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

work is too hard. Let me take you
away from it. l do not ask you to
decide now. Take your own time
for that. But hope it will be fav-
orable."
Presently she found herself in the
street, alone. Was she dreaming?
Had Ralph Leverson really asked
her to be his wife, or had the fever
smitten her With its mighty, merci
less hand, and was this the delirium
it generally brought
She got home, to Lois, at last.
She went about the little, mean room,
getting their frugal supper in silent
mechanical way, with such tense.
strained look in her face that Lois
was afraid of her. When the table
was cleared away, she sat down by
the window and made Lois sit down
by her feet, with her head in her lap.
"Don talk to me- she said. aI'yc
got to think" And there she sat,
thinking. thinking, thinking, till
late into the night. Her thoughts
we're tireless as the wheels. She was
powerless to stop them. They went
on with no yolition of hers.
She went back TO her loom, next
day, with the wheels of thought still
turning. Should she choose this
one, or that one? On the one hand,
rest, and all the beautiful things
wealth can buy. On the other,
humble home, and the wealth of
loving heart. Dear. patient, willing
Dick How mean and selfish she
seemed to herself, for hesitating in
making her decision, between the
man she loved and who lived H..
and the man who loved her, but
whom she did not love. For she
knew she did not, and never could,
love Leverson. But-always COM
ing round in the same circle to this
one thought-his wealth--aud wealth
could buy so much! But could 1t
buy enough to set of love? She
wished she knew that. What hard,
hard problem she was trying to
solve.
How tue machinery crashed its
iron jawsl She fancied it was
great animal snarling at her, and
trying to get hold of her; and the
fancy was so real that once or twice
she put out her hands as though to
beat it back, and cried out, sharply,
in her fright.
"I'm going home." che said, at
last, sick, dizzy, faint. / shall GO
crezy if ] stay here. I'm not sure,
but / shall any way
She put on her bonnet flnd went
out into the warm June day. She
saw the hills beyond ettown, far
of, and wrapped about with their
own peace. She wished she were
one of them. Then nothing would
ever move her. The world end The
ways of men would be nothing to
her. The wheels might go on for.
ever, but she would not mind.
| But which to choose2 Which to
choose The words made them
selves into little verse, and set
themselves to the monotonous hum
of turning spindles and the click
ciack Of shuttles. Whenever she
shut her eyes, she saw a great room,
full of beautiful and costly things,
and Lois well and strong and then
she wavered, and the temptation to
prove unfaithful to her heart was al.
most stronger than she could resist.
| Suddenly the clangor of the fac.
tory bell smote on her ears. She
turned and looked down the road
wondering, vaguely, what the mat
ter could be.
A wild, shrill cry of fire came to
her on the wind, aud, at that instant
great, black cloud of smoke broke
forth from the upper windows OF the
factory. 1t was strange, but the
first thought that came to her was
one of exultation. If that factory
burned down she need never go
60 back to her hateful work again.
She would be free.
Then she turned suddenly and
ran back to the building. Perhaps
there was something her tired hands
could do.
She knew before she reached it
that it could not be saved. The
windows were loop-holes Of FIRE.
The caves were wreathed with a
fantastic cornice Of wreathing fame.
Suddenly great cry rang out
from the terror-stricken crowd. At
the window Of his private office, mp.
stairs, she saw Leverson's frightened
face. He must have been asleep,
and had probably just awakened to
the reality OF his awful danger. She
thought it was death. She could
see no way of escape for him.
ell try TO save him." some one
said. It was Dick. There was
something grand in the sound OF bis
voice, it seemed 10 her. Then she
saw him fighting bis way through
the flames, and the last glimpse Of
bis face showed her how brave and
determined it was in the wild temp
l ~.e - a.