Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-01-29
BREAKWATER SANDS.

/ must excuse Martin Ridgemay
in the beginning.
There was insanity in the family,
and it was shrewdly surmised by
some people that Martin had inner.
tied no small share of it, along with
the family name and property.
The grandfather, on his fathers
side, died in mad house, and Mar.
tins Uncle James persisted by his
own hand in fit Of temporary aber-
ration.
Mrs. Ridgeway, Martins mother,
was an angel. if there ever was one
one. Her husband died in the fourth
year of their marriage, and his death
was a small loss to her, speaking in
the way the world looked at it
But she regarded it in different
light, for she loved him truly and
tenderly, and for time is seemed
as if she would never rally from the
stroke.
Love of her child alone saved her
and as the boy grew and throve th is
love strengthened, until it was close
" allied to idolatry.
Perhaps her over-indulgenec was
bad for the child, but be this as it
may, Martin was impetuous, self
willed, and fiery-tempered to an
alarming degree. He was, also,
very eccentric, and instead of living
like gentleman, as he was able to
do, he bought boat and spent half
Of his time boating and fishing /;
som etimes even carrying pleasure
parties about the harbor of Land
ecape for pay.
at nineteen, he fell in love.
1t was early for man to con-
ceive the one grand passion OF his
life, but these intense, hot-blooded
natures mature early, and at niue,
teen, Martin Ridgeway was older
than some men are at thirty.
He had thought and felt earnestly
all his life, and when love came TO
him, it swept through his being like
an avalanche.
Isabel Moore was not a beauty.
but ehe was a pure, gentle hearted
innocent-faced girl, who had lived
through great deal of what We call
trouble, and had been softened, not
hardened. Her very oppositeness,
SO to speak, OF personal peculiarities
and disposition, probably first charm-
ed Martin.
He was dark and fery-she was
fair, with blue eyes and yellow hair,
and those she loved she vas Weld.
ing ss wax.
She was two or three years his
senior, but it is doubtful if be ever
thought OF that, one way or the
other.
Isabel came to Landscape to teach
music at the Sea View Seminary.
She was gifted with a fine voice, and
played quite as well, / suppose, as
the majority of teachers do. She
had g wonderful power of imparting
information, and was of course sue
cessful with her pupils.
Ridgeway met her first at a pic
mic, where her quiet geptleness at.
tracted him. He sought an intro
duction, devoted himself to her ex-
clusively, and escorted her home at
night.
After that he continued to meet
her often, and at the end of fort
night he loved her with his whole
soul.
A man of his impsssioned temper
ament would not hesitate long in
doubt, and he sought an early OPP
portunity of declaring his affection.
Isabel refused him, gently and
kindly. She liked him well as
friend, but there was no room in her
heart for love. She was already be-
trothed to Henry Desmond, a young
man in neighboring city, and all
her thoughts belonged to him. It
was three years since she promised
to be his wife, and they were only
waiting until he should think him
self well enough off to marry. She
told Ridgeway this in her quiet way
and expected him to 60 away an
swered.
But his imperious nature could il,
brock such disappointment. He
begged, pleaded on his knees for
little hope, but she could give him
none. She was not girl to enoour-
age two lovers at once-and wish
there were more like her.
When Ridgeway found that she
could not be moved from her frst
decision he went away ; but with
lowering brow and eyes which blaz-
ed with the fires of pent up passion,
ne told her that she should yet re-
pent that days work.
For awhile Isabel was troubled
with the threat, but by and by it
passed out of her mind, and if she
thought OF Ridgeway it was with an
emotion of pity rather than fear.