Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-07-02

swamp heliotrope.
She was grateful, and she told
FeDnel so when she saw him. To
prove it she let him drive her out
and find her roses again among the
fields. As the light came back to
her eye and the dimnle to her cheek,
she laughed merrily sometimes, and
forgot to look wisttully toward the
mountains, as be had noticed her
doing so often two months before.
Ore day she was pals and troubled
when Fennel came with his buggy.
She was silent for few moments
after they began their drive.
sFennel?'
"Well?'
Are you going away"
| Yes
"Why? Tell me please.n
u think had BETTER
That was all. She did not dare
pretend not to understand him.
Both faces we're pale. He turned
towards her at last, smiling family:
YES, BERTHE, you don't need me
any longer, and | am going away to
try as hard as I can to forget you.
1t is strange that such a sweet-eyed
girl should cause so much pain, isn't
it?n
Bertrode didn't speak. They rode
in silence along the river road. Der.
trode was listening, as il charmed,
TO the chirping of little bird
among the scrub oaks by the river.
It was hearty, CHEEKY little bird,
that seemed to have no nonsense
about it.
The road grew narrower. The
tree branches met above their heads
and gradually grew lower. Fennel
put ont his whip to hold them out of
their faces. The motion startled
the horse-or he might have been
twanged by the springing sprays.
He leaped suddenly forward, and
Bertrode was flung from the carriage
and down the steep bank into the
river.
Stunned by the shock she floated
like corpse. II she had seen Fen
mel Gould's face then she would have
even though she believed that she
knew his love. He drew in the
prancing horse aud flung himself
from the carriage. Dashing down
the steep declivity, be threw himself
into the river.
The tide was rapid. Already the
figure of the drowning girl, halfsub.
merged, was floating into the middle
OF the current. There were strong,
fierce rapids quarter OF mile be-
low, and the tide swept them both
towards it. Fennel Gould expended
every resource of body and heart in
that struggle for life and love. She
fioated on-on-before him in the
floating water until the great beads
OF agony and pain stood upon his
forehead. But one fortunate stroke
and be caught her scarf.
He struggled back to land and fell
exhausted upon the bank. For
moment he lay there painting, then,
rising, he lifted Bertrode into the
carriage and carried home the life
he had saved.
Evening came. Fenuel was at
home-pacing thong htlully the floor
of his little chamber. 1t was twi-
light, and the scent OF the ripe ap-
pies IN the orchard filled the dim
room. He did not notice either, but
he was reused suddenly by a knock
at his door. 1t was little Willie
Dodge with note. He opened it.
1t bore these words:
"Fennel, come home with Willie.
want to see YOU"
That was all. But he knew who
sent it. He went out of doors with
the child. Holding the boys hand,
he walked the fields be had walked
a month before, with heart as bitter
as rue. The crickets were singing
among the grasses. A strange
lightness possessed him, and vet he
kept putting down his heart-not
daring to hope. The farmhouse
door was open and Bertrode was sit
ting in the porch. Little Willie
went into the house. Fennel sat
down on the step.
"What do you want, Bertrode?"
Il will tell you by and by"
The twilight grew more dim as
they talked of unimportant thinks,
until they could not see each others
faces. The crickets were singing
hundreds OF songs in the grasses OF
the roadside. The dew fell and woke
the sweetness of the roadside ferns.
A long time passed, and, at last
Fennel arose.
at is time to 60, Bertrode. Will
you tell me now?"
The moon came up, and showed
her face pale and her lips tremulous,
but she stood up by his side and
| spoke firmly:
81 want 70 ask you not to 60
away, Fennel. Don't 60"
There seemed more 10 be said, but
she could not say ii. Her voice