Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-06-04
A WOMAN SCORNED.

"You mean that you wish me to
release you from your promise-to
give you back what you are pleased
to call your freedom?"
"There's no need for you to take
it like that, Betty. You know it
has been very pleasant, but"
"But it cannot last? I see. It
seems pity you didn't think of that
sooner"
"Well, to tell you the truth, I
thought oft some weeks ago, but I
was under the impression that you
well, that you had money, you know,
and-'
But Leonard Bryng quailed before
the flashing scorn of the blue eyes.
"Go on" said the girl, coldly:
"please finish"
He wasn't gifted with very keen
intelligence, this debonaire young
curate, so he went on, laundering, to
his doom.
"Well, you see, if there had been
money in the case my brother
couldn't have objected; we should be
independent of his allowance. But,
considering that he's an old bachelor
and never likely to marry, he natur-
ally looks to ne lowell, to place 8
suitable woman at the head Of the
family, you known. No doubt if she
had money he would overlook the
lack of birth and position, but"
"Stopl' cried Betty fiercely. "You
ask me to marry you, then, because
you see in me penniless girl, with
neither father nor brother to avenge
the wrong, you not only break your
given word, and talk about Freedom
but you add insult to injury, and tell
me that il / had sufficient money to
pay your price you would have con-
descended to marry me. Col" she
cried, II will not hear another wcrdl
thank heaven know you as you
are! And you, coward that you are,
will know when you stand in the
pulpit that there is at least one wo
man in the world who knows that
you dare not preach as you practice!
Don't speak to me againl I will not
hear another word!
Rev. Leonard turned away with o
sheepish expression on his handsome
face.
"What little fiend she lei" he
muttered. "a perfect little vixen,
for all her pretty face. Who'd ever
have thought she could go on like
thatl And I thought her so sweet
and gentle, tool'
Betty stood with her little CULVER
ing form drawn to its full height in
a very paroxysm of passion and
wounded love till he WAS out of
sight, then she flung herself on the
ground and gave way to storm of
grief.
They had been engaged three
months, and Betty had thought him
perfect, in spite of the fact that he
insisted on keeping their engagement
secret. They must wait, he declared,
till his elder brother returned from
abroad; to tell him by letter would
spoil all. Raymond was such an
old bachelor he would have no SYM
pathy with lovers hopes. So Betty
waited. There was no one to be
humored or deceived by her, but
Betty had her secret.
10 six months she would be eigh.
teen, and would come into an estate,
In the meantime she was too old to
stay at school; her guardian was
crusty aud took little trouble. Betty
didn't care for society, SO she was
sent to rusticate with her old nurse
and foster mother till the time ar
rived for the king to enjoy his own.
Often the child had pictured to
herself how Leonard would tell her
his brother had refused his consent,
that there was nothing before them
but poverty, which be dared not let
her share, and yet he could not give
her up. How the cloud would lift
and his dear eyes brighten when she
told him that soon she would have a
thousand year of her OWL It was
sweet to think that be knew her only
IS Betty Mrs. Browns niece. She
had always called the old woman
aAuntie," and he never suspected