The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-09-13

The next dav ! visited the city, where
I had studied law. Old scenes and famil-
lar faces brought back wildly the mem
cries of other DAYS l called on Julia, as
an old friend, and found her but little
changed. She was somewhat "stouter
but otherwise the same Julia as of old.
| watched her closely as l spoke OF old
times, and especially of my chum,
James Wilson If she still cared any
thing for him, it was evident she was
an adept at concealng her feelings.
found it much more entertaining to
talk to Julia Of old times, than to pore
oyer dry law books, and time fitted
BY on such swift wings that night came
and found me still at the residence OF
Julia father.
The next day, as | returned to nv
chum's residence, thousand thoughts
passed through my mind that will never
be made public.
While riding along thinking OF many
different things almost at the same time,
! | wondered 20 myself il james and ms
wife really cared for each other; whether
| or no James was not tired Of Dolly, ana
Dolly tired of James; whether or no
James did not like Julia better than
Dolly, and Dolly did not like somebody
else better than james; whether IN tact,
they did not wish to part from each other
and were going to entangle me IN some
kind of a net for that purpose.
The idea ola rural country couple
trying to entangle rising young law
/ 1 nat
that | burst into loud guttah OF
laughter, which would have astonlshed
nv city friends, and which so frightened
Jack, the amman | was riding, that he
came near running away in spite OF my
efforts to hold him.
Arriving at Shady Retreat, Dolly
| came out TO meet me.
~ was very much afraid, said She
"that Jack would throw you. He has
such fashion OF shying to one side when
he sees anything he don't like.
ale came near throwing me once, but
| held on 20 the name, and so kept rom
falling. co., =,
| heard Dolly laughing Il little all to
he SELF. Us she went into the house; then
she said few words to her husband, and
! they laughed in concert. y disagreed
BILE suspicion came into my mind that
they Were laughing ut me, and that the
yacre feeling that somehow they were
having some kind of snare for me,
cine back with all its original force
The next morning james announced
his Intention of going to the city.
I'D ask you to go with me. Mr. Lee,
but as you've Just returned from there
| dol't suppose you'd want to 90 back
so soon. Besides want You 10 stay
with Dolly. You can chop little wood
and do other chores-you might II 1t
would not be too unlawycr like, rock
the cradle for her while
| promised obedience bat to confess
the truth. did not exactly like the arrange
lnc0t.
Jane, hilched Jack up to his ancient
look:ag buggy, and was soon on his way
TO the city.
The day passed pleasantly enough en-
cept there lingering in my mind vague
foreboding of evil to come. just before
night.au James drove up to the house
with Julia sitting by his side. !
thought Dolly must be u little fool to run
out and meet her and exhibit the usual
feminine signs OF welcome. And Julia
| instead of being sedate,as woman should
who had recently lost her husband, was
as gay AS any school Girl.
TryIng 20 be friendly, | stepped for
ward and held out my hand saying:
How are you, Mrs. Wbitc?'
II there was anything in the words
calculated to provoke mir;h, it was not
anpp.ent to me, and yet Dolly laughed
/ til i, seemed she wodld 20 into spaSm>.
james stood aud laughed til old Jack be-
came di-gu,ted aud walked oil with the
buggy. towards the stable. Julia wns the
only one of the three who acted as
though she bad not lost her senses, smiled
| and said:
Call me Julia, Mr.. Lee, if you please.
I am so well ACQUAINTED with James and
Dolly, and you are such good friend
of theirs, it seems lie we are almost in
timute friends, too
Early next morning | heard Dolly
calling: "Mr. Lee comet
In an instant l seemed TO be by her
side.
Again she called with a look of agony
on her face.
aJame., 0. James Come!"
"Bring them back Oh, bring them
back" turning TO me pleadingly. Away
down the road was James with Julia by
his side passing out Of sight.
"Hcs gone" said Dolly, gone for
evcr|
In vain l tried to halloo alter them.
The sound seemed to die away in my
{ throat
( Pretty soon Dolly began to laugh.
Pm glad hes gone she said. "Hc's n
poor sticl, anyhow. May JOY go
with him. can now set my cap for
whoever | please"
"What is the matter, Mr. Lce?' said
voice.
| awoko bcwildcrcd.
"You have been making strange
noises in here. Been having the night
mare rs of old, hoy?'
"Whcre's Julia l asked, still hardly
convinced that had been dreaming.
"Sne's up; DO you wish to see her.
You're hardly ready to receive company
| should say. But seriously, Mr.. Lee, it
is time for you to get up; breakfast is
waiting
II was but d 'eam after all But it
had an influence over my thoughts and
feelings for many days.
The recollection OF the days that fol-
lowed seems more like the memory of II
dream than docs the dream itself. James
was almost constantly by Julus side
Ho showed her the sights Mt the fair
grounds, and seemed to be quite oblvious
OF the fact that he gave people room
to talk.
And Dolly-must | say itshc seemed
to grow onder of me every day. 1t
was to me u moral certainty that either
she was very Jealous Of Julia or else she
cared nothing at all for james.
Finally | resolved that such disgraceful
protesting on the part of james must
be stopped.
From thcnceforth it was | and not he