The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-07
THE TWO ROBERTS.


rode cover dale and over down" in the
sweet stiffness Of the July night. Hardly
abreath OF air was stirring in the branches
of the trees. Now and then an invisible
night bird piped solitary note to keep
him company, and soft waves of light
streamed over the hills as the queenly
moon, well attended by her guards, rode
indolently down the broad highway oil
heaven. The blue dome, looking soft as
velvet, was, like the tabled path of love,
strewn thickly with the golden kisses OF
the stars.
As he gained the last hill, whose sum-
nit gazed ION the little watering place
which was for few weeks to be his des'
tination, he Involuntary drew rein and
sat silent a moment, enjoying the moon
light scene. On his left an old-fashioned
brick house reared its twisted chimneys
aloft. So close was he to it that its sharp
gables seemed to cut the air over his head,
and only a strip of green lawn, hordered
BY horse-chestnut trees, separated him
from the windows, cleaning in the moon.
light.
"seeptra and crown I'd ding them down,
III might"
Robert Edbury hushei his song when he
perceived, for the first time, his very close
proximity to the house and the windows.
1.-THE substantial home OF some substan.
tial farmer" he said to himself. Il had
better moyeon, or his daughters may think
am serenading them"
Too late! Just then window was open
ed softly overhead, and lady's face ap-
peared at it. In the rush OF bright moon
light Robert caught sight Of the long ripple
OF sold-gleaming hair, and was sure that
the face was lovely. At any rate, the voice
was.
"Robert, dear, is it you?"
For half minute Robert Edbury was
mute with surprise, and made no answer.
at is you, Robert. Why don't you
He spake, then, low and with hesitation.
Glow did you know it was II.
"Ot course knew it was you" There
was dash OF petulance in the sweet voice
now. "Who else but you would be riding
and singing in that absurd way at thus
hour af the night, and hating before the
house? Have YOU cold, Robert? Your
voice sounds different from what 1t usually
does"
"Perhaps it is the night air." answered
Robert, wickedly, and gettinghis wits par;
tally together. "0r may have cracked
I'D with singing" But still he spoke In
the most subdued tones. II did not ex'
pect the pleasure Of speaking with you.
'gThe very idea OF you coming up on
horseback at this night heurl You know
YOU ought not to be out. Why did you
do it? Where are you gong? Into Spa
field?"
80 be sure"
''But what for?"
'9To see friend"
"Who is it?r came the quick response.
"Not-notNelly Cameron?"-with ashade
OF jealousy in the tone now. Are the
Camerons receiving this EVENING"
"Not that l know OF" returned ho3ert
Edbury, promptly. II have not spoken
with a single young lady to-day, except
f.nnPanlf
"Poor Robert" aud little laugh rip
pied lightly on the air. "But do go. You
know what your health is, and that you
have no business to be riding at this time
OF night You ought to take better care
OF Yourself. You'w be laid up to-mor-
row; your voice already sounds strange
and altered. Goodnight"
cone moment" cried Robert Edbury,
earnestly, as he leaped from his horse,
fastened the bride to the gate and stepped
inside beneath the window, where CLEANED
that mysterious, enchanting face. Wont
Won give me flower-you can easily reach
That clustering vine by your easement.
Perhaps-perhaps sha wish to ask you
some time to forgive me some great OIL
fence. Won't you give me flower Tor a
token" =,
"How strangely you talk. OF course |
would give you flower; but these are
only honeysuckles, and you know We
promised to give each other nothing but
roses. But your-the pretty voice caught
itself. 81 have bunch Of violes on my
table. Would you like them"
Notwithstanding that comes from
vour handsm whispered Robert, more sin
cerely than he always spoke.
The bright face disappeared q moment
from the window and then retnrned-a
white hand cleaned in the moonlight.
"There, take them; and now you must
20! Quick! / hear some one stirring.
Suppose it should be mamma! Good
night, dear Robert"
The window was softly closed, and in an
instant alter Robert was cropping for TIT.
the yiolets in the wet grass. He found
them where they fell. But, as they were
falling, the quick eyes Of Robert Edbury
md disSerned something, bright as star,
falling TOO. The small strip OF grass where
he had stood was entirely in the shade,
hidden from the light by the large horse
chestnut trees, and he had to groPe in the
dark for this giittering thing. An instants
search revealed II to be what he suspected
"A lady's bracelet. 1t was slender cir
clet OF gold, studded with crystal. The
ouick movement had unolasped 1t from
her arm; and Robert, with a smile, put \
side by side with the withered bunch Of
yioietsiin his pockets IS he rode away,
"sOeprs aud arOSa "a aIag them down.
sang Mr.. Edbury rs he rode swiftly on In