Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-02-05
my BeautyI See he can perch upol
nv hand 70

my uaHu
Il was coming over.' be said, ito
escort you to Woodlawn, Miss Jen-
ME. My sister expects. yoa."
aMe ~ said Jennie. II had no
thought Of going. They said ]
mustn't. But Adelaide is, and she
is expecting you now.''
Suddenly she seemed struck by
some swift thought that brought the
hot blood in torrents to her checks,
and clasping the dove, she turned
and fed through the gathering dark
ness.
The captain looked for moment,
undecided whether to follow, or not.
But, finally, he pursued his way to
Maple Hill, and accompanied Ade-
laide TO Woodlawn.
! A day or two after, Mrs. Cooper
and her daughter drove to the near
est farm, leaving Jennie at home to
get dinneF.
She sat in the old kitchen, picking
raisins for the pudding, when foot
steps startled her.
"Good morning, Miss Jennie"
said the pleasant voice of Captain
Fossebrooke.
She sprang up, scattering her raj
sins about.
"Oh, Captain Fossebrooke," she
cried, and her heart began to beat
strangely. But she made an effort,
and said more calmly, "Walk into
the sitting room, please. Adelaide
isn't at home this morning."
II didn't come to see Miss Ade-
laide," said the captain, taking hold
of Jennie's hand and looking straight
into her eyes. II came to see you,
and to inquire after Beauty. "Pray
sit down, Miss Jennie, and let me
help you with your raisins. And
don't you think you could invite me
to stay for dinner 7" he added, arch.
| ly. Sim particularly ford OF plum
pudding"
/ Jennie resumed her seat, smiling.
The captain took seat in front OF
her, and went to work at the raisins,
chatting pleasantly the while.
| Presently Jennie, who was get
ting embarrassed, called Beauty, and
the bird futtered in, and perched on
the top of her head.
"What picture you make" said
the captain. "You are very fond oil
Beauty? N
"Oh, yes answered Jennie.
| He caught her hands and held
them fast.
| Jennie" he said, bending his
handsome face down towards her
"slnee- you care SO much for my
dove, cant yeu care little for
me 2"
| She struggled instinctively to free
her lands, but he would not let
them 60.
| "You must hear me, Jennie" be
went on. "You and / haven't known
each other very long but long
enough for me to love you. I've
travelled in many lands ard seen
many fair women, but never enc be-
fore that l cared to make my wife.
Jennie, can you give me hope p
| She lifted her lovely, startled
eyes.
| II love you with my whole heart"
he continued. 81 have loved you
ever since that summer day when
| you brought Beauty home. Don't
be cruel. You pity all inanimate
things. Can't you pity mel"
She gave him shy, sweet, radiant
glance, and he knew it meant sue
/ cess.
IL never dreamed of such thing
until you mentioned it, she whis-
pered after while. Il was sure it
was Adelaide and not poor me. But
but I-I-belieye / have cared
for you all the while.''
He caught her to his heart.v
"God bless you," be said, "for
those words.n
| When Mrs. Cooper and Adelaide
returned they found tie captain still
there.
He called Mrs. Cooper aside and
told his story, while Jennie fed up
stairs to her little attic chamber.
Her aunt apgrily declared she
would give her consent to no such
toolery. "Jennie is mere child
she said.
As for Adelaide, she vent into
Mysteries.
But for all that, Jennie and the
captain we're. married that fall, and
kept their Christmas at Woodlawn ;
and even Adelaide land Mrs. Cooper
condescended TO be guests there.
In fact, the aunt does nothing
since but talk of the "great match"
her niece has made.
sShe's Mrs. Fossebrooke, OF Fosse-
brooke Hall, you know she says,
hesoldest family in the country
The pain that sometimes strikes a
man at the most inopportnne mo-
ment is due to indigestion. 1t may
come in the midst of dinner and
| make the feast "a mOckerv II ia a