The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-10-09
MADELINE.

All the girls who were leaving
school carried with them anticipa-
tons of gay winter, a round Of par
ties, balls and. operas. Not so with
Madeline Delaney. The dying will
Of her father made her aunt's house
her home, for the years between
eighteen and twenty.one; and if Mad
cline had been unwilling to comply,
she would still have gone, SO great
was her respect for her fathers mem.
DRY,
Mrs. Chathard was an invalid, and
her family consisted only Of her son
"a man over thirty, and said to be
ecceRtric-and the only family SER
wants Decidedly, not a very bill
liant prospect for Madeline. :
TWAS a sullen autumn day when
Madeline rode for the first time. up
the avenue leading to her aunts
house. She saw a gray64ky flying
clouds, and a white beach, on which
the sea beat heavily in, and standing
in the midst of cluster Of pines,
was low, massive building, that
might have been a prison, and posi-
bly, was q house. No one came to the
door to welcome her. Mrs. Chathard
was in the library, and begged that
Madeline would come TO her there
She found her lying on the sofa, busy
with some sort of Knitting sollow,
delicate, fletful woman.
NO" she said, shrinking back, as
Madeline showeda disposition to kiss
her; mo one but Frederic has kiss
ed inc for years. Don'tcommence,-
! am a creature of habit; Idon't like
to be disturbed in ahy.of my regu-
lar habits. | only came down today
on your account, and it hasquito un.
neryed. me. l shall not try it again.
l must have perfect repose. Fred
eric comes to see me morning and
evening; that is rs much as 1 can
bear.l'
With that, Madeline was waved
of to her room, where Indignation
supplanted a strong desire totty, and
curiosity gradually got the better of
both. twas really, she decided, on
looking about her, pleasant room,
sYith crimson Curtains and furniture,
Bad n deep window looking out on
the sea. There was n. bureau, with
a great many little drawers, aud she
+1,leasetbhorself with Arranging them
mentally Thefewes 4 vase afille@.
ersthat spoke Of a conservatory; She
had seen that the library was well
filled; a pretty piano occupied Il re-
cess in her room.
81 shall pass myself very tolera.
bly," thought Madeline, resignedly.
81 wonder what my cousin is like?'
Perhaps this last thought had some
influence in her toilet, else why
shodld she have braided her hair and
put on Der most becoming dress? 1t
is hardly to be supposed that her
charms would have much effect on
the quiet parlormaid who alone was
in attendance.
Madeline ate her supper with curl
ing lip and stormy brow.
"lle is u barbarian! / know | shall
hate him!" was her inward comment.
ale must have known that l would
be here. He might have been civil,
However, shall do very well with
out him!"
And getting book from the libra
ry shelves, she sat herself down res
olutely to read. But, try as she
would, her thoughts wandered back
to the pleasant room where she used
sit with her girl friends, reading and.
talking-so different from this great
silent, handsome house. am afraid
the contrast was not too favorable,
for her pillow was wet with tears
that night.
a week passed away. During that
time Madeline saw Mrs. Chathard
onco-that was all. The rest of the
time she passed in solitude, till Sat.
urday evening, when the prim old
housckeeper entered the parlor where
Madeline was sitting, work.basket
in hand,
"Mr. Frederic isl home," she said,
"and Mrs. Chathard thinks it proper
that should sit in the room," with
which explanation she walked over
to the extreme end of the apartment,
and vanished behind the curtains of