The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-14
is looking up coquettishly al man with
sapphire eyes, VITO is smiling tenderly at

is looking up coquettishly al man will
sapphire eyes, VITO is smiling tenderly a
her.
1t is enough. Harriet clutches st::he,
companions arm, and bags to be taken
home. She has no remembrance Of how
she gets there, but once within her owl
room, her strength returns, and her blood
boils Indignantly. usta-3 (
She has known General Aston ell her
life, but for few years he has been
travelling extensively, and he had been
in Italy three years when abe met him in
Rome. She thinks she knows now why
he SO often refers to Italy as the country
of his adoption.
Probably when he tires of his italian
wife he intends to 60 home and marry
me, " she muttered TO herseE.
Their engagement had been an indsf-
mite one. When they were weary ssof
travel they were to marry and settle
down. Harriet was no weak, silly
woman. With her to think was to act
and after dashing away the tears, she
writes in a firm hand to Gerald that
he is free to seek happiness where he
likes-that she considers herself released
from her engagement, and never desires
to see him again.
In few hours her trunks were pack.
ed and she announces at dinner her inten-
tion of setting out for America immedi-
stely. The opportunities of her travel
ing companions are of no effect, and even
the Count, who Is aghast at the result OF
his diplomacy, finds that his words fall
on careless ears A pleasant voyage
brings her home again, prematurely old
and worn, but with sealed lips. She tells
no one of her secret sorrow.
This accidental meeting on the street
corner was the first time she had seen
Gerald Aston since she beheld him rid
ing in the coupe with the woman. She
had thought the old love dead and buried,
but the ghost of it seemed rising in her
heart now.
Halle was standing at the window.
She did not see her aunt's meeting with
Aston, but she saw him directly pass in
q pre- occupied manner, without even
glancing at the pretty picture 10 the win
dow. She shook her little fist at his re.
treating figure and muttered "How I
hate him"
Now, Halle didn't quite tell the truth,
for she had been at one time almost in
love with hiLi, but his utter indifference
to her charming self angered her. and she
secretly styled him to her friends as a
'cross, Grabbed old bachelor"
'I'll play him trick worth two of
that" she thought, as she watched him
out of sight.
Gerald Aston felt little lonely and
depressed as he sat smoking in his bach
elor den. and thinking of Harriet Hun.
ter's strange conduct, as he styled 1t.
His reverie was interrupted by the
chambermaid handing him note which
had been left for him. 1t looked like
Harriet's handwriting. but not so nice as
it used, he thought. He opened it and
read:
Mr.. ALsToN:-Don't think 1t strange,
but please call on me as soon as conven.
lent. l have an important question TO
ask you. Yours truly,
HARRIET HUNTER.
"What can she want of me after all
these years?" he unused. ayes, will go
and tell her what wreck she has made
of my life"
An hour after, Harriet Hunter felt'a
strange thrill of establishment when
servant presented u card, with Gerald
Alston's name on it, and told her the
gentleman waited.
She did not hesitate, but passed inn
medlately into the parlor.
When Harriet stood before him, Ais
ton forgot the note within his pocket,
and cried:
why have you treated me so cruelty.
and left me in darkness all these weary
years?"
With scornful look she replied:
"Where is your dark-eyed wife and your
rose-covered Italian cottage2"
"My wife! my cottagel" gasped Gerald.
"Impossiblei" he cried, "you could not
have thought that Alice was my wife"
Il do not know whether her name was
Alice; but Coun. Malio told me about it,
and | saw you with her looking into her
eyes as men look at those they love-"
AYE, so l did love her. responds
Aston; "but listen. You know, if you
have not forgotten, that / had cousin
Alice, who ran away from home and
married poor Italian. Her father
never forgave her and her name was not
mentioned in the family. In Rome,
after diigent search, l found
her and her husband. He was
sick of malarial fever and sson died
Alice was failing fast with that dreadful
disease, consumption. knew she would
not live long, and so did ali in my power
to make her last days happy. hired the
cottage and placed her in it. For long
time she refused to see any ons, but con-
sented for me TO bring you at last, but
when | went for you you had gone.
waited until she passed peacefully away,
and came home.
Gerald" said Harriet contritely, ~
was young, foolish and proud, or l would
have sought you and asked an explsna.
ton of Count Malio's story. Will you
forgive me?"
"Do you know, dear. l should not have
been here but for your note"
"My note! sent you no MOTEL
"Whatl Not this2" holding up the mis-
siye he had taken from his pocket.
She glanced over'it rapidly, and imme-
diately guessed the author.
"This is a piece of Halle Hunters mis-
chief" she said. 49,.
IN ever mind" responded Gerald; ut
has wrought good work"
Shortly after Halle was surprised by
receiving the wedding cards OF Gerald
Aston and Harriet Hunter.
When the wedding was over, she con-
fessed that she had initiated her aunfs
handwriting and sent the note.
81 han't the slightest ides," she said,
.that you two had ever met. | thought
i, would be a good joke for Mr.; Aston
70 call on Aunt Harriet and show her
the note. I thought l would tease her,
and discomfit that proud Gerald Aston.
$50 it did, Hsllie,' responded Gerald,
sand will find you good husband tor
YOUR pains.