Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-06-25

"You've got to take passenger
"What do you meanf'
"Oh, wirra!-your brother has
been stealing a horse"
"Stealing horse!' exclaimed the
widow.
"Yis, that gintleman's," meaning
the bachelor. "And he said you
were to take the gintleman to the
villa, to get the horse back again."
Every singular!' said the widow;
"but William was always very eccen-
tric.'
At this crisis Mr.. Campion ap-
peared.
"My horse readyf'
slump in sir.''
81 didn't come in carriage"
SIN wild yes!' shouted the hostler.
stake seat beside me, il you
please, SIR" said the widow, with a
facinating smile.
"Mr. Campion approached the step
to inquire the meaning, when the
hostler seized him with a vigorous
hand, thrust him into the phaeton.
while the pony, startled at the move
ment, dashed off on a run.
Poor Captain Campion. Here WAS
a situation. A confirmed old bache-
lor, bodily abducted by fascinating
young widow. The captain had to
lend assistance to the young lady in
managing the pony, who was shortly
reduced to his usual slow and quiet
pace; and then, after thanking her
companion for his assistance, Mrs.
Leslie told him that in few minu-
tes he should be put in possession of
his horse, which had been borrowed
by a gentlemen. This was all the
explanation she vouchsafed. She
required, in turn, to be made ac--
quainted with the name of her com.
panion, after giving her own.
In few minutes the Captain be-
gan to feel somewhat more at ease
in fact, he began to like his position.
He had never sat so near to pretty
woman in his life, and he began to
ask himself whether, if the proxim-
ity was so pleasant for few mo-
ments, q constant companionship
might not prove as agreeable. While
her attention was engaged upon her
pony, he had an opportunity to sur
vey her features. Her large, dark
and luminous eyes seemed to be
swimming in liquid lustre; her cheeks
were as soft and blooming as the
sunny side of a peach. Her profile
was strictly Grecian, and her parted
lips showed a row OF tiny pearls as
white as snow. The most delicate
taper fingers, encased in French
kids, closed upon the rsins, and the
vanished tip Of a dainty boot indi-
Gated a foot that Cinderella might
have enyied.
ado you live very far from here
madam" asked the captain.
"Not very far. The pony can
mend his pace ifyou are in a hurry"
"Not for the world. The pace
seems very fast one.'
The widow turned those witching
black eyes of hers upon the old
bachelor, and smiled. 1t was ell
over with him. When he eprang
out at the gate of the villa and
touched the fair fingers of the widow
as he assisted her to alight, his heart
was irretrievably lost.
A red-faced old gentleman, in q
dressing gown, received them at the
door.
"My friend, Captain Campion,
uncle,' said the widow. "Excuse
me, for moment, sir"
Every happy to see you sir" said
the old gentleman. "Walk in.
Warm dsy."
"Very," said the captain.
His looks seemed to corroborate
his statement, for he was as red as 8
peony.
The captain and the old gentleman
we're soon chatting together famil-
iarly, and the former felt himself
completely at home. After an hour
spent in this manner, his host ex-
| cused himself, and the bachelor was
left alone.
A dreamy reverie was interrupted
by the sound OF voices in the hall.
The captain easily recognized the
widows, and glance through the
half opened door showed him that
her companion was very handsome
young gentleman.
| "There, dear Belle ssaid the
young man, "don't scold me any
more. I won t do so again, / prom.
ise you. Give me one kiss.D
| A hearty smack followed. 1t
was veritable, genuine kiss. The
captain saw and heard it. A pang
shot through his heart.
1.-THE only woman / could ever
love- he said to himself, sand she I
engaged"
| The widow tripped into the room
If che uo1 y,ian c;rf~ IL Lor ~ vr;.ro