The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-11-17

and stood quietly by the table. After
n little while, she conquered her fit OF
crying, and, wiping her eyes with her
handkerchief, raised her fearful face.
Would you really do ME seryice-a
real great service?' she said.
told her that would.
"And would you forbear from asking
me the meaning of it !-and would you
believe me that ] have not done any
thing-not anything-really wrong
however strange it might appear to
youw =
"My dear Helen, unless l was ready
to believe that, l should hardly be SO
ready to serve you. As for your last
question, will, if you insist on it, for,
bear from asking you for explanations
but before you determine TO withhold
them. do ask yourself, and be quite sure
whether il will not be better for you to
trust me entirely"
"Oh, cannot-I cannot" she sobbed,
breaking out crying afresh. . I'm
ashamed" she said, after an interval,
''to ask You for what want"
/ was utterly puzzled at this, and,
not knowing what to say, stood silent,
when she said
at is because | cannot tell any one
why want this service that ask 1t OF
YOU. If | asked my father, he would
have right to insist on explations."
"Do let me hear, ut any rate, what
the service is?
She bent down her head, but l could
see the deep blush tinging even the
back of her neck and ears, rs she said
IL want you to give me n thousand
pounds, now on this instant"
Ireally can't describe my sensations
Oh hearing this. They were partly those
of relief, as the request pointed to some
trouble that could, at any rate, be sooth-
ed with thousand pounds, and partly
(shall l confess it at my years. feeling
of annoyance at the prosaic nature OF
the service required. Then | had hur-
riedly to think of the state of my bank
er's account, and the means | had of at
once satisfying Helen's extraordinary
wants. While | hesitated, she looked
upwith o face expressive Of great shame
and agony.
"You despise me-" she said.
"Indeed! no." l answered; 81 was
merely thinking how could oblige you.
If you will wait here, / will go and
write check and bring it to you. / am
glad that your trouble is of this nature"
was sorry, the moment it was
uttered, that l had spoken that last
sentence, for it struck upon some
inner chord of feeling, and the poor
girl threw up her hands with a cry
of pain, and then flnng her arms at full
length OH the table, and bowed forward
till her forehead touched the wood.
"Pray, pray" / said, "do not misun-
derstand me. did not for moment
suppose that your trouble was of an un-
worthy nature. You will wait here, Will
you nOt!"
: "Oh, You will promise me-" she cried,
looking up, and putting her hand upon
my arm; "you will promise me not to
breathe a word of this to any on" {"
Il promise you," said, never to do
so without your full consent"
Then | left her, and turned back to-
wards the house.
When, after lapse Of five or ten min
utes, returned with the check, Helen
was standing, leaning with one hand
house, and gazing eagerly up the path
way down which l had to come. She
had drawn on her gloves, and had her
parasol in her hand. Her fingers trem-
Ilsa as shs s sldfhAI hIr pr and I'd" put It in her
purse.
1T would be absurd of me to use any
common place words Of thanks" she
said.
"As it would be quite unnecessary. /
am under many obligations TO your
father. This service to his child by no
means rcpays them"
"Good-by for the present" she said.
giving me her hand; ''you will not fol-
low me-
"Arc you going out =
IL must, for short time
'But are you sure that you are safe
Would it not be much better that l
should follow you"
| was really alarmed for her.
"Indeed. Indeed. know l am safe.
Oh, Won must not follow me; it would
spoil all"
was sorely puzzled what to do; but,
after some hesitation, | decided to let
ner alOllc. lulShI DC icdiiy op''i'" =
that mysterious "all," whatever it was,
if, in my ignorance of its nature, in
sisted Besides, it was not likely that
she would come to any actual bodily
harm, whatever might he the fate of
that ten thousand pounds.
every well, them" l said, II will
leave you: but in that case l must say
rood-by for more than the present. l
have to 90 up 10 town this evening"
She colored again, and said quickly
"You are disgusted with me, ana you
are leaving in consequence"
Believe me, no. Isaid earnestly. ~
am going on business.p
But YOU had no thought of going this
morning. Why are you gsinS.
wished to spare her the annoyance
of knowing why went up; but l saw
that, in her present sensitive state OF
mind, the annoyance of leaving her i'll
ignorance would be greater, so l told
her, with smile
Il must go up to provide funds at the
bankers for the payment of your check,
which, take it will soon be presented"
She hing down her head, and again
blushed deeply. Then she said, looking
up with a very sweet though sad
smile
IL repeat that it can but be absurd for
me to use any commonplace words OF
thanks. So good-by! You will not let
it be longer than you can help before
you come to see us again
promised; and then she passed out
of the gate into the lane, and went
away.
"Deep into the darkness peering, long stood
the wondering. fearing;
Doubling: dreaming dreams no mortal ever
dared to dream before"
as Edgar Poe sings, and then / again
turned round and went up towards the
house.
soon packed up my portmanteau,
told a servant to take it to the railway
station, left a not for my host, apologi-
zing for,my abrupt departure, Il dreaded
an Interview, lest, in contest with his
frank nature l should let out some OF
the things I had promisd to conceal),
and then set out to walk to the station,
declining the phaeton, which the ser
want offered to have prepared.
The railway-station was some dis
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