Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-02-11
Breakwater Sands.

| must excuse Martin Ridgeway
in the beginning.
There was insanity in the family,
and it was shrewdly surmised by
some people that Martin had inher-
tied no small share of it, along with
the family name and property. The
grandfather, on his fathers side,
died in a mad. house, and Martins
Uncle James persisted by his own
hand in fit Of temporary ALBERTA
ton.
Mrs. Ridgewsy, Martins mother,
was an angel, if there was one on
earth. Her husbend died in the
fourth year of their marriage, and
their marriage, and his death was
small loss to ner, speaking in the
way the world looked at it. But
she regarded it in different light,
for she loved him truly and tender
ly, and for time it seemed as if she
would never rally from the stroke.
Love of her child alone saved her,
and as the boy grew and throve this
love strengthened, until it was
closely allied to idolatry.
Perhaps her over-indulgence was
bad for the child, but be this as it
may, Martin was imperious, self
willed, and fiery-tempered to an
alarming degree. He was, also,
very eccentric, and instead of living
like a gentleman, as he was able TO
do, he bought a boat and spent half
of his time fishing and boating;
sometimes even carrying pleasure
parties about the harbor of Land
scape for pay.
At nineteen, he fell in love. 1t
was early for man to conceive
the one grand passion Of his life,
but these intense, hot blooded ma
lures mature early, and at nineteen,
Martin Ridgeway was older than
sumo men are at thirty. He had
thought and felt earnestly all his
life, and when love came to him, it
swept through his being like an ava
lanche.
Isabel Moore was not beauty,
but she was pure, gentle-hearted,
innocent-iaced girl, who had lived
through great deal OF what we call
trouble, and had been softened by
it, not hardened. Her very oppo-
STIFFNESS, SO to speak, of personal Pc
culiarities and disposition, probably
first charmed Martin. He was dark
and fery-she was fair, with blue
eyes and yellow hair. and to those
she loved she was yielding as was.
She was two or three years his
senior, but it is doubtful if he ever
thought Of that, one way or the
other.
Isabel came TO Landscape to teach
music in the Sea View Seminary.
She was gifted with a fine voice, and
played quite as we'll, | suppose, as
the majority of music teachers do.
She had..a wonderful power of i'm.
parting information, and, was of
course, successful with her pupils.
Ridgeway met her first at picnic
where her quiet gertleDess attracted
him. He sought an Introduction,
devoted himself to her exclusively,
and escorted her home at night.
After that be continued to meet
her often, and at the end OF fort
night he loved her with his whole
soul.
A man Of bis imprisoned temp
erature would not hesitate long in
doubt, and he sought an early OPP
portunity of declaring his affection.
Isabel refused him, gently and
kindly. She liked him well as a
friend, but there was no room 10 her
heart sr love. She was already be-
tro,htd TO Henry Desmond, young
man in neiehboriDg city, and all
her thoughts belonged to him. 1t
was three years since she promised
to be his, and they were only watt
ing until he should think himself
well enough off to marry. She
told Ridgeway this in her quiet
way, and expected him to go away
answered.
But his imperious nature could
ill brook such a disappointment.
He begged, pleaded on his knees for
a little hope, but she could give him
none. She was not a girl to en-
courage two lovers At once; and |
wish there were more like her.
When Ridgeway found that she
could not be moved from her first
decision he went away; but with .
lowering brow and eyes which blaz-