Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-04-19
A DIFFERENT ENDING
by CHARLES TOWNSEND.

| particular. For that matter, though, most
/ quarrels are foolish, whether between in
dividuals or nations In this csse, al usual.
4 10th were wrong; yet neither would admit
it. Both were proud; both were higb spir-
tied; she was wilfui, he was stubborn. so
there you are.
She sent him frosty note with his ring
and other trinkets He bundled up the
| various mementoes Of a stormy, happy
past and sent them to her without word.
She cried little to herself, then plunged
! into the whirl Of society aud apparently
forgot rim. He swore considerably to him
self, and then betook MIN to tue strenuous
| west, where be actually did forget her
Wen. All this happened seven years ago
in small eastern city, where everything
looked dwarfed to Cofson that wintfy after
noon He had returned with a comfortable
fortune, made partly in boom" town and
partly in klondike trading, and had turned
homeward to enjoy some we4earned rest
and recreation.
The cold snort day was already in the
cleaning, while mere and there lights were
flashing through the eddying snow.
Corson had started out blithely enough
TO look up some Of his foi mer friends. but
was doomed to disappointment for with
few exceptions TIE old crowd was scattered
and gone. And those who remained seemed
but ghosts Of their former selves, settled
down they we're into hundsum life
which moved in narrow and ever narrow
ing circles.
the burgh is dead as nails he muttered
as he plodded ON through the snow, after a
dreary call on one of his old friends who
seemed blissfuliy unconscious of the fact
that he was buried alive in an unprogressiye
town. Tie place is dead, the people are
dead, aud nobody seems to know it or care
a continental hello Who's this?"
Corson's TRADE suddenly stopped. He
| had nearly stumbled over little girl who
stood before him in the storm-swept street;
a morsel Of humanity, bare headed, clothed
in rags and sobbing bitterly
STOPPING down, Corson gathered up the
child in his strong arms.
What's the matter, little one?" he
asked, cheerily.
Il ruined away. and I'm frozed, is,
and II-l'm los led, sobbed the mite
Ran away, Ell? Wei then you must run
back again"
81 did, and the more | ruined the more
way off | was"
That so? All right; III take you home
Where do you live?"
II live t home, with fresh sob, "and
want my mamma and Kitty"
80 come now, dearie, don't cry" sooth-
ingly, you shall have your mother and
your kitten, too"
kitty amt cat!" Indignantly, cts a
DOLL
why, of course, agreed Corson, as he
placed the child on the ground for a mo-
ment while he whipped off his heavy over
coat Then he wrapped the little one in it.
Now, then" ne inquired, he picked her
up again and strobe down the street, what
is your name?"
pet, gently" came from the depths of the
overcoat.
That's pretty name; but what is your
/ other one?"
'Well," obviously, mamma was goin' to
erect me once, and then she called me Amy
Leslie German
Amy Leslie? That was her namel Could
| it be that
EBut she didn't do it, went on the young
lady, triumphantly, cause Ora ma Leslie
'jected to it,
Grandmother Leslie--that was Amy's
mother-his Amy There was no longer
any doubt of it. And she objected? Quite
right, too, in this case, he Thought, al
though Directing was one of Mrs. Leslie's
strong points On general principles she
| usually uld ODJCCt " dlilOSb every buiHS GA
/ cept the sound Of her own voice. 1t was
this habit of hers, he remembered, which
had brought on his quarrel with Amy. He
wondered if she still held the fort. Does
she live with you now?" he asked
NO" was the solemn answer, "she amt
Twin anywhere now, cause she's a nangel."
/ If Corson had any doubts as to Mrs. Les
| lies angeage he wisely said nothing.
"An my papa's went away, too" con-
| tinued the young lady, $50 Pm 'fraid he's
! gone to be a nangel long with her"
Corson was not imaginative in the least,
| but here was whole life romance opened
before him like book Amy married, Wild
owed and in die poverty. He had never
sought wealth for wealth's sake; but for
once he felt glow of keen delight in the
| thought that he was rich man. Perhaps
well, Amy should have friend indeed, if
nothing more.
care we mos home?" queried Miss Cor
| man.
81 guess so. Are you cold?'
mo, thank you. I'm very conf able now,
an you're a beautiful man to carry me so
| nice"
| Corson's beauty" was not of the prize
winning variety, but children often see bet
ter than their elders.
An empty cab appeared through the snow
cloud, and Corson hailed the driver. The
| Germans? Yes, he knew the address.
Corson paid the driver literally, told him
not TO wait, and then climbed out gently
with his little charge, who was sleeping
soundly. The storm, meanwhile, had grown
wilder with the night and Corson staggered
| blindly up the steps, paying scant heed to
| the surroundings. His arrival had been OBJ
served, however by some one in the house,
and, before he could ring, the door flew open,
ushering him into wide, brilliantly lighted
hall, where he was quickly surrounded by
a number of people in various conditions
| of mind, from wonder to Mysteries. Little
Miss German was pomced upon, tatters and
all, and passed to the arms of a fair-faeed,
richly gowned woman, who smothered her
| with kisses, laughed, cried, and asked ques-
tons all in a breath. Then, pausing and
looking closely at the bewdered Corson,