The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-10-27

ciety he might hold. DE uio not iooA
quite like q gentlemn, nor like o clerk,
nor Ikea professional man. 1t settled
at last that he must be rich tailor's
son and heir, and that his close-ftting
coat. and broadly-striped, full trousers
were intrnded to act as an advertise
tisement for his father. just as l
smiled at this notion, o slight gust OF
wind caught his coat pocket, and
small piece of paper, which had before
been peeping from it, disengaged itself
and fioated to my feet 1t was mere
scrap, but picked it up and glanced at
It, thinking that lift was Of any conse-
auence, would hasten after Its owner
and return It. But when i had once
looked ct It, ] continued to gaze and
gaze, holding it mechanically, rs II
/ had turned to stone. Written on the
paper were these words -
"Dearest,-Meet me at st. Anne's
Church this evening at seven.
Your own NJ"
But the handwriting! Could my
ewes deceive me, or was it indeed
Mary's, my. Mary's-the girl l. had
sworn should be my wife, my hearts
darling that / had loved 80 long! 1t
could not-cOuld not be, and yet knew
every letter of that writing so cruelty,
80 fatally well.
81 expect he's i'll !, do not look aw-
full"
These words, spoken by D compassion
ate passcr-by, awoke me from my trance;
One single idea filled my mind, that L
must not allow the man who had pos
sessed the paper to escape me. looked
up he was already nearly out Of sight.
The idea of losing him aroused my dor
mant faculties. i darted after him
with fnll speed, and, brcathless and
painting, I overlook him just on the
edge Of the park. I touched him ON
the shoulder, he turned round, and
showed me o handsome, dark face,
with small black mustaches and long
eyelashes. He was astonished, sup
pose, by my wild look, for after mo.
ment he made q slight movement, as II
to release himself from my hand. Only
then recollected that must speak. l
held out the paper in trembling hand,
and as did so I saw, hanging to his
fine gold watch chain, q locket which l
recognized as Mary's, Heavens! what o
feeling it gave me, this confirmation OF
my worst suspicious. Nevertheless l
spoke.
~ think you dropped this" ! STAN
mered confusedly.
ooh, thanks, yes, it is mine,' and tax
ing it carelessly, he was about to pass
on with slight bow, but was not to
be SO shaken off.
~ beg your pardon" 1 said, casting
about in my distress for heaven knows
what falsehood to tell him, 81 am a
stranger in London, and / feel rather
unwell; perhaps you would not object
to my walking with you until ] can find
some hotelp -. .
A very suspicious look glanced
across his handsome face, but !
suppose he saw that my agitation
was genuine, and my dress respect
able, for after an instant's hesitation he
replied.
Certainly; l am going to tbe B
Hotel myself to dine, and If you please
we can walk there together"
Joined him, and We proceeded in 81
lence. The hotel he had mentioned was
one of somewhat questionable reputa-
ton, and stood in rather lonely
street. 1t had grown almost dark, and
a few drops of rain were beginning to
fall by the time we reached it, had
collected my thoughts u little, and
they resolved themselves into this-to
persuade him to drink, if possible, on
the chance of his becoming communi-
cative in his cups, and to dog his foot
steps to the trysting place, and there
l would SINCE Mary's HEARTH she had
q heartily my burning reproaches,
and renounce her for eyermore. AS
soon rs we arrived at the hotel, i or
dered brandy, on the plea of being faint,
as indeed l was, and begged my COM
panion to Join me. He did so most affa-
bly,, and who had never done more in
my life than drink o couple Of glasses
of light sherry after dinner, now poured
down my throat quantity Of raw spir-
its. 1t did me good, though, thought;
my pulse bounded, and the blood in
my veins seemed to circulate like fire.
began to talk to the stranger, to chaff
him, to laugh listining all the time
to my own voice az if 1t belonged to
some enc else. He responded cordially.
1 asked him to dinner; begged him to
tell me what wine he preferred, |
pressed champagne, brandy, liquor, all
kinds, upon him, and partook
of them freely myself. The quantity
of alcohol that man must have imbibed
during the meal is perfect marvel to
me now, and it seemed to affect him
no more than so much water, as far as
steadiness of manner was CONCERNED.
But at last he did grow laxative, and
upon the very subject / longed for, yet
dreaded so much.
"That scrap of paper you picked up
-" he began. didn't you envy mel
1t was from sweet little creature, l
can tell you"
"Nay, that's not fair; but I'll tell you
her name. Mary, Pretty little Mol
Typ
The brandy had drunk had begun
to Supply me, or ! must have knocked
those white teeth Of his into his
head.
"Did she give you that locketT /
asked feebly pointing to it.
"Yes, that she did, the darling.
Gomez he added, rising, "you Sc EN- a
good fellow; some day I'll introduce
you to her, if you don't object. Many
thanks for your dinner. Here's the
bill"
The bill oamo to something fabulous,
but ! had my quarters ALLOWANCE in my
pocket, and paid it without word,
The stranger looked at his watch, IT
was nearly seven.
~ must 60 now" he said, to keep
that little appointment, you know"
The little fend! Had she not, re.
membered now, dissuaded me from
coming to see her on Christmas Eve,
lest her aunt should suspect some
thingi and had allowed myself to be
deceived!
~ mean TO be there too" l said fierce
ly, rising from the table, and pressing
my hat firmly en- the top. Of my head
II rather think not" replied the stran.
ger composedly; "good evening, young
man; hope We shall meet again"
He walked to the door, aud followed
A handsome cab was waiting, evidently
by order. He stepped into it, and be
fore had mustered courage enough to
stop him forcibly, the cab had driven
of, and / was loft standing, half e1cit
ed bnlf stupitied. and almost drunk