Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-06-18
On TRIAL.
BY ALLIE STARR.

A young equestrian couple can
tered gaily along>a country road In
delicious hush OF an early June
morning-the girl a brilliant bru.
nette, with great sparkling eyes. and
the rosy hue of health tinging her
cheeks; the young man at .her side
blonde and handsome, a very Adonia
in form and feature-and 40 they
rode along, the girls laugh rang
merrily out, in response to some re.
mark Of her companion.
He, however, seemed far too SER
ious 10 laugh, even smile, and far too
engrossed in his subject to heed the
beauties of the morning; and grasp.
ing the lady's rein he exclaimed, i'm
petuously:
II tell you, Blanche, I will not be
put of SOL cannot bear it. Don't
you see how youar torturing mel'
81, Oharlis!n and the dark eye
brows were arched prettily, in pre-
tended surprise. ~ torture you!
Well, really, that is pleasant to hear,
especially as grant you double the
favors l accord to any other of my
gentlemen friends"
II know you do. dear; but that 10
all the worse, if you don't intend to
accept me; for here l linger on and
on, hoping for favorable answer to
my suit; one day basking in your
smiles, the next hardly favored with
a glance. 1t is maddening-indeed
I cannot bear it, Blanchel'
And his voice quivered.
swell, what win you hayel' she
pouted. II have told you before
that l cannot decide just at present.
You are on trial. you know; but if
you must know the truth, there are
one or two others on trial here Also
"Blanchel' cried Charley Vascoe,
his blue eyes expressing the disgust
he felt, ISIS this thing true? Do you
mean TO tell me that those fellows
stand an equal chance with me of
winning your hand!"
why nots'queried Blanche, with
q proud lift of her head.
"Nothing, only il you eau cslcu-
late 80 calmly the respective merits
of all three Of us, you don't love any
one of US very deeply--not myself,
at all events" replied Charlie, de-
jectedly.
"Indeed! Well, since you seem TO
understand my feelings so well, per-
haps you will save me the trouble Of
deciding
"I--ob, Blanchel Blanchel How
strangely you talkl Do you not
comprehend how madly I love you!
Do you not know how vainly I have
sought to tear myself away, when I
have seen the attentions you have
=
vouchsafed to others' And yet you
ask me to decide for you. How can
I decide but in my own favor' And
i'll do that, will you-will you marry
me, my darling" breathed Charley,
in breathless excitement.
"Qeslly, Mr.. Vascoe,' and her
tone Was icy, "you misunderstood
me. / intended you to infer the op.
posite."
"Ahl" murmured Charlie, with =
half gasp, as he dropped his hand
from her rein; "then sou refuse me!'
II fear it must be 50, aimee you
insist upon an answer, and / am not
at all sure of my own heart; but we
have been friends 80 long. since our
earliest childhood, that 1t would not
seem natural for rs 10 be enemies,
or even strangers; so friends Les us
remain. Mr.. Vascoe--Charley, are
you contentl'
He gave her look, only one; bns
In that glance was expressed mingle led
love, despair and chargin. TEen he
spurred on his horse, in utter silence
She followed him in silent sur
prise; she had expected stormy
outburst OF reproach and beseechipg
but not such still despair.
At last, as they drew rein at bel
fathers house, he turned 10 her, say,
ing simply.
"Since you do not love me, BIan
che, | would not have !, on we'd me
God knows I would willingly Civ,
my life to shield you, from sorrow
but cannot love you less, and
cannot bear to see you happy.in III
arms of another. az least not ncw