The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-08

had got 80 far looked up, ana tnete
stood Harry, pale and sad. Thank
you for your kind intentions, Miss Es-
tell, but have seen all. Please do a.
Miriam asked Captain David-keep sis
lent" and as I nodded he went over to
Miriam, who had discovered that we
had seen this by-plsy, and who stood
looking pale and half frightened. He
spoke a few words, and the frightened
look left her face, replaced by defiant
one. WAS glad that did not have to
be present at the quarrel, which l was
sure took place between the newly
welded psr that night; glad, too, OF
the raging pain in my head, which kept
me confined to my room until they had
left.
Iwas bitterly disappointed in Miri>
am. Nv old.maidish scruples had been
checked often by her very open attempts
to win Harry; but I could always find
an excuse for this, she was so lonely
and unloved. 1t was my sense OF right
now that was touched. To gain money
in such a way and then give it to one
who, Rumor said, was an old lover
"She doesen't deny it at ALL Mrs.
Hale said when she came up to tell me
good.bve. 'Impudent thing; don't
YOU think she laughed, and said che
thought it was on easy way to make
| money"
A week after Miriam's marriage /
left the neighborhood, and was absent
two wears. The morning after my re-
turn Mrs. Anthem gave me an outline
OF what all nv old friends had gotten
OF "life's events" during my absence:
But you have not told me of Miriam"
said, az she drew a long breath, de-
c}aring, "That's all l believe"
~ have not told you OF her simply
because know nothing about her. l
have not seen her since about four
months after her wedding. We all
went to see her several times, che never
returned our visits and ceased asking
VA 10 call again; so we took the very
broad hint and kept away. The hired
men saw she is an excellent housekeep-
or, and that she and Harry act like
strangers 10 each other. There are
rumors concerning her, but / never pay
any attention TO them. TOR always
liked Miriam.
A few dave later | took notion to
% AM, see Miriam. Passing through
the bare orchard, was soon knocking
NJ ,he'door. Miriam was surprised and
reioiced to see me, and "a | looked at
tho white, wearv.looking face | was
Glad that | had gwen her this pleasure.
The short afternoon aoon passed, ana
before knew it Miriam had dispatched
bow to tell Mrs.. Anton that / was
going to stay all night. Harry was as
p!essei to zee me as Miriam had been.
I found him even more genisl and mer
~ with me than in the days Of old, but
formal and polite TO bis wife. He had
spralued his wrist q few days before
and was suffering 20 mucl. with 1t that
he begged me 10 excuse him coon after
supper. -, ,
am excuse you awhile, Miriam,
sad | 81 kGow that Harry needs you ;
and if you stand on ceremony with me
| III never stay all night with you
sgain."
He does not need me, so spare your
threats" and Miriam bent over and
kissed me, and somehow ] thought
there were tears in her evc7.
Blu" | persisted, al he does not
need YOU, he will want you to pet him,
know. Men always dc"
Pet him! Me pet him, Miss Es-
teller hsve not so much as touched
his hand in a year. The last time |
did, be shiverej. No, indeed; Agnes,
his Youngest sister, gives him all the
ca-essing he gets-she p'ties him 80.
I could see the tears in the gray eyes
| now.
"Mirism tel me what is the trouble
with you and Harry; maybe can
help YOU" | pleaded.
Il don't think you can DO thst, hut |
want 10 talk 10 somebody ahont it, and
! know YOU will keep AL ! tell Won
secret. 1t il no, worth while to tell
YOU about the hard lie ! lived with
Aunt Eunice. l only worked like a
slave, having no pleasures like other
girls. until | was seventeen, and ther
Archer Denver came into my
lie and brought a CLEAN Of blight
ness 10 it. I was the recipient Of a
. good deal OF attention from HIM, and
was beginning to halfway love him,
when Annis, Aunt Eunice's only child,
came home from school, and her pretty
race aud better qualities than ever
hope to possesa, won my only friend
from me. 1t did not break my heart,
hut ielt lonely for awhile, and Aunt
Eun;ce made it worse by laughing at
me. One night, when Archer and An
mia were away, Aunt Bunice and l
came uesrer a downright quarrel than
we had ever done before, for ! always
let her sav what she pleased and kept
silent. At last she said, II drew fifteen
hundred dollars ont Of the bank this
evening 20 give Annis to help her and
Archer start IN the world II Won amt
too envioua, wish Won would reach me
| that crimson pnr3e ont OF my "oth'""A'
! IN mt it in a safer place.
! got the purae, and when was just
in front o. the fireplace nv foot caught
in the ruy, ard as threw mp nv arms
10 keep rom falling, the purse fell into
the fire, and before | could rescue 1t
purse and contents were nothing INT
ashes. Aunt Eunice was frantic. She
had been all her lie saving this money.
She vowed that ] do ii purposalv-
that she would tel every one that Il
was Jealous o. Annis," and took this
way to spjte her.
7 felt that all nv acquaintance
would adont her view Of the case. l
would rather have died than thst An
mis- and Archie should know it. When
Amt Frni,e grew calmer, | pleaded