Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-03-25

well, SO materially that Jack at once
resolved to quit the place entirely;
and, SO strange is human nature, &C.
tually with feeling OF sharp regret
at the loss of the situation be had
SO despised not an hour before.
"Miss Alma Barry!" He quite
hated the name, poor, lonely fellow,
as he posted up his accounts, before
closing up for the night; and he
wondered if she needed the pittance
he earned as much as he did.
That night he was decidedly un-
lucky. He went to a score of
places to find work, and failed most
successfully every time, and, the
next morning, went down to the Of
fee more utterly desolate and dis
couraged than ever he had been in
all his life before.
Precisely at eight o'clock, Super
intendent De Downs representative
appeared, escorting young lady
slight, graceful, modest, in her gray
dress and veil-and introduced them
Miss Barry and Mr.. Jerome; and,
as the veil went off, Jack nearly lost
his self-possession to see the ex-
quisite gray eyes, and ripping dark
and grave, sweet mouth he had been
hopelessly in love with for months.
A faint flush made her cheeks
prettier than ever, and Jack won
dered, wildly. what mysterious Fate
was In it all.
Then Miss Barry laid off her
sacque and hat, and gloves, and sat
down to her duties at the instru
ment-so fair, so sweet, 80 dignified
and thoroughly lady like, and 50
perfectly mistress Of her business,
too.
While Jack managed to attend to
his duties, with very vague idea
that he was somebody else, and a
very bewildered person at that,
until late 10 the afternoon, when
Miss Barry addressed him for the
first time, unsolicited, all that day,
and Jacks heart was in his throat
as he walked over to her.
Her clear, calm eyes were wistiul
and-se exquisitely beautiful.
II have been thinking about it
all day, Mr.. Jerome; it doesn't seem
right that you should be obliged to
give SO much of your position up'
What could he say-to her? He
found no reply, and Alma went on,
softly, regretfully:
II am SO sorry. | know from ex-
perience what it is to be out of en-
ployment, and / am so troubled
about this"
So this lovely gray-eyed girl was
poor, and a worker like himself!
The commonplace fact was somehow
bewilderibgly precious to him.
II will be as honest as you are,'
he said, after moment looking
frankly down in her face. 81 need
ed the place-very much, indeed"
She flashed him back look that
was half a smile. half a pleading
depreciation.
"And SO did I. Mr.. jerome. II is
so hard for US girls to find positions
to decently support US"
She was poor-oh. it was raptur-
ously sweet TO him to hear her say
so! If she had been rich-this love-
ly girl
Jack controlled a sudden, audac-
ious hope that leaped up in his heart
but he did not take his eyes of her.
II don't approve OF women being
employed in places as public as this,
Miss Barry
She flushed suddenly, but answer
ed gravely:
"Nor do /, Mr.. Jerome. But
what are they to do?"
"Stay at home, and make it the
heaven on earth Tor the husband who
loves them. Let him work in such
a place as this-she 10 her own
sphere ,
A delicious flush crimsoned her
face as she dropped it away from
bis eager eyes.
sYes." she answered, softly.
"Some women are so blessed. but
not ALL
He leaned forward toward her,
the audacious hope past control
now, the sweet, sudden passion that
had been growing for all these
months sp:inging up like surgIng
sea that would not be stayed.
mot at all; but will you not
make me so blessed? Alma, you
have been my love for months; is it
possible-can it be possible that
you will be my wiie?"