Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-04-23

L
"Well, must say replied Scott,
either the moonlight played US a
trick, or she is rather pretty girl"
Mex. morning the Two students
commenced their explorations among
the famous ruins. The region is re-
| plete with interest for the student,
and as their daily intercourse with
the people afforded opportunity for
the study Of modern Greek-one of
the chief objects of their tour-they
decided TO spend sometime in the
place.
They did net see HELENE again
for several days. But Lyle did not
scrup.e to find OUT what he could
about her from the peasants.
He learned that she was the grand
daughter of the rich old landlord
with whom they lodged. Her par
| ents were dead, and her education
had been intrusted to an old tutor,
famous for his learning, who had
died the year before. And soon,
they said, she wac to marry Stephano
the young soldier, the son Of a
wealthy neighbor.
One afternoon the two students
were resting in the shadow Of the
massive walls, which form the en-.
trance to those celebrated ruins call
ed the ''Tomb of Agamemnon.
They were discussing fragment
of pottery which they had just dis
covered, when Lyle, looking up, saw
HELENE coming slowly toward them,
picking here and there the late flow
ers and grasses, evidently quite un.
conscious Of their presence.
The ground over which she was
advancing was strewn with blocks OF
breccia from the ancient walls, which
made her progress often difficult,
and the two friends watched with
admiration the ease and grace OF
her movements, which brought out
the fine lines of her agile figure.
At length she raised her head and
saw the two men with surprise and
embarrassment, for she seemed on
the point OF flight.
Lyle stepped forward, hat in
hand.
"Pardon u.s. he said, "for start.
ling you. We should have made
our presence known sooner. But we
have found a curious piece Of pot.
terry here, and were trying to deter
mine its origin. Will you look at
it, and he held out the fragment in
his hand.
Her first fright had vanished, but
the gill stood regarding them with
a look OF indecision, which threaten
ed to end the interview on tie slight
est occasion.
But gradually a more confident
expression took It's place, and she
asked:
"Do you know Homer p
"No, replied Lyle, II can't say
we know him very well, but we read
him and have learned to love him
You Greeks have a great advantage
over the rest of the world in reading
Homer in your own tongue"
Indeed we do" replied the young
girl, her embarrassment rapidly dis
appearing, shut few of our country.
men appreciate it. Yet some do
for all Greeks are not like those that
go to America to get rich. There
are still many who love the glorious
| language and traditions of our PEG.
pie. Oh, yes" she continued, dain'
tily taking the fragment from Lyle Is
outstretched hand, "there are many
such specimens here have a col
lection of them myself"
A beginning thus made, they pass.
ed easily to other topics of common
interest. The students found that
this young girl was thoroughly
trained in the literature of her coun.
try as well as its history, and loved
both fervently.
An hour passed in eager converse.
At the earnest request of the two
students, HELENE finally consented
to recite for them some of Ter favor
lite passages from the Iliad. She
seated herself on rock which had
fallen from the gigantic ruin behind
her, and with the western sun
shining full on her beautiful face
glowing with the immortal words
she spoke, she formed a picture
against the background of those
massive walls which would have
won the admiration of a far less ap.
preciate audience than the two lis.
teners. When she had finished, the
three walked back to the village to.
gether.
For a few days thereafter the
Americans saw much of HELENE,
They examined the fine collection OIL
antiques which she herself had
made, and found her of invaluable
assistance in several lines of study
in which they were engaged.
But no woman could long fail tc
see in Lyle's every glance and tone
that wondrous something which wo
men long and fear to look upon. A
shyness and difidence quite contra