fased this last request. But, as it
was, he said
"All right; trot the kid out" and
said it with smile, too.
Nor would anyone have supposed
him victim on the altar of frater-
nal affection as he strobe down the
crowded avenue at the fashionable
hour, pushing before him a pretty
pink and white csnopied perambula-
tor, in which, under a soft white fur
rug, nestled that scrap Of humanity
he called his nephew.
Wonder if l have the true pater-
familias air ~ he thought, as he OBJ.
served sundry quizzical, girlish
glances cast in his direction. "And,
bless my soul, what if should meet
her y his mind reYertlng, as it had
done very often Of late, to a fair
compagnon de voyage with whom
he crossed the ocean three months
before, but whom he had not seen
since they parted on the wharf, their
homes being in different cities.
Dear little pocket Venus! She, too,
had a married sister living in B
and said she frequently visited here.
Wish
But at this junctule bis medita-
lions were rudely broken by his com.
ing into violent collision with an
other wicker equipage advancing
from the opposite direction. One
which might have been twin to the
one he was wheeling.
"Begorra, and can't ye be aither
lookin' where you a-goin' 2" exclaim-
ed the Celtic maid who was the pro-
polling power of The second tiny
turnout, and as be apreased her
wrath with an humble apology and
one of his winning smiles, be discoy-
cred that they were right abreast of
Silverman 4 Co.'s vast emporium,
where everything is sold from a pa
per of lacks to . diamond necklace.
Most imposing it was. too, with its
gayly dressed windows and deep,
tiled yestibules.
This, likewise, Appeared TO be the