Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-05-03
las A MAN is ABLE"
ny ANNIE REESE LOCKE.


F Is through the gay crowd; Gis progress
constantly barred BY tie gseeting q old
friends lie wondered If see Was there.
ard smiled slightly as be told aiiaeeli ao@
little he really cared enc way or tae otter
land yet il would be q pleasm. ID sacw
I her how entirely he nad ouGlivea D. all; aae
he would like, too, to see il SIC we're sat
isfied with the fate she had eaosen.
He saw her at once when te reached tie
dningroom. She was seaed al the head
OF the table, which glittered and sDafkled
under the roseglow bf shaded candies. But
the ulster circuit glass and silver was dimmed
by Ter radiant beauty. Though the old love
was completely exercised, Pension felt his
pulses leap Is Re gazed from the doorway,
fascinated by her marvellous loyelness.
like a magaet She had drawn the men
10 tie room to Rer side, 50 that Pension
had some difficulty in reaching her chair
Ny beverage is more substantial than
Hebes," she was saying to one OF her adj
mirers, who had likened her TO that goddess
dispensing nectar. Smiling gayly she lifted
one OF tie fragile teaeups, and at the same
moment raised her eyes and gazed straight
into Pension face Tie cup slipped from
Ter grasp, and Tell, shattered heap, upon
the table, while aer loug-lashed lids dropped
for a moment upon cneeks that had sud
dealy lost their pomegranate stain.
How do you do?" said he, ignoring the
broken china, and holding out his hand.
She returned his clasp with more pres
sure than he had expected, and the esad
color ebbed back to cheek and lip, wnile
her eyes glowed with an additional bril-
liancy.
she looked impatiently at the men who
were hanging on every word
"Ktty, dear, won't you take my place
for a littley' she cried, to girl near by.
Il have poured so cups Of tea, and am a
perfect wreck"
Kitty good-naturedly assented, and Mrs,
Hardaway turned to Pension:
81 want you to come with me and tell
ne what you have been doing all these
years" She smiled aud nodded to the
group of men, as she stroled off on Penis
tons arm.
"There is a charming window seat in the
hall, where we can have comfortable tete-
a-tete," she said
Pension felt vague pfemonition Of
danger as he reluctantly followed her down
the hall
Well" said Mrs. Hardaway, after wait
ing for him to take the initiative, until the
NbtHAt tttuiic tbtlHitdlhNAAs Ou dtS
looking the better for your trip
Thanks / have enjoyed it immense.
~"
Its very rude o. YOU TO say So" said
SIZE with low ur. cal laugh, the laugh
that Lad echoed many time. in Penis
tons memory.
And what is more. il you viii excuse my
saying so, don't believe word OF it
she added, lightly
Pension, though not a particularly ego
tistieal man, could not fail to construe the
expression of her eyes as very fla .ssring to
himself. Instead OF being in ecsIacr, how
ever ne was dsmayed
There has been no need of such self
etFaeemeut on your part, she continued
Gu rushed away as soon as | became
gagged to Mr.. Hardaway, not even giving
me your address, so that | could Wi ana
tell YOU taat ! had no objection TO your
writing TO me- Why shouldn't we make the
separation as easy as possible
He was becoming uneasy, but he pulled
himself together and replied
DO you think it would have been any
pleasure to me, as | felt then, to have cor
responded with the ahanced wife OF auoth-
err man?'
"low foolishly jealous you are, said She,
laughing again But we haven't long to
wait, John-the old man is daily growing
more feeble" She laid her ringed hand
hgAuy, atfectionately, upon his but Penis
ton, with dawning horror in his fac
shrunk back.
"Carlotta- great heaven what do yon
mean?'
Are you affecting to misunderstanding
size asked slowly. 'ls IL your excessive
refinement and reserve That make yen dis
like to discuss our scneme:"
what ,cheme!
The laees that framed her white bosom
were rising and falling tumultuously in tie
gathering storm OF passion
81 see It al-blind foo. that l have been
70 fancy a man could remain constant, Int
poe, was tight:
THUS, if you will prove me, Gear,
Wonan's love no fable,
viii ,ove you-half year,
A. a man is able
Sre crushed the ivory ian in her hand
Il would not he such coward / were
you. Why not say you have ceased to love
me: Why pretend such ignorance
"Will You kindly tell me wat you are
talking about: / am completely in tae
dark
his sluWously poule tone stemmeu the
food of her anger.
Please carry your recreant memory four
years back, to a time wacn y0u and ] we've
& discussing our marriage. /, wds New ear $
day, and we we're driving
Il remember" said he, shortly
She lifted her brows srcastica,Iy.
We'll, YOU may not remember that yen
were much depressed, and that you said
YOU saw no prospect of our marriage n-
less one OF US married a fortune and bae.
our time until death enabled US 20 lnahe
one another happy
1T vas jest. My God aid you act on
tbat:'
Yes, thought you understood"
B Tie locked at her miselao.y. And did
( YOU care so much for luxury, FIR ,veal., ,
/ as to buy il at such price?' lie asked,
+ pityngly, though ne could not ward eff MS
I horror of the deed,
/ II did it for your sake entirely" and her
I d .,,I.