The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-05-15
As Fate Ordained,

beautiful as the flowers in her hand;
a woman, Of whose inward loveliness
these we're no extrayagant type"
So | thought, as | came upon her
in the summer house, fashioniHg
bouquets.
But her beauty was naught to me;I l
had sought'her only to say;
81 am going to be married, Gysic." I"
Rosies aud lilies fresh, !. fragrant,
and, under he deft fingers, blending
with wonderous grace. She did not
start; she did not eviSee surprise;she
quietly fastened a flower, and said;
q congratulate you, Hugh%
was pNzzled. Gysie was not
won't to be so short. i stood silent,
scarce knowing whether to be dis
pleased at the brevity of her answer,
or pleased with its earnestsone, But
she supplemented itquickly, placing
her little white hand on mine,
Hugh" she said, "this is a spr.
prise for me, but l am very, very
glad lam glad, because l believe
that you have based your choice on
love. You see my flowers? What
better can l wish than that yourmu-
tual affection may be as warm-hued
and these roses, as pure as these Ill
les, and-and-"
The white hand slipped away; she
paused, apparently intent on replac-
ing a rebellious bud. =
"And us true as your own blue
eyes, Gysie," murmurcd,' with II
tenderness, born of my young love.
"If you like the smiles, yes she
replied, smilingly; and still smiling
ly she listened whilst rapturously l
poured forth the story of my betroth-
al; revealing to her, as l would have
done to no one else, the depths Of my
enrapturcd soul.
For, to me, like sister was Gysie,
from childhood had regarded her as
such; and though an odd impulse
had prompted me to keep my hap
piness for u few days after my return
home 4 secret from her, when | re-
vealed it, could hold nothing back.
~ am SO glad, Hugh; 50 very, very
glad" she repeated softly, when l
paused. The bouquets lay finished
iu her'basket, and ere I could an
swer she had gone.
A bit provoked at her unexpected
departure; bit foolish l felt too,-
She was bured, worse, she had hurried
away to laugh over my extr0vagant
lovers soul. 1t had a lofty fight, l
knew; but-this was unlike Gysie.
Still, she had never seen me thus.
She had chosen the least offensive
role. l reflected as | went home;
went to shower passionate kisses, on
the face that smiled up from my
dressing-table; to feed upon the let
ter waiting there.
How my fond eyes drank in the
loving words; how my fond heart
thrilled as l read:
ut is so lonely since you went
dear Hugh. Before our separation l
did not realize how much | loved you
Oh, pray it may not be long"
Mine was an ordinary lovers tale.
l had gone from college to distant
city; there to begin my law practice;
there, as fate ordered, to meet fair
haired girl who, from theoutset, held
the captive, and to whom | bowed
down with an alteration us boundless
as unrestrained.
A month engaged; then unxepect-
ed events had called me home. There
was pain at separation; there was
pain in absences till; yet, this day,
mid its pain a sweetness, since, 9th
erwise, l might not have read the
words:
Before our separation did not
realize how much l loved you. Oh,
1 pray it may not be long"
at shall not be long," Imurmured.
"My darling, it shall not be long,"-
And l pushed from that momont,with
a frenzied determination, the busi-
ness that summoned me home,
But fate dallicd, Days passed, and
weeks; the roses were fading in Gy-
sizes garden, and still perforce, lstray-
ed. At first l found comfort in let
ters; it was solace to rain kisses on
my darling's miniature, But time
nnnnn whnn thnsn did not suffice.