The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-10


pared with me.
"I'm not ashamed OF it. She was
worthy object Not only bee use she
was beautiful, but she Was good and
admirable, aud such singer. Sh"
sang soprano in the church choir. Aut
I've heard strangers whisper to each
other, lis that really an angel up there?
When che sang her part alone, clear
and sweet and fute-like her voice was
I've never heard its equal"
"Well, 1 loved her, and. thought che
liked me but WASN'T sure. / court
ed ber q good while, but she was as shy
as any bird, aud l couldn't satisfy my
self as to her feelings: So / made up
nv mind to ask and know for certain.
Some old poet saye:
He either fears his fate too much,
Or his deserts are small
Who fears to put 1t TO the touch,
And win or lose II ALL
"I agreed with him and one evening
as walked home from q little party
where we had met, with her on my arm.
l stopped under great willo. tree, and
took her hand in mine. aud said:
"I love you better then my life-will
you marry me!
IL waited Tor an answer.
"She gave none.
Jessie" | said. won't you speak to
me?
"Then she did speak:
"Ne-oh, dear, no /
81 offered her my arm again. and
took her home without word. She
did not speak either. She had told me
before that che should start with thu
dawn to visit an aunt in New York
but did not even say good.by at th'
door. l bowed; that was oil. Their
when she was out of sight, and | stood
alone in the village street, | felt desper'
ate enough to kill myself.
What had l done to have 20 cold
refusal ? Why should she scorn mi
so2 Oh, dear, no | grew furious Al
l repeated the words.
"Yet, it stuug me all the same. !
tossed from side to side of my bed al
night, and thought | could endure it nc
longer. Bnt ! would not pain aud die.
grace my respectable relatives by COM
mitting suicide in the place whereir
they dwelt and were we'll known anC
thought Of I would 90 to New York
even then very large city and. seeking
some hotel, register an assumed name
and, retiring at night with q bottle o
laudsnum and q brace OF pistols, awake
no more, and go be rid of my misery. ]
arranged my affairs to the best Of my
ability, and received an imaginary let
ter from friend in New York. reques.
ting my presence on q matter OF busin.
ess. I burdened myself with no unne-
cessary luggage. What did an unknown
suicide want OF another coat and 9
change OF linen?
II kissed my mother and sister ant
startled my grandmother by an embrace
and started upon what I mentally call
ed my last journey, with a determined
spirit.
"There was q certain hotel to which
many OF the people Of our village wer,
in the habit Of going. This avoided
| Another, chosen at hazard. seemed
10 be better. Thither walked, deter
mined to leave no trace OF my destina.
ton to those who knew memo clew tc
my identity to those who shall fnd me
dead.
81 had DO mark upon my clothing
no card, paper or letter with me.
had torn my hstter's mark from my
beaver. As l ascended the hotel step.
felt, so to speak, like one going TO BIZ
own funeral.
"a grinning waiter bowed before me
A pert clerk lifted up his head and star
ted. was an ordinary traveller t
them-tLat was evident.
at was late in the evening. The plac'
wore an air Of repose. Laughter anC
q faint cbink Of glasses in sn inne
apartment, told OF some convivislity
One old man read his newspaper be'or
the fire. Nothing else was astir.
IL asked for q room. The cleri
nodded.
"'Do you care what floor 2 be asked
II shook my head.
Number tventy-uine 10 empty, hi
said, and tossed KEY 10 the waiter
whom l followed at once.
I'VE reached the room by two fight
OF stairs. At the door the waiter pass
ed.
Thought he said twenty. nine. b.
nuttered. The key is twenty-on
Then open twenty-one with 1t,
said. 4 don't care for the number o
the ROOM
"'No sir-to be sure, sir, said tb,
waiter and passed along a few step
further.
"Twenty-one, be said, and. unlock
ing door, pushed il open.
"'Shall bring you any thing. sir ?
he said.
II answered, No. and he Lett me
having put the candle on the bureau.
"The hour bad come As / shut th'
door, heavy sigh escaped me. Alas
that life bad become 90 woeful thipI
to me that ! should desire TO be nd o
il.
"In the dim light OF my one candle
I paced the floor, and thought bitterly
OF the girl / loved % dearly.
II. was 10 the days OF curtsined beds
The bed in this room was hung with
dark chiniz; 90 were the windows
Over the bureau was o looking glass
with . portrait Of . lady 10 puff.t
sleeves and high comb. at the top, By