Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-05-02
/" Say it at once, then4no; !" she added

1885,
I" Say it at once, then-no, she added
correcting herself, and sewing very ner
yously. /" perhaps you had better not sa.
There was pause. George wake,
across the room, hastily. Then Luc,
broke the silence by observing in frn
voice:
!" I change my mind. What you hay,
to say. MIR. George, l am ready to hea
now"
"I love you.ps And he seized hel
hand. and covered it with kisses.
She was violently agitated and grew
very pale. A minute elapsed before she
could speak. AT last she said i:
Now Mr.. George, that you have spo'
ken, will tell you frankly, that-that
you must not come here again."
"Lucy, do you love me 2"
"You must come not come here again. 81
Just at this moment, a rap was heard at
the door. George had Just time to hide
himself in a closet, when the door open
ed, and Mrs. Timms entered the room.
"I'ye come for that dress, Miss Prime. -
said she, in tone that seemed very
strange to George.
"Pm very sorry" replied Lucy. ito
have kept you waiting ma am; but was
delayed. 1t will be ready in ten minutes,
if you will take seat
"Never mind," said Mrs. Timms.
family, "1'll take it as it is"
Lucy looked at her customer and so did
George. from his hiding place. She was
strangely pale and seemed i'll.
"Won't you sit down, mann ? In FIVE
minutes it will be finished. Eve only a
stich or two to make. was in hopes
you would not want it till the morning.
NO. said Mrs. Timms, hastily, "the
doctor and are going to the country to
night. He's waiting for me at home
now"
George had some difficulty in suppress
sing an exclamation. He had heard DIR.
Timms say, not two hours before. he
would spend the evening at his fathers.
Lucy had broken off her thread, and was
folding up the dress and looking very
wretched.
Never mind folding it," cried Mrs.
Timms. And after pause, during
which George was convinced he heard
teeth chatter. she asked Lucy if she
could give her glass of water.
Lucy rose and passing into her bed
room, Mrs. Timms, apparently too ner-
vous to sit still, followed her. The mo-
men: they left the room, George sprang
from his hiding place, and hurried down
stairs.
AT the door he saw travelling car
riage. He hesitated. Could it be? She
had been the town talk for weeks her
name and young Melville's who had fol>
lowed her from New York, were in every
ones mouth. Yet to blunder was ruin.
He tore his hair in perpexity.
The night was very dark, yet he could
see the carriage was empty. A black dri-
yer sat upon the seat, and looked anxious
ly at George. The latter walked towards
the door OF the carriage, with the inten>
ton of accosting him. He had hardly
done SO, however. when he heard hastily
footsteps approaching along the pavement.
He turned aud looked. In a moment or
two, the new conner and George saw each
other. George would have sworn it was
Melville. The latter seeing man at the
door of the carriage, stopped short, and
appeared uncertain how to act. A few
seconds elapsed; then he moved toward
the carriage.
His mind, thoroughly made up, for he
was certain he held the clue of the mys.
terry, George boldly seized the handle OF
the carriage door, and opened it.
The new conner stopped again-seem~
ed lost in doubt-then crossed the street.
AT that moment female figure rushed
out Of the house. George held the car
riage door while she stepped in. Then,
whispered to the driver, he sprang in,
seated himself beside her, and the car.
riage rattled over the pavement.
Within, all was dark. Neither spoke
George could hear the quick breathing oi
his companion, as he held his own breath
These minutes seemed centuries to him
At last the carriage stopped.
Where are we ?" cried the lady
springing forward.
At your own home, Mrs. Timms
where your husband, the doctor, will soor
join you"
: "Saved-saved /" grasped the poor wo
man.
Lsaping out. George lifted Mrs. Timm,
to the ground. bade the driver drive home
as If old Nick was after him, and in hal
a minute was seated in the DOCTORS study
With perfect GOODNESS he united Mrs
Timms' hat, unpinned her shawl, and di
vested her OF both articles of dress. ShC
had not tainted but she seemed in I
torpid state, indifferent 10 what was go
ing on. A glass Of water revived her.
What horrible dream ~ she NUT
tered. But I'm at home, am l not p
"Of course you are." replied Georg'
nailr nYnn,ra nnt the dress and Mis-