The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-11-25

der sister was the noblest girl in the
world. While DIR. MOrtimOre-at least
so l aiterward heard-contracte his
brows, and thought that people who
could afford TO send their daughters TO
pass a winter at the Grand Hotel might
ut least pay his very moderate bill.
The month Of March was wearing II
sell away, and April sunshine was pencil
ing the sky with golden threads, inter
woven with crystal lines OF rain, when
one day | aslonished Dr. MortimOre by
walking into his office. He looked up
from his books in some surprise.
Miss HaIleigh suppose you were
in New York"
II have returned with Miss BydeXter,
Next week we go to Washington"
DIR. MortimOre made no spoken answer,
but there was peculiar, inscrutable cx-
preston IN his eyes. Was he thinking OF
mamma and Jeanette on the tread.mill
Of patient povcrtya at homer Was he fan
ewing il modern edition Of Cinderella and
| the proud sistersg Involuntary / spoke
with rising color and tremulOus voice;
"YOu are entirely mistaken, DIR. MOrti-
morci but 1t is not my province to explain"
~ said nothing"
"But you looked great deal"
"PlcAse TO interpret my looks hO said,
with an amused lace.
My cheeks burned, and bit my lips TO
repress undignitied anger. laid down a
pile OF crisp, rustling bank notes on the
desk beside him.
"BG so kind as TO receipt your bill, Sir.
He obeyed in silence, and ! walked
away, as he alterward told me, with the
air Of m Cightccn.yearold scmiramis.'
And
[Thc rest of the MS. is in bold, masCu.
line handwriting, as different from Octa.
via IIadleighs delicate up aud down
strokes us Il is possible to imagine.
And, OCtavia to the contrary nOtwith.
standing, | shall take the liberty of finish
ing this confession after my own fashion
| called that evening on Miss BydcSter
The lair C0rnclia was jubilant
~ never had pleasanter season" she
declared. III hayn't been eHRUyeG once
OCtavia Is such charming company"
"She is with you at present.
"Oh, yes, She's my maid, you know"
"Octavia Hadleigh l-yOdr maidy
must have looked my establishment,
for saw its reflex in Miss BydGxter's face.
"Why, to be sure. Didn't you know
itY And Miss Bydexter who was no
adherent to the theory that "silence is
golden" poured out the whole story,
"Of course | wouldn't tell every one"
she said, rather guilty, rs II remember.
ing some hitherto forgotten charge Of Sc
crCCy But knew you would apprCCi'
ate it-and she is 80 sweet, and they are
50 poor r
"Is she at home ?" asked.
mo; sho has gone around TO her
fathers. But expect her back every
minute"
II will go and meet her" said /. And
l went accordingly, thinking, with a
strange thrill at my heart, OF thatpom.
pous, egotistic old father who sacrificed
them all so rcgardlcSsly on tho shrine oil
his selfish ease; and the pale, patient
mother, and OCtavla herself, the iairest
and most dutiful Of daughters. And |
had believed her all this time to be but.
vi lOlEGttluB uAtlllJ Nu0
piteOus eXigenCies her home.
When first heard Of her going 10 New
York with COrnelia Bydoxter fully de-
termined to put her away from my heart.
Now l knew how impossible II would
have been. / knew that | had loved her
all the while l was forgetting" so sys.
temaiiCallY. met her in the rosy dusk,
as stately as princess, rs beautiful as n
flower.
"Octavia," l said, u have misludged
you. VIII you give me an opportunity to
explain"
dCcrtainly, Dr. Mortlmore"
"But there is question | should like
you to answer first
"What is iii"
"Will you be my wife, OCtaviaH :" The
question, asked in n lowered voice Of in.
tense suspense, was answered frankly,
after u moments hesitation,
III willw
Isupposed Explained" satisfactorily
aiterward, for OctaviA understands all
about II; but really don't remember how
or when 1t was done. But she Is content,
and that is enough.
Miss Bydexter had to look out for an.
other "C0mpanion," and to this day old
Mr.. nadleigh firmly believes that OCtavia
was ono of the bellies of New York society
in the season OF 1866.
And 80 she ought to have becn,-hdr-
per'S Bazdr,