The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-07
SATURDAY MORNING DECEMBER 1915

an unusually gay season at spaaeld, and
entertainments abounded accordingly. In
the morning drinking the water, or max
ing believe TO drink it; in the afternoon
saunterins in the gardens or on the pa
rade: in the evening at the rooms, or at
private parties. Two or three times did
Mr. Edbury and Miss 'Chassdane meet,
and lineer together, and converse with
each other. Robert Edbury's time was his
own, and be staid on. He could have
staid forever. The two or three weeks
soiourn he had intended had more than
doubled itself. For he had learned 70 love
her passionately; and all the world might
see Il for aught he cared. She, too, might
see Il If she chose; but whether she did
OF not he could not tell, judging from the
grave and sweet dignity with which she
met and bore back his eager attentions.
Atlength there came an evening when
he was determined to put his fate to the
test: 20 go on in this uncertainty was
worse than torment. They had not been
much disturbed by Robert Stonor; a par
oxysm OF his complaint had confined that
gentleman to his own home.
And so Robert Edbury went up TO the
old gabled house, before which his horse
had halted that first night, and sought an
interview with Miss Chassdane. She was
quite alone. The long French window by
which she sat was flung wide open, and
the low red sunlight, streaming in over
her, lighted up her fair, gold hair and the
roses in her dress.
allow beautiful she ISL he thought, as
he took her hand in his. "What il !
should not win her after all? But / will
make hard fight for it.
Jesse looked up inquiringly into his face.
"You are very silent" she said; and then,
catching the earnest look in his eyes, she
blushed violently and drew away her
hand.
~ love you" he passionately broke
forth in low tremulous tone, breaking his
emotional silence. ~ have come to you
this evening to risk my fate by saying
this; to win or lose all. Jessie, you must
know how love you; how have loved
you all along, from that very first night
that spoke TO you, neither OF US knowing
the other. Will you not give me some
hope OF love in return? Do not send me
from you an utterly broken and discourag-
ed man."
Jessie was silent for o monochrome
long cruel moment to Robert Edbury,
then the small, sweet face was turned to
him with gentle dignity. He knew his
doom beforehand, eshe spoke the words.
"You must know how useless 1t was TO
speak to me OF this" she said. "You knew,
surely you must have known, that ] was
engaged to my cousin, Robert Stonorm
Engaged to him?"
"Yes; we are engaged"
Neither spoke for time. The scent OF
the flowers, blooming in the lonely
grounds on this side OF the house away
from the dusty and busy highway,
seemed to mock them with its sweetness;
the clustering shrubs and trees waved
gently in the summer evening breeze.
He could not speak at once; the sense
of his bitter loss was too great. The set
ting sun streamed in upon him, lighting !
up his distressed face. 1t seemed TO him
that the great old fashioned clock in the |
ball licked out the jeering words
"Lostl Lost!l LOST! !"
Engaged" he said at length, with
long-drawn breath. ~ did not know it. |
But engagements where no love is have
been broken many times before now"
"EIush!" cried Jessie. do not speak |
like that again. It would kill himl You |
do not know what you are saying"
"Kill himw
"If he heard it, meant. He says he
trusts me-"
"And you are sacrificing yourslf for. him
for fancy2 Hear the truth, Jessie.
You care not for Mr.. Stonor, except as a
cousin or brother. Examine your own
heart, and it will tell you that You do not
You care for me; you love me. Many a
half word, half look, has betrayed it to
me. Yes, my darling, it is Robert Ed.
bury you have learned to love, not Rob
ert Stonor. Your bushes, my love, are
betraying it now; you"
"What was that" shrieked Jessie.
Allow smothered sound, half groan, half
cry, had come in from the open window.
II was so full OF pain that man would not
care to hear 1t twice in a lifetime. Before
either could rush out, Robert Stonor stood
In the opening.
1t was figure never to be forgotten. His
either pain or anger; his pale lips trem-
bled; his left hand was pressed, with the
old familiar gesture, upon his heart.
"False, false that you are!" broke at
length from his bloodless lips, as he seized
Jesse with his right hand. "You told me
you did not care for Robert Edbury. You
told me"
A pause, stagger, and, with frightful
SILVER, no fell OH the carpet. Robert Ed
bury broke the fall partially, but was not
quick enough to quite save him from It
Jesse few from the room for assistance.
"Rohert Stonor herem cried the bewild-
cred Mrs. Chassdane. ~ thought he was
connned to his chamber at home"
He had been confined TO his chamber,
but, alas! he had crept out Of it that eve
ming, and come up to the house to see
Jessie. With the fond hope Of surprising
her in the usual evening room, he had
gono round the shruhbery, Intending TO
enter by the window, and had heard all.
On the floor there, as he lay, his head
raised on cushion by the hands OF
Robert Elhury, no died. The medical
men said he could not, in any case, have
lived many months, II weeks, but that the
agitation hal killed him.
Twas many long days after that, when
she had risen from the sick bed to which
this shock OF sudden death had brought
her, that Robert Edbury came to say fare
well to Miss Chassdane. -
Theinterview was brief, studiedly brief,
for, with the shadow OF that dead man
lying between them, speech was difficult
10 both. ...
Goodbye" she cried, reaching out to
him IN attenuated hand. II hope you
may find happiness and peace"
"But we shall meet again, cried Robert
eagerly. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES time in
the future may come to you"
"Hushw she cried, the tears rolling
piteourly down her cheeks. "You must
not speak ofthat. Roberts shadow would
always come between US, as he fell there