The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-19

"At least l shall have that much Of
lou, my darling" he said, half aloud, as
he picked up her withered and bruised
bunch of vloIets, and put them tenderly
away In his note case.
/ In another moment he was again at
her side, and they walked quietly, almost
sadly, back TO Ostia. It was now almost
BIZ o'clock. The SON had sunk low down
to the utmost verge of the mist-veiled
horizon; long shadows were falling across
the fields, and at the pasture gates the
cattle we're crowded together, waiting to
be driven home. As Eleanor stood in
the courtyard of the inn, waiting for
Jack, who bad gone to see after their
horses, q neat-looking young woman,
with little child IN her arms, came up
and asked for aims. Eleanor looked 81
her. "Is your husband living2" she asked.
ayes" said the woman.
:,Why, does he let you beg in this way.
them"
1t was bad year, the beggar told her,
and her husband was out of work; he
worked at the quarries when he could,
but nothing had been done there for q
long time.
SIS he good to your Do you love him
in spite Of his doing nothing for you2"
| Hewas the best man, yes, and the hand
soonest, too, in the village, his wife an
swered, flushing as she spoke. Eleanor
hastily emptied her purse into the child's
hand. "There are people in the world
more to be pitied than you are" she said,
bitterly. "Whatl back already, Mr..
Desmondl We had better start at once,
then. 1t is growing late, and l am afraid
my aunt will be diapleased that l stayed
so long"
They rode slowly back toward Rome.
The sun was sitting in the golden glory
that 80 often TRANSPORTED the last hour of
a sirocco day. Birds were twiltering on
all the branches, or hurriedly flying
homeward across the level marshes, where
here and there pool OF water was turn.
ed to sheet of pale, liquid gold, until
the color deepened, and long lines of
crimson barred the western sky
II wonder why it is that there is such
pathetic suggestion in a network of
branches az ainst an evening SKYE" said
Eleanor. "Do you know never see the
hedge-rows against a red sunset without
feeling that somewhere, some time-ages
ago, in another lite perhaps-I have seen
the same thing and been very unhappy
at the same time. always feel rs
though there were something for me to
be wretched about; they hint of some by
gone grief which 1 cannot remember,
and make me vaguely sad at the loss of
some forgotten JOY"
"For Joy once lost is pain" quoted
Jack, absently. "Well, it is something,
after all, to have had the joy. This
morning when woke up / said to my
sell, The pleasantness of life is not over
for me yet. l have still claim on it for
one long, perfect day. And now-I
have had it; my day is we'll nigh pastl"
Eleanor made no answer.
AS tley rode on, the twilight deepened
about them; chill crept into the even
ing air; the color at the horizon faded to
ashes of rose; long, light wreath of mist
assembled from the marshes, and stole like
the ghost of the dead day about the soli-
tary fields. The scattered pools of water
cleaning dimly through the dusk reflect
ed the livid tone of the sky. The inetia-
BILE melancholy of an evening IN the ear
ly spring fell upon them. They did not
speak, but listened to the regular cadence
OF the horses feet. That part ofthe road
leads through thicket of birches; every
now and then branch of the overhang-
ing trees brushed against their faces, and
swarm OF small white moths started up
from under the leaves. Eleanor sudden
I " struck her horse sharply with her
whip, and started down the hill ut mad
gallon. The wind blew freshly In her
face, and there Was exhilaration in the
very movement; again and again she
urged on her horse, taking wild delight
in the sensation of dashing along in the
dark, not seeing where she went. 1t was
with some difficulty that she checked her
excited horse at the top of long ascent,
in order to wait for Desmond, who had
not dared to follow faster, for fear OF
frightening Olga beyond all control.
Eleanor laughed sailya as he rode up mo
ment after her.
IL enjoyed that 1t was grestr she
said. "Did startley ou2 Did you think
Olga had run away with met"
"If you had stumbled you would have
killed yourselfp' said Desmond. in voice
hoarse with suppressed emotion.
well, suppose l had" she retored;
"who would have cared2 My friends?
Rome would have talked for week of that
poor Miss Hardy, and how very shocking
i was, how very distressing for Mr.. Des-
mond-she was killed under his very
ewes, you wand how careful one
ought TO be about accidents on horse
backl So very untortunatel And
what u pity that those nice Tuesday
evening receptions of Mrs. Van Cort-
landts will have TO stop now for timel
Such loss to US ALL As for my aunt
we'll, I'm afraid my poor aunts chief de-
spsir would have been caused by the Cd
dity ADD improperly OF my decease, and
she would never be altogether comforted
that did not break my neck more dec
orously and with proper escort. lou re
not an eligible escort you KNOW she
added, with reckless laugh.
Don't talk in that way, please" said
Desmond; "you don't know how much
YOU main me by doing so. Surely, my
Door child, you must believe that there
are people who care for you in another
way than that" -.
1And Why should there bef" she broke
in mass onately. "Have ever cared for
any one myself?" You have been cruel to
me "a. day after fashion, "she added slow
lly ~ am sorry ever came here with
YOU don't think am overwhelmed to
be romantic, but you have reminded me
of wha: had almost forgotten that l
am Young and that it will be years and
wears before l shall out grow the need
of being loved. What good has it done
youl what have you gained by i'll This
morning l was ready to mary Mr.. Ross,
if not with any great joy, at least with.
out any great regret and now
now you have forever ruined my
contentment. never shall feel
H.