The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-26

| jealousy of nv own sex. L enVleu
them afterwards. My reign, like com
cts, was bright and brief, and in the ball
room l hirted with the gayest.
My country sovereignty was, however.
soon to end, IN manner equally abrupt
and unexpected. My godmothor, a rich,
eccentric and childlcss widow, who had
apparently been totally oblivious OF my
existence from the time, seventeen years
before, she had presented me with Sill
yer pap. bowl, now graciously receoilect'
ed my existence, and, perhaps partially
from the idea l might plove an attrac-
ton to her formal parties, she invited me
for three months; and she put IN her lei
ter: "Be Bellies chaperone this season,
and give her a chance of meeting more
eligible young men than it would be pos
sble in the country" The idea was de-
lightful to me; and though l saw my
parents were against it, pleaded 60 hard
that they at last Yielded, and the next
few weeks were spent IN preparation.
Ny father told Alfred of my intended
departure, and q few days alter ne sent
me an incoherent epIstIe, the purport
being to absolutely forbid my quitting
Mosscrolt, alternately scolding, entreat-
ing, commanding, and finally threaten
ing, and then, in postscript, lmploring
me, by all l held sacred, not to plunge
into the vortex of Tendon folly. To this
| wrote back IS gently as could, saying
nv plans were fixed, but ii he liked to
come and see me in London he might.
Two NIGHTS after nv arrival in Lon
don was taken TO grand bail, ceie-
bratlng the majority of some merchant
princes son; and as soon as my god
mother had introduced me to some dozen
young men she conveyed her tur6aned
head to tho cardroom, and emerged no
more.
was gazing admiringly at some cur
ious flowers / had never seen before, when
a voice behind me made me start.
ais it impossible2 Belle-l suppose l
should say Miss Newton! How is 1t L
find the country rose blooming in Lon
don hot-house, the fsirest flower ever
transplanted from sylvan shadesF /
recognized the speaker with nush OF
delight, Ralph Burns gloriously hand
some stalwart man, with soft golden
mustache, and the same honest blue eyes.
L answered him impulsively:
"Call me Belle still, Ralph and then
we chstted on with all our old childish
freedom. There was so much to say;
and how interesting it was TO hear OF
all the prizes he had won for boating
and swimming, and then he expressed
his opinion that little less mental e1-
| 4 a l.,
fred good. Before We went home, IN
troduced Ralph to my god-mother, who,
considering him eligible, invited him to
the house, and / need hardly say he be-
came a constant visitor.
Wherever l went l was sure to meet
Ralph; and although, rs yet, his lips had
not spoken word OF love, his eyes were
eloquent; so far, we were only triends
and playfelows. Lie seemed so
bright to me that my eyes were dszzled,
and could not discern the cloud, 10
bigger than mans hand, which was TO
grow into tempest and wreck my life.
At last Ralph and myself comics sed
cur mutual love; and my fathers con.
sent being asked he accorded it willingly
and our wedding was to take place as
soon after my eighteenth birthday as
pos ible. But man proposes, God dis
poses 1t was few days before my re-
turn home; my god mother WAS out, and
| was musing dreamily on the happy fu-
ture in store for me, when the door opened
hurriedly, and Alfred rushed into my
presence-his ghastly face wss unshaven,
his long hair streamed wildly over his
shoulders, while his eyes shifted restlessly
as if IN search OF something he could not
find. He caught my wrists in his trans
parent white hands, and spoke so quick
~ and fiercely l could not at first under
stand his meaning; at last began dimy
to comprehend. Hearing of my engage
ment he had flown to London to put a
stop to it. as Ralph was unworthy OF me
that he had loved me ali my life, and
must marry him instead. never could
remember with what words / satisfied
the poor boy; but at last no grew calm,
and, much to my relief, departed before
my godmother's return.
| tried hard to keep down the feeling,
but it would return-could Alfred be
msd2 All, had not the idea been too
terrible l might have breathed my sus-
picions aloud, and been happy woman
now, but turned resolutoly from the
idea.
The time intervening before my mar
riage was very happy. Ralph was al
ways with me, and prayed and wished
for nothing more; to hold his hand IN
nine, to feel his kisses on my check, and
hear his vows of love, was heaven.
AT last my wedding.dsy dawned,
bright and clear; we had not said any
thing to Alfred, considering it better not.
| verify believe it WAS the brightest
autumn morning that had ever been,
and that there ever will be, to me.
For the last time, ran all over the
dear old home, bidding farewell 20 every
familiar spot; and, as the clock struck
eight, stood on the lawn before the
house. There Ralph joined me, and
gave me his wedding-gift-a flexible
gold chain and this diamond locket I
always wear. He fastened it round my
ueck with bis own dear hands, and then,
after a last long kiss, hurried away to
dress.
BY eleven 1 was ready, and the soft
satin and rich lace shrouted me Ike
statue; but, despite my smiling face, my
heart was weighed down by a sense of
impending evil.
| advanced up the church on my
fathers arm until | reached the altar
where my bridegroom stood looking on,
SO good, true, end handsome, with the
lovaliyht IN his ewes
The service commenced; but just as
the clergyman was placing my hand in
Rslph's, there came flash, sharp re.
port, and my darling fell heavily for
ward, the HE olood yelling from his
side and dying my dress crimson. He
tried to speak but the words refused 20
come. The doctor, who was present,
made brief Inspection then he shock
his head, and they raised me from where
| had thrown myself by his side, and led
me away from my dead love- then all
became a blank. For weeks lay in
blessed Inconsistencies, snd then a; last