The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-08-17
e matter with Paley : Something is

returned uOI uuCu bIdIIleQ, IOE hOuS-
thing is always on somebody's mind
according to Mrs. Fairbrother, So 1
brought a glass of California plant beer,
knowing that drinking was a sort OF
universal panacea to her. 1t made but
little difference what; hop tea, gill-run-
over-the-ground,s sage, wake-robin, or
the best Bohea. AS she often said she
was not sure but she could live without
eating; she knew by frequent expert
.ence she could without sleeping; but
she must drink.
Accordingly her face frightened as
she slipped the beer, but she still shook
her bonnet dismally.
"Paley has fits of shutting himself
up in his own room, and can't find
out for why" said she, piaintively.
"Ihen when 1 try to cheer him up by
sending him in to talk to you and Lucy
he makes some excuse not to come. He
seems to prefer to be by himself, and
can see all is not right. It may be his
liver; but If not his liver, something Is
on his mind. 1 have tried styling a lit
tie thoroughwort tea into his coffee.
That is excellent for any stomach dill
Guilty, and Paley won't ever take medt-
cal drinks-not If he knows it; SO 1
have to use stratagem when see what
he needs. / knew a little thorough
wort would do him no hurt any way,
and 1t might touch his case; but 1t does
not seem to-"
Then she gave her bonnet another de-
spairing shake and turned to finishing
her beer. You come in to tea to-ntght,
you and Lucy, and see what you think, "
she added, putting down the glass and
rising TO go.
Accordingly Lucy and went in to
tea but Paley did not appear until
after we were seated at the table, al
though we heard him go up stairs an
hnfnrn pnH his hnF hq6 called
him three times. But 1 perceived =:
once that this time his mothers ankle:
ty was not altogether idgeI. Paley did
really look troubled and unhappy; and
although he tried hard to seem I'M
changed and gay, it was plainly an
effort, and the effort was failure. Mrs.
Fairbrother was right. He was either
ill or in trouble; but 1 knew Paley
well enough to know the more one
tried to find out the matter the less one
would know, and there was nothing
but to stand aside and be sorry for him
without showing 1t.
So talked over the last magazines,
the price of straw berries, and the pros
peel for grapes; and Paley tried to keep
the deathly look out of his face and talk
with me, till pitied him clear through
my heart, while pretended to be only
criticising the cut and color of his vest.
sit isn't case for thorough-wort,"
said 10 myself something deeper
than the liver"
Presently the door bell rang, and,
Mrs. Fairbrother answering it herself,
we heard her through the open inner
door crying out, "You little dear Paley
will be SO glad to see you! Come right
straight in !"
happened to glance at Paley at the
moment, and, having on my far.seeing
glasses, was frightened at his sudden
Rnf lNfa T-nfRa 1nnT0HnH
raj enough as he arose moment after
and spoke cordially 20 his cousin
Bertha whom Mrs. Fairbrother brought
in with the air OF bringing pleasant
surprise.
Bertha came without any trace of
lameness, and with such a sweet face
and charming manner that one wished
she were a baby 10 be taken up and
kissed. We all did kiss her, to be sure,
even TO Paley, who met her with a
grave and gentle air very becoming to
him. But still, though he sat by and
talked to Bertha all the evening
through, with eyes and ears for no one
else, the same sad weight kept down
his spirits.
Even my niece Lucy, who is not like
me in being observing, noticed 1t. Lucy,
who, always cheerful herself in her
quiet way, supposed everybody else to
be.
There was as much difference be.
tween Bertha Bell and Lucy as between
a fulI-blown rose and sprig of mign-
onnette; but they were both as SWEEP as
they could be, and it is hardly a matter
of choice between roses and mignon-
ettee; SO, when L saw them together
with Paley beside Bertha, like a bit of
"boys'-love or geranium leaf, 1 felt II
was pity they should ever be apart,
they set each other off so prettily. But
hi o1Nhnnnt ~
brighter than ever, there seemed a sort
of mist over the other two.
"what was it, Lucy ?" said 1, after
we had gone home. "Was any thing
wrong with you or Paley tonight ?"
mot with me, Aunt Jane. But Paley
did not seem exactly natural. And he
has not for quite while. 1 think
something troubles him; and a good
many times lately he has begun to
speak, or looked just ready TO, and then
turned away suddenly. Or not very
lately, either; haven't seen him much
very lately"
Then Lucy made long pause and
began TO take down her hair. When
she spoke again her voice was con-
strained by an evident effort to speak
PERFECTLY natural. sis Paley engaged
10 his cousin Bertha 2" said she.
why yes, suppose there is an I'M
Outstanding that amounts to an engage
ment," I replied, looking at her In u
lille surprise, but seeing nothing uL-
usual in her face; though, to be sure,
hadn't on my far-glasses. And then /
turned OF the gas and went to bed.
After that L saw nothing of Paley
Fairbrother for two weeks and more,
and then he came in one day as L was
sitting by myself.
at is Lucy's afternoon for her music
lesson, and you are alone, aren't you?n
ho nSN 10 ~,
answer, he went on impetuously; 81
cannot bear it, Mrs. Longley; what
shall do? 1t is Lucy 1 love, and it
is Bertha 1 must marry! What shall 1
dor What shall do?"
Twas more than surprised, was
shocked.
"Why PAley what dreadful thing
1t is you are telling mel Lucy is dear
good girl, but she doesn't love you, and
Bertha does, you know,,"I gasped out,
foolishly.
"I know it, and will not break Ber-
tha's heart by marrying any body else;
but cannot be so false as TO marry her
when love another" Then he turned
upon me fiercely. "Why did you bring
Lucy in my way You should have
known betteIi"
Poor boy II WAS dreadful; yet he
could take out no patent on his suffer-
ing, for many a one has gone with torn
feet along the same painful road before
him.
at is too hard" said he; 81 can not
be trueIto myself without being false 10
Bertha. But shall never marry. No,
nerer! And some day shall be dead,
and then il will be all over"
As he spoke shadow crossed the
window, and, looking out, he started
up and went through the garden door
as Lucy came in through the front