Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-12-09

to be all ready. Will you be Win
ME darliDg9'
perhaps if he had approached
me more humbly-had not seemed
to take my love for granted. might
have answered him differently. |
longed to pledge myself, then and
there, to do and be all he wished,
but could rot so easily soothe my
anger, pacify my clamosous pride.
The evil spirit would have his wick
ed way. The voice in which | re
| piled to him was sneering, / know
and very cold.
s"You make too sure of your po-
sition, Mr.. Ash, quito too sure. You
are asking me to hasten my prepare
ton to msrry you-you have not
yet asked me If | love you-wheth.
er | am disposed to be your wife,
"sForgiye me, Winifred, If I am
presumptous. You do love me, do
you not? 1t had never occurred 10 me
to doubt it. 1t is not possible that
such love as / feel could not be all
on one side. You never could have
reigned 80 absolutely over my heart
If you had not given me an entry in.
TO your own
"Was the hereditary evil spirit OF
proud, wicked old Thornes holding
my very soul ID his grasp? could
not free myself from his power, or
cast the anger out OF my heart, the
scorn out of my voice. | cried
stingingly:
'"You are too self complaisant,
Mr.. Ash. Your power over my
heart is not what you have dreamed
nor are the maidens of our race
accustomed to be won without WOO
ing
Nov he was aroused in his turn.
There was bitter irony in his voice.
"You have convinced me of my
mistake, Miss Thorne. l will mot
press the subject further. True, I
have loved you, and without you
life must be poor and worthless to
me; still, please God, shall live it
as strong man should; or, il death
comes, l shall meet him as a brave
man ouhht. When you choose to
send for me I will seek your pres.
ence again-never before. There
is the address of the firm in New
York, under whose care my letters
will come. Good-by.'
"He was gone. Mechanically.
took up the business card. he had
LAID on little stand beside me, and
put it in my pocket. Then, scarce
ly realizing what had done, /
stood and looked into the mirror.
There | saw, or seemed to see
him still. Look in steadily, Anuie,
without fear or trembling. Do you
not see that vision? A young man,
tall, well knit, strong; with bold,
bright face? Do you see the white
broad fore head, with the short,
dark curls round 1.-THE deep loving
hazel eyes-the clear-cut features?
That is he-Robert Ash.
1 went-to bed when the mirth
and dancing was over, with emotions
| conld hardly have snalyized.
had long felt that Robert Ash loved
me; still it was deeper Joy than
had ever known before to hear his
own lips say SOTO be called by him
the chosen wife OF his heart. Not
withstanding. | was not quite cured
of the anger which had made me
answer him scornfully, and send him
away from me. That I bad done
this did not, as yet, trouble me at
all. He would Gene to bid me
good-by, l made sure, before be
left town next morning; and then
it would be easy enough 10 let him
see, without sacrificing my own
pride, that l was ready to do and
be all that he wish cd.
81 could not sleep with so many
new thoughts and feelings like Just
fedged birds at my heart. / rose
early and dressed myself, and took
my station at window which CON-
manded q view of the road by which
he must approach. Hour after hour
l watched, until it was time for the
stage to pass on it's way to New
York. Toward the last my heart
began to tremble lest / had gone
to far; lest his words had stranger
meaning than / had dreamed. Yet
would l not allow myself to doubt |
that he would seek one last fare
we'll, however brief, until saw his
face at the stage window, and watch
ed him out of my sight. Did you
ever hear, child, what bad omen it
is to watch loved one out of sight? |
"My heart was heavy enough when
he was really gone, and yet pride |
did not fail me, or hope cease to
offer consolation. His voyage, / |
knew, was not to be along one, Oh
ly elk months. Then, surely, he
would come home. He would seek |
me. II he loved me as he had said, |
he would not let light word part
US. Once or twice thought of |
writing him-just line OF invita-
ton, which should await him when |
bis ship came in--bat / could not. |
My pride was not yet sufficiently
hhnbled for that. When he came |
| would be kind, and lie should feel
that loved him. l waited 10 con.
fident expectation of that coming.
TO BE CONTINUED