Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-05-14
MY YOUNG LADY.
By STELLA Bleeding.

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the most beautiful woman in the world
She was truly splendid to look upon,
with white, satin skin, yellow hair and
deep blue eyes. She was beautiful as
little queen from earliest infancy.
BY the time my young mistress was.
16 she was as tall as most women, and
Of a whitenessl Our nearest neigh
bors were the Painter family. These
and my young ladys people were Bit
ter enemies. and I fmrly believe II
was just this at first that caused my
mistress to act as she did. My young
lady thrived, fattened on opposition.
One day she went out horseback rid
ing, and from some cause-we never
knew what-old BIuegowns SHE'D, and
my mistress fell, catching her foot in
the stirrup. 1t happened that young
Jack Painter-Lordl but what a calmly
boyi--was passing that way on his horse
at the time. He helped her to her feet
and shook the dust out of her hair; and
then they might have parted, but both
fingered shyly. When it was sloping
toward dusk my young lady said she
must be getting home, and then young
Painter asked If she would meet him in
the same place tomorrow, and my mis-,
tress said yes.
When she reached home 1t was quite
dark, and my lady told of her adven-
ture, but omitted to mention young
Painter, for she knew that to her father,
a dreadfully choleric old man, the
name Of Painter was as boiled crow.
But into my ear all. all was poured, and
she begged me to accompany her the
next day when she had promised to keep
tryst with young Painter. knew it was
wrong. but she was SO pretty about it !
had to consent.
And then there was another cause why
| wished to humor my sweet young lady
all possible | know I am garrulous
old woman now. but have always sung
long and loud the praises Of my sweet
mistress. and talked in her cause; again
| am all ears, as the French say, when
my lady is concerned. | have always
considered 1t my most religious duty to
listen when anything is being said about
her. good or bad
In this manner learned that my mas
ter was thin financially, and had prom
ised my young lady to an old man, a
contemporary of his, in lieu of a pay
ment of some debts.
So determined to deny her no small
pleasure that it was in my power to
give and went not only once, but four,
five. six, seven times, and more.
| took my sewing and they impro-
vised a little bench for me.
They were beautiful pair Of doves,
she so blond and he so bruno, and both
so young and noble | sat in the shade
and watched them while I sewed, and
listeneds it being my duty.
One day | saw him take her in his
arms, so gentle, and she submitted to
have her head rest on his shoulder, and
he kissed her lips and hair and eyes.
and she held up her little mouth for an
other
| was so frightened at what had
done. and let my worKbox fall on the
ground and coughed loudly.
A few days after my master told my
young lady that he proposed marrying
her off to that old whiskers of his own
choosing. She raved and said she
would not. and told him fatty that she
loved young Painter-this heard while
l was standing behind the thin parti-
ton in the pantry-and, of course, he
became more imperious than ever to i'm
pose his will.
Finally my young lady meek mother
came to her and pleaded with her to
give in, which she did at last, poor thing,
and was married and went away, and
went with her, you may be sure.
Happily. my mistress husband died
about eight years after the marriage,
and had it on my MUD to bring my
sweet lady and young Painter together
again after decent period of mourn
ing.
One night stood on the upper stairs,
listening l heard her say:
Jack. | couldn't. Do you not see how
despicable 1t would be now? Twas weak
enough to refuse You for another man
because youwere poor-and because they
made me-" she added, softly. And now
you are rich. do you not see it is impos-
sible for a woman OF delicacy like me?
oh, jack" she cried, Il want 10. want
to; that is not IL. but II you should ever
reproach me with 1t, could not stand
it!''
"Think It over tonight darling" he
said, holding her close. "and will come
in TIE morning early for your de-
cisiou'
She broke away from him and ran
up the stairs, and had to make myself
scarce directly, or be caught eavesdrop-
ping
That night, as was undressing her for
bed, she said:
''NNrse"-so she always called me-
nurse, suppose a girl should reject
the love of good man because he had
little money, and marry an old man
who could load her with jewels like
Burmese idol, all the time loving the
other man. Is she not little short OF
indecent? And suppose her husband