Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-06-05
A BRAVE BUTTERFLY.
BY MATTE DYER BRITTs.

Two young men stood just outside
the open window of fine old parlol
looking at the gay dancers within
as the merry strains of Strauss
waltz set light feet tripping to its
enhancing measure.
"Warm work, that!' was the re.
mark of the taller youth "a handsome
dark'eyed fellow of twenty five, who
answered to the name of Chester
McClain.
"Too warm for me !" was the
laughing reply Of his friend, Der;
Reed. "Think | shall cut dancing
until cooler weather. It's rather
too much for these days.
"There's girl who doesn't agree
with you," said Chester, lightly. II
mean Jessie Watson. Only look at
her as they come rouad! What a
pretty girl she is, tool"
"Oh, Jess Watson 2" was Bert's
answer. "Yes, she can dance, that's
fact. l fancy her mission in life
goes no higher than that-to dress,
dance and look pretty. A mere but
terdy, Jess is; nothing more"
"Why, Bert, / always thought
you quite friend Of hers
"To be sure / am. We are close
neighbors, you know, and have lots
of good times and plenty of fun over
at Watson's. | do go with jess
now and theh-she's splendid com.
pany. But, as for anything serious,
why, tell you Chef, she isn't capa.
BILE of rising to anything serious in
life.
Before Chester could reply they
were interrupted by bevy of bellies
and beaux, who came to the veranda
in search of them.
Bert WAS wanted to lead a german
and they must 60 in at once. They
went by the front door, and that one
little circumstance prevented them
from observing that as Jessie and
her partner came around to the win.
dow, they stopped there, and Jess
standing just inside the curtain
heard every word that was spoken.
"Look here, Jessie, that's too bad!
said Will Rumble. Il shall have to
call Bert Reed out for it. Don1
you think so ?"
"Oh, no not the least necessity,
was the girls light answer. "Bert
and l are old chums, as he says, and
near neighbors, so be is privileged
to think anything he likes about
me-"
"No; I'll be hanged if he is 7
grumbled Will, not halt satisfied.
"If it's true, of course, I mean
And dare say he is quite right.
am mere butterfly, born to futtel
my wings in the sunshine for brie
while, and neither do any specia
good Or any particular harm for any
body" said Jessie, still laughing.
81 think you are the best girl il
the world, and | don't care what
anybody else says, Jess. Shall W.
| go on?"
mo, 1 don't care to finish th1
waltz; they have stopped playing
anyhow. What is to come next
german Yes, I'll go through thai
with you, if you like"
She let Will lead her to her place
and kept it, right before Bert Reed
as gayly as if she had indeed beer
the "mere butterfly good for moth
ing but enjoyment, which he had
called her.
Bert would have been utterly
amazed and awfully sorry bad be
guessed that in the silence of bel
own room that night the pretty
"butterfy' wept herself to SLEEP
over the memory of his light words
There had been something "serious'
in their friendship, to her-she had
really believed there was to him
also; but now she knew better, and
her merry heart was aching bitterly
over the broken dream.
"Well,' she said, with a forced
smile at her own recollection in bel
mirror next morning, "the 'butter.
fly has had her wings scorched. But
no one ever need know it. I car
still laugh and dance as gayly as i
| was the happiest girl the sun shines
on. | will, too, Mr.. Bert. You'll
not guess what you have done.
am brave enough to bear huri
without q sign, if I am mere but
ter6y.' | won't hold his words
against him. If it ever chances that
| can render any great service t.