The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-10

ROMANCE OF A HIDDEN HEART.

Mr., Steele had never mArrleu) ne en-
n1I bis riches without companlonship
SsJno, a relative 10 the world. Ahard
,ss,h grasping man, beloved by none
~ T2,pec,ed only because Of his grea
H,sIIh. Spite OF his power to do good
The World was none the better Tor RiGhart
SIssrs eItItancs.
'S \, ono in Milford remembered Mr.
s,ssle AZ other than tho niSer hO was to
J.v, for fifteen years he had been clti-
an Of the town, and no change, either
a. halter OF worse, had come over him
ia moral point Of view.
III, gardens of Ireton Hall were the
6os.t t5r scores Of mtlesi the yellow
nsS,,apd luscious neetariueS msllowed on
I, walls, the uUgAthered grapes purpled
an the trelIises, and no achOolboy'd daring
hand. di.lurbed the ripe treasures. Mr.
sieSIos great dog, Pluto, was selfish a.
III master, and Ills cruel teeth we're al
va,s ready to inlict summary punish
ment on all depredAtors.
One quiet afternoon, as Mr.. Steele sal
On the pisEII gazing out on the broad
acre, Of 'Ireton, his eye fell on two little
children who were coming down tho road
hand in hand. They arrived in front Of
the gardens, and cast wiliul look ut The
d.ma,ls roses which hung over the quaint
IL carved gate. For a moment they con.
yer,ed together in subdued voices, and
then they turned in at the iron.guArded
gateway, and went slowly up to the ave
angry scowl contracted the brow OIL
NJ, Steele 1t this unwonted intrusion, and
h, hall arose from his seat as II TO drive
away the unwelcome guests. They were
the inst children who had ever dared to
re.pl, on the estate Of Ireton Hall,
Taey came iearlessly up to tho piazza
sill holding each others hands. The
eldest was boy Of perhaps twelve years
A noble, brave little fellow with brown
eye,, and dark, gloHy hair. The other
vs., girl; she could not have been more
,hsn nine summers old, aud beauty like
hers Is seldom seen save in some old, rare
picture.
The sight OF her face struck a strange
thrill to The heart OF Richard Steele, and
involuntarily he bent down 10 look al
her. She was az fair as a water lily, save
tho crimson which tinged her lips, ant
leaped At intervals TO her white cheeks.
IIer eyes we're deep blue, and her hair
like ripples Of molten gold touched BY
suubeams. Both the children wore
mourning garments, cheap aul coarse
Gu. neat as human hands could make
them.
The little girl spoko tifst,
please, sir, will you give my brother
aud me somO roses y
The tone was musical and sweet al harE
notes, but the rich mans countenance
grew hard and cold. lie pointed to the
highway.
SBe CfTr he exclaimed; ~ do not raise
lJSers for begsars."
How the dark eyes Of the boy flashed
and he was about to make some sharp an
.Wer, but the pressure Of the girlJ fingers
on hi4 arm checked him.
ave are not beggara." she said, calmly
"but our mother is dead, and we are
orphans. She loved the roses, aud We
love them, too. Please give "a one apiece
xviii seem 80 good TO smell flowers once
more"
The hard face did not relax - the
long, thin finger still pointed to the
gate; ba. the blue-eyed petitioner did not
move. She was regarding him with an
expression strangely tender and plying
and ii annoyed him lnore than anything
eIse to be pitied,
"Why do you look at me in that way p
he demanded, harshly.
because I am sorry for you" abe said
sEeelly. you are old, and sad, and all
alone. Where are your children?'
81 have none,n he answered, and won
dtr,d at the same time why lie did 30.
"None! Have you no little girl to sil
on YOU knee, and call youpapa? Pm sure
lpily you very muchP
"HumpW
"Bu! / do! Indeed l do II must be
dreadful not to love anybody. Did you
never have anybody to love yon?"
ASpssm Of pain shot uLhwart the rigid
face Of Richard Steele, and his tall frame
quivered, 1t might be with agony or anger
one could not decide from his words. He
pushed the child away.
"Not another wordI ! will not listen
Good heavens that lips like those should
ask me that question:
"Pardon mel didn't mean 10 hurt
your feelings. You loved somebody, and
Heaven took her away. Was it your
sister?'
All, yes memory few back to that
gentle, iair-haired child who had chung
With soft arms to his neck, and kissed
with warm lips his cheek. His little
sister Mayl How well he remembered
her. us she looked tho last time he Jaw
her face lying cold and calm, like marble
in the shadow Of a coffin, Yes, he remem
bered May, and his eyes grew moist with
something like tear but it was strange
ViSitant, and he dashed 1t away. Ye
that tear was not given 70 May; she iiat
been for years safe in heaven; it wa
givento another, whose blue eyes seemed
TO be looking at him out Of the orbs OF the
little girl before him. He bent down over
her, and scanned her features closely
Then ho asked, "My child, what is your
name?"
"yiolct Gray"
The man smothered a cry Of surprise
and hia face grew strangely pale even il
the ruddy light Of sunset. Il must hav.
been strange emotion, indeed, which
could thus stir the hard heartot Richart
Steele. Presently he said, Sand what wa'
your mothers name before she married7'
violet Dale"
"And she Is deadF
lie spoke the words in deep whisper
although fearing to utter them.
"She Is with the angels"
4 silence fell upon the group, broken
only by the suppressed sobs Of the girl ant
The heavy breathing Of the man.
When he again addressed her, his voice
had taken sottncsS which none in Nil
lord had ever heard Ia its mCasurcc
cadence.
"And this boy ia your brother p
Yea, my brother Richard.n
"Rishard! For who was lie named
Nj. Steele asked the question, breath.
!e'sIy, with an eSrneslness very strang'
and foreign to its stony nature.
For aschoolmate Of my mothers-'
And this Schoolmate'a surnamO-dC
You remem Der itT
%Iswas Richard Steele, sir"