Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-06-18

- 1900 - AWASAA = ~ ~ 49, =
/ shall leave this country at once;
but II ] ever return, | trust We shall
be, AZ Ne have ever been, friends,
dear friends. Adieul"
And he seized her hand, pressed =
hot kiss upon it, touched his hat,
and cantered rapidly away.
Blanche gszed after him, a little
astonished at his sudden departure;
then murmured to herself:
"Poor fellow, I am not quite sure
but do love him, after all. I'm al
most sorry gave him bis congo;
but then it was half his own fault, he
provoked me to it; but it Was pleas
ant to have such q devoted atten-
dant. All, mel what's done cannot
be undone, however, and there he
goes, 40 fast as ever his horse can
carry him. Never mind, there's as
good fish in the sea as ev yet we're
caught they say, and at least / am
now at full liberty to make the trial"
Six months later, Charley Vascoe
whom report said had been killed
in terrible railroad accident in
Switzerland, but who was in reality
travelling in Italy-received letter
from home, containing these words:
"Your old favorite, Blanche Gus
tar. is 10 be married soon, they say.
Her engagement was announced soon
after your reported death, which
rumor, as you requested, We have
not contradicted. It struck me as
little singular, though, that before
your supposed death, no one in the
village knew that Miss Custar had
sutton, and then not three weeks
after your reported decease her en-
gagement was announced. Odd,
wasn't it?'
Charley vsscoe's laconic answer
was:
"Do not contradict the report of
my death. am coming home.'
And that very night he started on
bis homeward journey.
1t was showing heavily as Blanche
Custar turned her face homeward
from the cottage OF poor invalid,
once valued servant Of the family
and to whom, in old age and sick
ness, Blanche had been ministering
angel.
"What shall dor ahe asked her.
self in dismay. at is a good two
miles home, and there is no hope of
their sending for me, as, until after I
left the house, I was intending to 60
In an exactly opposite direction.
Well, ] may as we'll start first as last,
for walk / must
? For time she walked briskly, but
the snow fell faster and faster, and
her heart sank as she saw how rap
idly it was deepening on the road
before her.
Ere mile had been passed, Blan.
che felt her strength begin to fail;
but though chilled 10 the very bone,
she struggled bravely on, thinking:
II must keep up; it is not so far
now; and if / stop to rest am lost
lost even if in sight of homel''
But darker grew the sky, and more
piercing the rain, and when hardly
more than hundred yards from her
fathers gate, Blanche Gustav sank
upon the snow, murmuring between
her stiffeniDg lips:
sob, it is hard, hard to die sol
and yet perhaps, after all, 1 shall be
happier, for do not love Will as I
loved Charley, and 1 know now that
! should be wretched as his vile.
Oh. Charley! Charley! l am coming
to you, darling-coming, com"
The white lids closed over the
weary eyes, and sweet Blanche slept
the sleep of insensibility.
Ten minutes later q man came
whistling along the road, stumbling
occasionally over a tree branch or
other obstacles hidden under the
treacherous white frosting, and at
such times uttering an exclamation
more forceful than polite; and at last
the unreasonable promenader quite
lost his temper, and exclaimed
wrathfully:
"Confound It'll / believe I never
know when ! am we'll of. There
was setting by coy FIRE and all the
folks delighted to see me; but, in
stead Of being contented, as any
reasonable man ought to have been,
! must need start off up here just
for The sake of seeing Blanche again;
and-yes, perhaps, get only q cold
good evening for my pains. Well,
l. Helloi what's thisi A woman,
as / am sinnerl Deadi No, her
heart beats. Who can it be, /
wondefl Good Heavenl'-as the
pale face OF Blanche met bis view
sit is Blanche-Blanchel darlingl
sweetheart Look at me. Open
your eyes just once-see, it is /,
Charleyi Open your eyes, darIipgl
Speak to me, If only to say you hate
mel pleaded Charlie, wildly, clasp
Ing her to his heart and raining hot