Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-02-07
A HUSBAND WON.
ny ELIZABETH GILcHRIsr.

$50 Hal is married at last said Miss
Belle Grey to her companion, Mrs. Paine,
hs they were seated in a pretty room over
booking one Of our beautiful Wisconsin
lakes.
YES" said Mrs. Paine, with a slight
Erown; his wife is here
"Here!-gth you?"
Eyes. She went for a drive this morn
ing. / expect her back every minute
what sort Of a girl is she?' Miss Grey
asked. Not that she cared, but one must
show some interest in the bride Of her hos
tess son.
d you want ma to tell you the truth,
BELIEF"
"Of course / do"
"Well, she's Halls wife, but she is tall and
awkward, without the least element Of
style, ignorant Of the most common ac-
complishments, with nothing to recommend
her but a sweet voice and a pair Of fine
eyes
Dear me-" said Miss Belle, what could
have possessed Hal to marry herr"
u don't knew, said Mrs. Paine, in tones
of despair, "and ! don't believe he does,
either. l asked him onee, and the answer
was, The fact is, mother, / am q little dis
appointed IN Myrtle. But I'm married, and
abe ceremony can't web be annulled.'"
Just like Hal, said pretty Belle; "al.
ways buying new tops and getting tired Of
them soon, even when we were children"
Yes returned Mrs, Paine, bitterly;
but this top can't be got rid OF SO easily"
but you say Hal is away In EuropeE'
Yes, lie can get rid OF her, but | can't.
AZ as daughter in.law | am bound to give
her q place iu my home, and-But wsxS
noise vas that"
Only the drapery Of the window" SAID
Bell, turning her cad "the fastening haa
given way
BAT Miss Grey was mistaken. II was the
rustic 81 a womaus dress. And Mrs. Myrtle
Paine, Nao had heard The entire CONVERSE
zion from the next room, hurried away with
hands tightly clasped and a hard glitter in
her fine eyes.
For Myrtle Paine was only 16, and these
revelation came to her like d ~thunderclap.
Many times in the few weeks Of her mar
ried life she had fears and doubts, but
nothing TO compar with this. Hal was
tired and ashamed of her. And Myrtle
who with all her faults had a womau's
heart-threw herself on the sofa in her room
and burst into a torrent of tears.
And yet she acknowledged to herself that
it was all true. She bad been an uneducated
country girl when she met Hal Paine, who
was spending his vacation in the country
and had asked temporary lodgings at the
house OF her uncle He had loved her--or
he said so, at least-and married her. Ard
for a brief time she was happy. But now
abe almost wished that she were dead. Yet
she could not die-she could not vanish out
of sight. But OF one thing She was sure
she would never be a biemish in the eyes OF
Hal Paine again.
Mrs. Paine, she said the next day, will
you grant me a favor? | would like to 20
acme awhile"
Mrs. Paine hesitoted, and at last said
81 do not think Hal would approve"
Hal is not here, and / cannot stay here"
interrupted Myrtle.
swell, if you are determined, said Mrs.
Paine, hesitatingly. You viii write often"
AS often, no doubt, as you will care tr
hear from me-" Myrtle answered, with a
shade OF bitterness in her voice.
at is just as we'll, said Mrs, Paine to
Belle Grey, while speaking Of the departure
of her daughter-in-law, some days after
ward. Nov we can have Hattie Wilde
with us for company. | was bored to death
with that girl"
But Myrtle Pane did not go home. der
uncle and aunt imagined she had married
into q sphere all roses and sunshine, and
she had not the heart TO dispel their de-
fusion.
I'm 90 to some boarding-sehocl, she
said to herself. IN study lart-npt only
books, music, etc, but manners and style.
III improve myself so that no devotee Of
fashion shall look Town on me as Belle Grey
did. Hal has given me plenty of money,
and / shall be able to manage as l like"
Hal Paine remained in Europe four years.
When ne returned he was older and per
haps a wiser man.
"Well, mother" said he, where is
Myrtle"
"In Michigan, I suppose. Her last ad-
dress was Grand Rapids. She has spent a
great deal Of her time there since you went
away"
"All right, said Hal. 81 suppose l ought
to run out west and see her, Perhaps VIII
some day. BY the way, mother, who is
that beautiful girl at the Gifforjsy / saw
her as she passed this afternoon
THAT Is Miss Mayue, / believe, replied
Mrs. Paine.
'-She is a royal beauty, said Hal, admir-
ingly.
$50 they tell me, and her manners are a
mode. She sings like a nightingale, {
heard
II must get an introduction, said Hal
Kate Stewart knows them
"Then Il be agreeable 10 Kate Stewart
For ! must know the beauty with those
superb eyes and hair like spun gold
"Fie, Hal. What would Myrtle say"
"NIather, / was married too early III life
10 know my own mind ] believe / was q
fool
Most men are, some time OF other, / sup
nose said Mrs. Paine. .But won are mann.