Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-11-17
! A Double (beckndte

I afternoon studio reception, and the few
words exchanged over their cups Of tea
| lid not make as much If an impression
1 npon either Jack Ca-ruthers or Elsa
| GhanipIin as might have been expected.
| He had inst returned from a three years.
tour of Europe. after completing a course
| AZ Harvard college, while she had been
abroad with her aunt ever since gradual
| IN. from Wellesley, over two years be-
| fore.
| They met again at the seashore.
| Both felt the beauty Of the night as
the soft waves Of the ocean could be
heard, musical in the rhythm, and as the
| capricious moon. for which so many bro
ken hearts are held responsible. sailed out
from the depths OF friendly cloud. re-
yealing the beauty Of his companions
CAGE and figure.
do you know this Is our last evening,
| Miss Elsa" he said-''that is, for some
time 10 Gomez"
Yes was her low reply. Il was
thinking of that myself, but trust You
win give aunt and myself the pleasure Of
a call soon after our return to New York
this winter"
Jacks heart beat rapidly.
May / ask for something more than
that?' he san'nered. stumbling over his
| first proposal like a youth Of IT, May ]
have your promise to-
"Oh, you runaways! We have been
looking fer you everywhere and are wait
ing for you to come and give us some
music" suddenly interrupted Miss Ven
derfelt and, taking Jacks arm, while her
escort offered his to Elsa, they were both
in the drawing room before either real
lied how it had been done, Jack mutter-
ing over the turn affairs had taken and
she wondering what he had meant to say,
while her heart told her the story that
was upon his lips
In the morning, amid the goodbys, Jack
had only a chance to say, Remember,
shall come and have a question to ask
which concerns my whole future happi-
ness" aud in reply she had pulled rose
from her lovely bouquet and had given it
to him, with a blush and a smile, while
her eyes wore dreamy look of tender
happiness. Don't forget were his last
words, while she waved her handker-
chief then buried her face in the roses
he had sent her as the carriage drove
rapidly away toward the station.
The coming month"; September, found
Jack summoned to Paris by the death Of
his father, and as his mother had died
when he was but d child, and he had nei-
ther brother nor sister, he found himself
heir to large and scattered property,
most of it in English investments, as his
father had lived abroad for over ten
years. Nearly year passed before he
could complete the transaction of all nee
essary business and in the meantime he
had been hunting up old friends and
thinking less and less of home, although
two long letters had, soon after his arriv-
al, found their way across the Atlantic,
but much to his chagrin and disappoint
ment, remained unanswered for several
months, and then found their way back
10 him marked Address unknown" This
was indeed shock to his bright dreams
of future happiness, when he should be
able to return and put his fate to the test.
Nothing remained now but to make the
final arrangements with his agents re-
garding the management of his business
and then return to New York, where he
would lose no time in finding her address
and seeing her.
Had he only known that the object Of
his affections was so near him, for she
had been for several months at the Ger
man baths with her aunt, who was be-
coming more and more Of an invalid. and
with whom Elsa had lived since losing
both parents when she was but a child.
Five years had swiftly passed, and
Jack was again in New York and,
strange to say. again the guest of the art
list friend who had first introduced him to
Elsa AS he strolled about among the
guests he could not help looking for that
face, which came back so wildly today
amid the old and familiar surroundings,
and turned suddenly to hear a voice say:
"Why. Mr. Carruthers, how strange
we should meet again after so long
inn md har pf rla Arc M
going to remember me?"
1t was Elsa, changed, but only as the
bud blossoms into the rose of more ma
ture beauty. She had the same laughing
eyes. the same bewitching smile and the
same air of good breeding. Life was in
deed changed to them both, and each re-
allied that the broken threads could not
be resumed as might have been thought.
"Why, Miss Champlin, you do not give
me chance to express the pleasure
feel at this renewal of our old friend
ship. | really had begun to think you
were not among the living, as both my
letters We're returned to me, and failed
completely to find your address"
"Of course, for / never received them.
Aunt and / went abroad that winter,
Travelled several months, then located in
Germany, where we remained until her
death, two years later. Our constant
changes of residence at first made it al
most impossible for friends to locate us.
As they moved along chatting on va
rious topics. the new pictures, the latest
books and mutual friends of the past
| Jack sped, following in the train of ia
milar face and coming directly toward
them. distinguished looking man, evil
IDENTIFY, by the attention he was receiving,
one of the lions of the afternoon. Here
is a celebrity" said Jack, looking toward
the gentleman in question. HE is the
most distinguished looking man here. il
seems to me-
"Do you think SOP" said Elsa. with a
smile of pride and pleasure. HE is my
| husband, and | want YOU to know him.
! But who is the handsome woman with
him. | wonder? Do you know"
",rhat," said Carruthers, with a fond
! IAlal. ~ 70