Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-05-07
A W0MAN'S WAY.

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and daughters, and Of course not a
bachelor was missing; the gold lace on
the uniforms glittered in the blaze of
many lights; women who in the day
time were merely ordinary mortals had
taken on with their evening gowns an
air of spirituelle beauty waltz had
just ended, and the dancers were col
lected in groups, talking and laughing !;
the cornetist of the band was playing a
solo, when Captain and Mrs. Kingsley
came into the room.
The cornetist caught his breath and
lost note, but no one noticed. The
talking and laughing ceased. Every one
knew that Mrs. Kingsley was the most
beautiful woman in the army, but no
one had ever seen her as beautiful as
she was that night.
She was very tall, with a fill yet
slender figure of surprising grace. Her
hair and eyes were dark. Her skin was
creamy white, with real rose tinge in
her cheeks. She wore black gown,
and her shoulders cleaned above the
chiffon that draped the bodice.
The smile is hackneyed, but her eyes
were indeed as bright as the diamonds
in her hair A great red rose burned over
her heart, and as she stood in the door
way beside her husband she made pic
ture that could not be ignored.
Every one looked at her, but she
looked at Captain Howard only, who
was standing alone, and who, after gaz-
ing at her a moment as if spellbound,
went toward her.
Her eyes were solemn, her mouth I'M
smiling, as she gave him her hand.
"Well, Howard, " said Captain
Kingsley cordially, laying his hand on
Captain Howard S shoulder. They had
been roommates at West Point and firm
friends from that time OH.
How are you, Rob?" said Captain
Howard constrainedly.
"Why, what's the matter?" said Cap
tain Kingsley. "You look as solemn as
an owl. F"
81 feel just as 1 look, said Captain
Howard. Mrs. Kingsley, may have
the next dance?'
"I hope it isn't the thought of dane
ing with me that depresses you, Mrs.
Kingsley said making an effort to speak
lightly.
~ need not answer that, said Cap
tain Howard.
The music began, and Mrs. Kingsley
nodded and smiled to her husband as
she danced away with Captain Howard.
For a few moments neither spoke.
Then his arm grew tense around her.
but he did not draw her closer.
"Great heavens! This is terriblel'
Mrs. Kingsley whispered.
81 wonder if you can imagine how
like traitor | feel?" said Captain
Howard. II am devoted to Rob, yet
here / am, trying to steal his wife. F"
"But you cannot feel as much like a
traitor as | do, for after all his goodness
to me-his unfailing loye-I want to
be stolen, "
He stopped dancing and offered her
his arm. They went out on to the porch.
At the farther end of it he turned to-
ward her, and she stepped back from
him little way.
"This cannot go ON forever " he said.
"Do you really love me?" she asked.
"You know it.
"And do you know how 1 love your"
"Yes."
For moment she looked into his
eyes, then she held out her hands TO his.
"No," no said firmly, taking them,
but holding her away from him, II
still have some sense Of honor. If Rob
We're not my friend it would be differ
ent, but as it is you must either go
away with me and be mine altogether
or you must stay here and be only his. "
But if l go away with you it will
break Rob's heart.
II can break his heart without COM
junction, but l cannot kiss his wife out
here in the dark and then 90 back into
the hoproom and speak to him as a
trusted friend.
She looked at him scrutinizingly.
"What a curious thing man is, I"
she said "My sense of honor would be
satisfied if could keep him from know
ing, for l would hate to hurt his feel
ings.
"Then am afraid that you have no
sense of honor he said smiling.
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slightest resentment in her voice. II
wouldn't do anything if he were away,
but when he is here to take care of me
and to defend his own honor | really
don't think that it is very wrong for
me to do anything can without his
finding out "
"What curious thing a woman is, :"
he said mockingly, but leniently.
However, it is easy for man to over
look a great many weaknesses and short
comings in the woman he loves. "
"And when a woman loves man
she oyerlooks nothing, said Mrs.
Kingsley at would grieve me to
death if you were willing to deceive
Rob. 1 am happy in my love for you be-
cause ] believe that if / did run away
with you you would be as true to me as
you are to him."