Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-07-16

said.
He cana and stood by her loom
that afternoon, and watched her delft,
well-trained fingers at work among
the threads. Sybil wondered If be
didn't consider her a part of the
iron Drained machine, which seemed
to keep up steady thinking Of one
thing, from one day s end to another.
Once or twice, when she looked up,
she caught him watching her in such
a strangely earnest way that her
face flushed little, with something
more than the heat of the room.
Several times of late he had come to
stand by her loom and watch her at
work. She wondered why. It both
cred her to have his eyes upon her,
and she gave little witch Of i'm
patience to the threads she was try
ing to untangle, and they broke into
fragments in her hands. Then he
went away, and she breathed freer.
How cool ard pleasant the path
was from the street to the house that
night, when she stopped for her en-
ployer's instructions. The early
roses were trimming over with
sweetness. The grass was like vel
vet. A little fountain in the yard
played softly, and there was sound
of rest and dreams in the plash of
its waters. The trees reached out
their great arms to her, as if inyit-
ing her to hide away among them,
and forget. She thought OF Lois,
waiting at home alone; and, with an
involuntary sigh, she turned from
the things about her and went up
tho stans of Mr.. Leversan. stately
home.
"He isn't in, just now" the SER
want said. "But he told me TO tell
you to wait till he came. He'll be
back soon."
Sybil went into the parlor and sat
down. The easy chair drew her in
to its embrace, like friend who
takes you in his arms, TO rest you
and comfort you. She looked about
her. The floor was covered with a
carpet that was like q bit of messy
woods. The walls we're hung with
pictures that were like windows,
through which she looked and saw
the world she dreamed of in beauty
tenfold greater than it had ever
borne in her dreams. Vines clam
bered over the windows and about
the white statues in the hooks and
corners. Books were sill about her.
A piano stood open at one end oil
the room. She went up to it and
touched key. A low, sweet syl-
lyable of music trembled through
the apartment. It. vss so sweet that
it drovneaeth crash and roar of the
tireless wheels for one moment. But
only for one.
Oh, TO live in this wayl To have
nothing to do but rest-and live
She felt, in vague way, how dwarf
ed her poor, mean way ofliving was
1t seemed like sarcasm to call il
living. 1t was existence, merely
nothing more.
II wish this were all mine-mine
and Lois'," she said, under her
breath. Then she thought of Dick
She heard step on the threshold.
She looked up, and saw Mr.. Lever.
son standing there, watching her
She grew strangely uncomfortable
under his earnest eyes.
II have something to say to you,'
he said, coming nearer. II suppose
you will be surprised at it. It will
be unexpected. You must not con-
slider it as being said on the impulse
of the moment, however. / am not
the kind of a man to do things in
that way. l have pondered the
matter well, and what I shall say to
you is tue result of deliberate
thought. suppose you have never
thought of my caring for you, but
do. have watched your face for a
long time, and have grown fond OF
it. Will you be my wife?'
Mr.. Leverson was a gentleman,
and she knew he meant what he
said. 1t came to her in a swift fash,
as she felt the truth in dazed and
muddled way. She looked about
her, and saw the beautiful things
which would be hers If she accepted
Mr.. Leverson's proposal. She felt
as if she stood at the gate of Para
disc, and some one asked her to come
in. She had wished this beauty
could be here. 1t was to be had for
the taking. A word, and the hate
full factory life was ended forever.
She could rest. And LoisI The
poor, crippled limbs might even be
straight. Who knew? Then she
thought Of Dick, and her heart gave
a little thrill, that was like reach
ing out of hands to him. And yet
he was so pcor-so miserably poor!
He had only his hands, she thought,
swiftly. Then something seemed to
cry out to her, responsibility, that
be had more-infnitely more, than
she could make herself believe this
man had great, honest heart,