Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-03-12

jectionable. You know nothing Of
me. You would prefer the most ut
ter solitude to my company, if you
could look into all the secret sins of
my past life. 1t may be singular
time and place for q confession of
this kind, but ! am impelled to tell
you just how vile man I have been,
and then see if you will still tell me
to stay.
81 was the son of poverty he
went on, rapidly. "My father died
while was yet boy, leaving my
mother to my care. She loved me
loved her with my whole soul. On
ly the remembrance of her sweet
love has kept me from utter ruin.
"After awhile another love came
Between us. l do wrong to call it
love-I should say passion. Oh,
Isabel false and fair To me she
was the lovelisst thing this side of
heaven.
sFor her sake left my mother in
her age, and went to foreign land,
that / might win gold to purchase
the hand already plighted to me.
Five years / toiled, cheered by
her letters, made happy by tie
thought of what was to come; and
then, a rich man, l returned to my
native land-returned to find Isabel
two years married, and ready to
laugh at what she called heartless
filtration.
'sIt was wicked, knew, but then
and there / cursed her, and the curse
was not vain one. Today she is
the wretched inmate Of a mad house,
her husband persisted by her hand,
and the children blush at the men
tien Of their mothers name.
1
swell, after that / plunged rock.
.lessly into dissipation. Idly mother
was dead-diod without giving me
her blessing. Whom had l to live
for? Little man like me cares for
the appreciation OF those who do not
love him.
~ tried every excess. / drank, /
gambled, ] sinned deeply and dark
| ly; but, thank God the memory
of my mother kept me from wrong
ing a single one of her sex. That,
and only that kept me back. For
years / have been what the world
calls 'man of fashion,
II have been fattered and caress.
ed in society because of my wealth
Beautiful women have smiled on me,
and innocent girls would have bound
their white souls unto mine, so deep
ly stained.
Lately 1 have grown restless
this kind of life is terrible. | have
felt at times an almost uncor guerra.
BILE desire to end it of entirely, and
know what comes alter death.
But I weary you. I have told you
what am. Will you let ne stay
now 2"
"You loved your mother-you
love her still 7" she said, slowly.
"Love henry mother A single
word of hers, if she could speak to
me out of heaven, would bend me to
her will like very child. My moth
er But for my faith in her Lad
forsworn the God who made me.'
Constance laid her hand on his.
81 trust the man who loved his
mother, Mr.. Ridgewood. / am not
afraid of you. l want you to stay
with me-"
A strong emotion shook the frame
of Guy Ridgewood. He bent down
over the little soft hand, and when
he lifted his face it was wet with
something besides the rain.
| "Will you help me to lead bet
ter life7 If we escape from this
peril alive, will you be my friend
afterward ?"
"Afterward and always" she said
solemnly.
"And $50 help me, Heaven i
from this hour forth, will never think
a thought or do a deed the knowl-
edge of which would cause the cheek
of Constance Leech to redden for
him whom she had once called
friend.'
A little silence fell between them,
broken by wild, wailing cry, com.
ing up from the painless wilderness
below.
The blood in Ridgewood's veins
grew cold. Once before be had
heard cry like that-the cry of the
terrible caracal in the forests of
Asia.
There was but one other animal
OF that kin, the dreaded Siberian
lynx, which even the well-armed
hunters shrink from attacking.
These creatures were very rare, and
confined almost entirely to the tan
gled ravines in the heart Of the
mountains, where they preyed upon
the smaller beasts; but, sometimes,
driven by hunger, they bad been
known to ascend to the highest cliffs
and attack whatever came in their
wav.
Ridgewood's courage bad been
tried more than once in his life, and
nov be nerved himself for the con.
test. he was unarmed, his only