Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-06-04
and no relation to her humble friend.

But day had come when Leon
ard met her in the primrose glen and
told her of his brothers return, and
instead of telling him of their en-
gagement he had asked Betty to give
him back his freedom. It wouldn't
be honorable to ask any girl to
share his poverty, and the squire
would never consent to marriage
with a farmers niece.
"The man who asks q woman to
share his riches has some love for
her; the man who asks her to share
bis poverty has more."
The words fitted through Betty's
mind before she took in the full force
Of Leonard's words and recognized
the great objectionable insult he
offered her. Then, as the truth was
driven home. she forgot all else in
the binding pain ola won 4 scorned.
II.
SIS anything the matter2 My
child, are you hurt"
Betty raised her tear-stained face,
and met the glance of two steadfast
brown eyes; then the speaker swung
himself from the saddle and led his
horse across tie messy sward to
where she lay. With a stiaed sob
the girl sprang to her feet, hut her
bosom was heaving, her breath COM
ing in gasps, and she couldn't speak
nay, she cauld scarcely stand
and the stranger, slipped strong
ann around her for support.
"You have had an accident. Nor"
as she shook her head. "Then you've
had bad news? All, when we're
young troubles are apt to feel very
heavy, and clouds look very black. y
Betty freed herself from the pro.
tecting arm and leaned against the
horses shining coat, her white fingers
playing idly with the pommel of the
saddle.
sYou will think me very foolish
she said. "I'ye had no accident
no bad news, at least
"Only lovers quarrel, that will
come right in the morning.
SIT will never come right" the
girl said quickly, impelled by sud-
den impulse. Then, checking her.
self, "But you are too kind to trouble
about me. I must not detain you,
SIR"
81 will see you out of the wood, at
any rate" he returned kindly. Then
together they strolled toward the
farm.
There was a pleasant feeling of
curiosity in the strangers mind as
to who the pretty child was. AS she
paused at the white gate it suddenly
flashed across him. 1t couldn't be.
He had just been at the farm. This
couldn't possibly be the little niece
Mrs. Brown had talked about in a
rambling, mysterious way2 This
dainty girl, with her supple figure
and gracefully poised head, could
never be that woman's relative? But
Betty had opened the gate while he
meditated, and with shyly muir
INJURED "Thank yoa!" che was gone.
And the squire-for he it was
rode slowly homeward, thinking,
trying to recall what good Mrs.
Brown had said about young folks
and Irritation; bow folks wasn't al
ways as poor as they seemed, and
howit was good for parsons to marry
young and settle down with q wife
and family round them. She couldn't
have meant to imply anything about
his brother and-No! to speak of
that pretty childish thing in the
same breath as anything in prosaic
as "wife and family" was too alb
snrd.
The idea annoyed the squire in a
most unreasonable manner. "Wife
and familyp' how these folks did
talk, to be sure! He must ask Leon
ard. And later, he did drop hints
on the subject but his brother most
emphatically averred that he hadn't
yet seen the woman on whom he
would bestow his hand and heart.
OF course, it had been the squire's
mistake-he shoaldn I have jumped
to conclusions, but Mrs. Browns
hints and Betty's tears had got mixed
in his mind, and he had fancied his
brother responsible for one or both.
1t was q relief to think that Leonard
was free.
After that the squire called often
at Mrs. Browns. She was one Of
his best tenants-there might be re.
pairs needed at the farm.
Always Betty was there, either
helping to make sweet butter, COL
lecting eggs or feeding little fluffy
chickens, and one day the squire
pulled up his horse at the home pad
dock and watched.
Old farmer Brown had been break
ing in colt. and there was Betty,
seated on its back, her pretty face
flushed with excitement. Then the
farmer let go the leading rein, and
Betty cantered triumphantly round
the field.
"Bravop' At the sqnire's voice the
girl looked up. She was just about
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