The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-06-25


very afternoon nv mother took the task
upon herself. Breeze came to Mefeui ~.
/! House. and found me absent, gathering
moses. He sat down in the cool porch
and fell 10 chatting in his light, careless,
J easy way. with my mother How II
bappeped | do not know, but mother
managed to speak of my approaching
marriage.
1t was almost dark when | reached
the avenue, that led up to Meredith
House. A little figure stood leaning
against the stone gateway, as saunter-
ed by, my hands full of moses. "Good
evening" said, gaily. "Will you walk
up with me?'
He did not answer, save to step for
ward, draw my arm within his, and turn
me away from the house down toward
the lake.
1--WE will 60 this way" he said; and l
felt the fire Of his eyes burning my
cheeks to flame. We walked so in
dreadful silence, for moment then he
spoke:
as this thing true that your
mother tells me-" he asked
"What thing almost whispered.
you know he answered, tiercely.
as it true that YOU are 10 be the wife
of white faced aristocrat, next October
That you are here to make your prepar-
ationsr
"Yes" The word came reluctantly.
and almost with gasp, He took me
hand, in his and looked down upon me.
You shall not-you shall mott he
Kissed Il love You, you are mine, now
and forever.
Before could speak or cry out, he had
taken me in his arms, and was raining
kisses upon my lips. was young, ro-
mantle, and impulsive. This man had
aroused strange feeling in my breast.
] that now, Us | lay in his arms, | believed
/ must be- love. | could srr the reckless
| beauty of his face Us ii bent above me,
and almost uucousciously l c'asped my
arms about hi, neck, ,obbiug wildly, and
whispering, "Oh, If | had known you
/ sOoner-if it were not too hate.
at i not too late, he cried, passionate
/ ". straining me to his heart. "(ou are
mine, now and for all time. You must
be my wife,
"But | cannot sObbed, IL am bound
to another the wcddingday draws near.
" care nothing for that. You must
wed me. and no other. cannot give
you up
His imperious manner, his imprisoned
earnestncss, aroused my girlish admira-
! ton. He seemed like some knight of
! olden romance to me, besides whom Rol-
| lin Weathcrbee, with his patrician beau
tv, was completely overshadowed. We
walked long in the cleaning, he plead
! ing, ! hesitating almost yielding, but
leaving him at length with no definite
| decision. For three weeks | met Rogers
clundestinely, each day, and listened to
his words of passionate devotion, and let
him imprint warm kisses upon my lips.
Day after day he urged me to fly with
him, but though believed ! loved him,
/ better than ] had ever loved Rollin
/ Weatherbce. hcsitated 10 make him
any promise, and a strange fear OF him
held me back from flight. Yet each day
my resolution grew weaker, each day the
man ; hold me, and power over me, became
L
/ late September. ! was TO meet Breeze
/ that evening, and stood looking out nj
/ the gorgeous sunset, with II heart full of
/ Contending emotions, when mamma came
into the room. Rose she said, ''yOu re-
membered Breeze Rogers, who came here
! so often some time ago.
Remember him! but only said YES,
mother, in II very low voice.
"Wcll, HARDWOOD tells me 81 painful
| thing in connection with him. She says
her husband tells her it is the neighbour
! hood talk now. 1t seems there Is very
lovely young girl, a gardner's daughter,
| Cora Smith by name, whom Breeze has
been very attentive to for some months.
/ The girls father says she is berhrothcd TO
| him. At all events, he has been II most
ardent lover, for Il year or more, and now,
without a word, or any apparent cause,
he has deserted her. Has not been near
her, for two months, and the girl is very
ill-caling for him constantly, but he
does not 90 near her. Il! is thought she
will die. She is a poor trail, childish
thin r, and never knew what it was to sut-
fer before. 1t is very sad. What q
heartleSs villain he must be-
Nv heart seemed to die within me. \
rush of emotions, shame, anger, grief, mis-.
placed love, and wounded pride fought
together in my breast. Oh! how mean
the man was, whom had placed above
Rollin Weatherbee in my hearts atirc-
ton. How desplsed him, for that mo-
ment. Then | began to think it might
not be so-there might be some mistake.
Il will go to him tonight, | thought,
"and shall know"
! did 60 when the shadows of the
cleaning settled down over the earth. |
found him waiting for me. He held out
his arms, but | stood aloof.
go to Cora Smith" | saic "She is
entitled to your caresses-she wants them
i do not
| needed no farther proof Of his guilt.
His face turned crimson from brow to
chin, and then pale as death. "What do
you know of hero he cried hoarsely.
"Who has been telling you lies?"
"No one, | answered. "Iour face is
Il proof of the truth of all have heard.
! l will make this our last meeting. My
! eyes are opened IN time thank God. |
do not want to set them upon you again.
Do not try to see me, for 1t will be use
less. | utterly despise you. Go back TO
the only person who believes you worthy
of love-who is diving for you.
turned and sped back to the house.
and for two weeks scarcely stepped out.
side its walls. | was i'll in mind and
body. Ny unreasoning, romantic folly,
that ! had called love. died suddenly at
one blow, and knew there was only one
man in the world | loved, or ever had
loved and that one man was Rollin
Weatherbee. But my heart was filled
with regrets for my past folly, and fears
for what might follow. But two weeks
passed by, and heard no word, and saw
nothing of Breeze Rogers, until that chill
October night, when my story opens
| turned my face away, lest the light Of
those dark eyes should bring back the old
dclirium. For at that one glance, felt
the blood leap through nv veins, and