The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-02

'Dut tuouSh' ~" ~
Stacia."
$50 do, as very dear brother" she
answered. IL love you very much, Roy,
but not in the way you meant just now"
Roy's face was full of keen disappoint-
ment. He had hoped to WOO and win
this girl But it could not be.
~ am sorry, very sorry for you, Roy, y
she said, tenderly, touched by the sight of
his disappointment. "Lst me be your
sister Stacia, and forget that you ever
thought of me as anything else. You
shall be brother Roy from this time forth.
Is that agreed on, Roy?"
"Yes, since you will have it So" he an
swered.
He understood that it would be useless
for him to urge his suit. Stacia always
meant what she said.
"Let me seal the compact with a kiss,
them she said, and kissed him.
Looking up, after the caress, she saw
John Ashley's face at his window. He
had seen her kiss Roy, and his heart was
full of keenest pain at the sight. DE
thought it was such kiss rs woman
gives TO the man she loves, and sighed 10
think his lite must be barren OF such
kisses.
That night he was in the parlor alone,
thinking of her, when she came in.
81 have been hunting for YOU" she
said, IL am lonesome; want some one
to talk to"
She drew little stool up to his feet,
and then sat down, leaning her head upon
his knee.
Lonesome, are your he said, stroking
her yellow hair gently. "Whereis Royf
He ought to keep you from getting lone
some"
IL don't want to talk to Roy" she an
swered, Il want you, John. You don't
act as you used to before Roy came.
don't have yol all to myself tor quiet
talk as | used to"
"You don't miss my company do your
he said, threading his fingers through her
tresses in en- absent way. He was think
ing how much he should miss her when
Roy took her away.
"You know l miss you" she answered.
81 like to talk to you better than any one
else"
Better than to Roy?' he asked.
"Yes, better than to Roy" she replied.
81 suppose it is all settled between you
and Roy" he said, by and by, breaking
the silence that had fallen about them.
His voice had sharp touch of pain in
1t. 1t hurt HIM 20 talk about losing her
"Yes, 1t is all settled" she answered.
HAS he told your
mo; bit saw you kiss him In the
garden this afternoon, and | have known
how it would be from the first. l hope
you will be happy, very happy, Stacia
1t will be hard for me to give you up;
shall miss you more than you can think,
but | am not selfish enough to try to keep
YOU. when love calls you elsewhere"
al don't understand YOU" she said,
looking up ut him in puzzled way: 81
kissed Roy in the garden, but it doesn't
follow from that that you've got to give
me up, or that calls me away from you.
1t doesn't. John. Pm going to stay with
YOU always, and be your Stacla."
"Don't you love Roy2" he asked, lift
ing her face up that he might look into
her eyes.
Yes | love Roy, and we're going to
be the best of friends. He is brother Roy
to me, and | am sister Stacm to him."
"And nothing moreW There was
strange eagerness IN his voice.
"Nothing MORE" she answered, softly.
"Stacia | wonder" he began, and
stopped SUDDENLY.
mo matter" he answered, getting up
and going to the window, where he stood
looking out into the night, with ashadow
on his face.
but want TO know" she sand, follow
ing him, and laying her hand upon his
arm. "rell me, John"
"Would you force me to tell you that |
love you?" he cried, passionately. THAT
| have been tool enough to dream that |
could make you happy? Go away,
Stacia and let me think Of my folly, and
try to conquer it,
ais 1t folly to love sme" she asked,
softly, lifting shy eyes to his. "Oh, John,
could be happier with you than any one
else in the world!'
"Do you mean that you could care for
the old man as the old man cares for you,
Stacia? Have you thought of the years
between us2"
al only know love you" she said, ard
put her hands in his. "lf you want me,
John, why take mel
"But"-with the old haunting thought
throwing its shadow in his FACET AIN
So much older and more sober than you.
Don't take me out of pity, Stacia. 1t is
love | want. You will be in woman
hoods prime when l am II white-hared
old man"
"Then | will be an old mans darling"
she said, softly; and John Ashley bent
and kissed her, with n great joy in his
.,,,, Che ,y.s his oil his.