Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-09-18

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sue should assent.
We came out anon. the Egyptian
tombs, mummies and things. ! told
her she was everything to mc--life,
blood, ambition, happiness, and as
was right, she believed me. Better
still, she admitted that | was much
to her.
"Bnt, Philip" she added, q was
holding her hand We had wander
ed into Greek statutory room
| where there was no soul else), ''il
must all depend upon my father. II
you satisfy him, l shall be very
happy girl"
The Greek STATUES had, daresay,
seen great many people kiss each
other, two or three thousand years
ago, but they never saw more earn
est exchange of such tokens OF at
fections than ours.
Tomorrow. DEAR said Bella
sat eleven o'clock, would be the best
time for him."
An exciting but felicitous evening
followed, unmarried by my sisters
scoff at the idea of my marrying q
/ medicine woman-so she termed my
Bella.
But when was at Bella's fathers
door | did not feel happy. What
were my prospects? | had a hun
dred year of my own nothing
else.
OF all things, too, Prof. Whitcombe
was teacher of philosophy. 1t is
just those men who are so concern.
ed with ideals that look so tremend-
uously sharp after the downright
material good things of this life.
The gentleman disconnected me
from the outset by his formal mar
ners and his blue glasses. Up went
his eyebrows when | told him what
/ wanted. Still he heard me to the
end. Only when [ had exhausted
all my powers Of asseveration about
the great things l could and would
do, with Bella engaged to me, did
he cough and pass sentence.
II never in my life, Mr. (glanc.
ing a. my card) "Marrabone, heard
anything more absurd or impracti
cable than your proposition. / have
nothing more to say. Good morn
ing"
When l was outside / held my
senses just sufficiently to rush bach
to Great Russell street.
Some one else got my seat, O.
course; hulking, raw, young
Scoichman, also a Bart's man.
waited, however, till lunch time, and
then told her all.
Poor Phil!' said she. 81 an
afraid it is all overt
We were again among the Greek
gods and goddesses. She cried
gently as she spoke.
"But you love me ~ asked in 6
boiling rage against tate.
Eyes, l love you,' said she, chok
ingly.
VERY we'll, then, sLall win you
yet. Bella, always love me and
things will right themselves
The kiss we then exchanged seem
ed our last, for, though / saw her ir
the afternoon, she never appeared
again in the reading room.
| wrote to her and received one
letter in reply as follows:
Ny VERY DEAR PHIL--Papa for
bids me to correspond with you in
any way, aud | must, alas, obey
him. | can only repeat what you
know. You are enshrined in my
heart. Let US pray that the future
may be brighter for us both.
"Your fond and loving
"BELLA.p
Sweet, sweet letter-in spite o.
the despair it indicated F!
For the ensuing fortnight I was
like one bereft OF half his senses.
tried to work-could not, and ran
down in health at gallop.
| learned that Prof. Whitcombe
was cold hearted, scheming mon.
ster. He worshipped rank and mon,
ey, though be taught the pursuit Of
the noble, the true and the beauti,
full. Hypoerite 1t was plain / had
nothing to hope for from him.
Then my father compelled me to
see our doctor-he any they all
were so alarmed at my appearance,
plus cough.
The upshot was that in middle
cember was in the Bay of Biscay,
bound for Australia. It was my
only chance, said the doctor.
He little knew. One word from
that philosopher fellow and would
have been a Hercules in five min.
utes.
However, the Rubicon was pass
ed.
l had written "goodby' 10 Bella
and received no answer.
Landing at Melbornc, at once
made arrangements for going Up
country, to present certain letters to
a cattle owner, Mr. Grant, among
whose sores ard quadrupeds / was
supposed to have tie best possible
u. a