The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-01
EheQntelligenter.
AFTER MANY DAYS.

had no otner Worus, anu '"e uiu "o'
need any.
a glance that showed her pretty eyes had
been CRYING. "I'm-l'm here, Shirley
Do you guess what these three words
meant? That Edna Verdery, before the
first star looked out Of the opal sky ur
aboye us, would be my wife.
It was the old story, YOU sea pen
bless lover, a true.hearted little woman
,linging to her faith, and a parental
lurse impending over both our heads.
! drew her hand tight through my arm
Ind we walked away very quietly, for
i be was tired, and the little hand trem-
5led against my side. She only told me
hat she was not afraid, that she loved
be, and she would be glad to rest when
\ was all over, and we two safe and far
Way together. And so we went on and
Fere married.
Then took home my wife. It was a
1oor home, but she was not afraid TO
Iweeten il with herself, and she had said
be was glad to come. She never spoke
4 her father and mother and never
.emed to miss them, or regret what she
ia lost in them. ! never should have
nown that was q grief to her but for
ne day. She met me when came home
Knight, with her face all sparkling and
Ia voice unsteady with excitement, and
ssen before she kissed me cried out:
1--WE seen my motherw
FYour mother? Has she been here%
,.ked.
Eyes! Only think how glad was-hos
,.lrprised! She came and she kissed me
ndiorgaye me-" putting her arms arounc
~ neck and beginning to cry in hel
badness, "and forgavc you, too; and she
Lid she couldn't live and lose her only
1sughter. Oh Shirly, 1t was the only the
.nly thing more that | wanted on earth
I'm so happy, darling%
"And your father"
aHe couldn't be as kind as she. was,
+ lid my little wife, with her cheek on
Line. "Fathers never are; but she
.Aought-she was sure, she said-that he'd
'urgiye it all, and that she loved me just
AZ much all the time, and it would all be
ri hit at last, Shirley are you happy, too!
Look glad! Tell me you're glad dear; you
d6n't know how l wanted it,
j was glad for her, sake, God knows
Iof my own, / would never have cared to
ldok on their faces again.
But all that was changed now. Mrs,
Vaner's carriage ratified, day after day
doEn the little dull streets and stood al
Ms. Lecompte's door, and Edna LIE
ample was pardoned and petted and ca
as il Edna Yerdery had never dis.
obeyed. And then we were asked to dine
~ home," She and !; and the old man
eteeted US both kindly, and kissed his
dsnghter with two tears in his cold
6Yes, and seemed to bury gu r old
unity as lie shook my hand; and after
Lao night it was all sunshine between
But I never ceased to feel an odd chill
Ii my heart, like u prophecy Of some
hing bitter coming between us. Per
haps it was because instead Of growing
riuher since married y wife l only grew
r0orcr, and the world outside our little
room got dark and threatening overhead,
and seemed only a cold place for my
cid TO inherit.
He came 10 test its tender mercies just
oh the early winter, and, rs he came,
|na was very nigh going out forever.
SO was delicate little thing and need
e. 30 much petting and nursing and ten
der care that my heart ached, as many q
rror mans has done before me, when !
look ed in the white little face that hal
ban 40 rosy when / first took her from
hor home. And instead Of growing
nironger she only dropped more, like 9
e. rer in the first frost; and the child was
rs bale as she,
There was a season Of business losses
and heavy failures; firm after firm gave
way and men went home idle, and m!
t.Ifn came with the rest. And knel
d6s1n BY my wife's bed, looked into hel
ewes, and told her and asked her to for
2i7e me for the wrong l had done in Low
Don't feel so badly, Shirley" sh'
rhispered, moving her head on m!
ihoulder. ~ know 1 am a burden Il
4on, darling; but II can't wish it un
dode; We arc SO happy still-we've go
81 other and baby and such long lif'
III for all these little troubles to pas
1Nhy in And it can't last long; you'll
.Fsomething better than what you lost
tiihaps it will be the very best thin
70. us, after all, that You should los
Ihb place and be forced to make
n1ange."
Perhaps! It's all a chance" l sale
h|Ilerly, dand must sit with my hand
10. and you-Edna, they were right !
a a selfish brute to draw you down Il
be clasped her hands around my necl
snd kissed me and stopped my mouth
ga We were silent for awhile and tn
sodn grew dark in the twilight.
shirlcy," she said softly, at last
did you lot my father help your
What do you meanP
Mamma asked me o month ago II yol
Odd leave New Orleans and take apo
pn in my Uncle's house in New York
} ||Ayer told you, because-she wanted m
70 oomc home then, Shirley, and lot yol
20 olonc, and l couldn't
Go homep gathered her closer-th
b.by in her arms, too. "Child, has
one to thatfs
No,",she whispered softly. ut neve
IN. I'll go with you there, or anywhcr
ia on earth, Shirley
Us II too late to take tho offer now2'
ted, starting up. "Why do you ask |
|llet him help me, Edna? Better tina
m taking his aims, God knows, an
20 done that 30 long. What Is thi
ice? Child, I'd almost beg at the stree
1rners for you, II that was ALL"
Evil you go and see papap she criet
biting up all over her wasted little fac
don't know about it. only that man
ID there might.be an opening for yor
"a II would Be much better than you
d place, aud papa would use his inar
Zee for You. Win you so, ShirleyP
HYes, willp l said, stopping down !
ss her.
Something was dragging me back al
withholding me fast to the bed
{, within touch Of her little, hot han
r1d hearing Of my baby's sleepy, soi