Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-25
lme fN0uleA retain an unnatural warmth

some fN1ules retain an unnatural warmth
for aa extraordinary space of timel
Mary did not care. and that Is the
worst Of q woman. She loves one man
and kicks the rest Of the world ont Of
the door. The mar forgets-the world
remembers. That is the worst Of q man
and or the world.
She had spent four-and-twenty
in sitting by the very wayside watch.
ing for happiness to come along the
road And now happiness had hove in
sight, ia a distant cloud Of glory, aud
she straightway arose to meet it, with
out any mock modest delay. What did
il matterg She was going away from
them all for good.
Al week before she sailed she received
a letter from Jack Collingwood. 1t was
longer than the last. 1t beat about The
bush a good deal. but it left no doubt
as to it's ultimate intention.
When fate makes a mistake, ii is apt
to be spitefnl. 1t lies low and watches
its oprortunity-the opportunity foi
bringing its victim to grief-and then
it is itself again.
Fate made Mary's lover unfaithful te
her. and the letter was to break ii tc
her as gently rs possible that he had
married another woman--in haste, II
seemed, lest she should come ont and
stop him-and that there was no neces
sity for her to go ont to Calcutta.
Mary C~harrington suffered torture
for that Il week. At the end of ii
she looked facts resolutely in the face
and realized that, if she had nowhere
to 90, she had at the same time no.
where to stay-nowhere in the world.
And out of the world-her dead hus.
band would be waiting for her. The
passage was taken on the Kandahar.
That was the detail which proved hen
salvation. A first class passage to India
costs money. 1t would be a pity &c
waste it. There again was the woman
practical through the numbncss of ar
appalling calamity, the loss of every
thing she valued. SO the Kandahai
sailed at the end of the week. and the
name of Mrs. Percy Charrington figured
in the passengers list.
Fate sometimes repents and makes
what amends it can. 1t made honorable
amend to her. The third mar in her
life crossed her path and linked his lines
with hers on board the Kandahar on the
voyage out, He fell in love with her al
once-love that came so soon as to rur
a neck and neck race with pity.
His name was Edgar Goring, and he
was a man of action. not speech, and
told her that he loved her and meant tc
marry her.
She laughed for several minutes more
than was d%ecorous or suitable when he
told her this, but he understood. Then
she grew quieter and gave him the his,
tory of the last three years simply and
truthfully.
II am quite without hope. and ]
don't see there is anything left to me,
Mr.. Goring, she said. ssYou are more
than good, but / am an old ]
have got through the best of my life. ]
cannot marry You feeling as | do.
"Oh, yes, you cam said Edgar Cor
ing.
Every WE'LL" she said, giving in
from sheer inability to resist. lyon
must take the risk, and you have got O
very, very bad bargain"
She gave him a limp, nerveless hand
and looked into his resolute eyes with D
watery little smile.
He kissed the hand, and then he kiss
ed her.
81 take the risk. be said. II mean
to marry you and make you forget. ]
mean to make you love me-"
He did all three things.
And this is a true story, so / will not
apologize for it's glaring improbabilities.
Her husband is younger and nicer
looking and richer than Percy Charring
ton, more charming and more success
full than Jack Collingwood, and sht
loves him far better and knows it.
A woman is anointed with the oil OF
gladness above her fellows when fate
bestows upon her q full love and a full
er knowledge of what that love can bt
to her, bringing her, as it brought
Mary Goring, through fire and water
into the ultimate haven Of a wealthy
place. Sketch.