The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-04-16

l tsA'i Hsia = fsAAtNN " INV lNue ~ lIt|It
have been The waiting eoald T iia
seen him, go2 ] was but tkiTtn,siS
Ibfeads Of gray We're creeping IN my
hair; weeping: -and wakeful nights
had stolen the briiliancy from ;lHS
eyes, the flush from my cheeks ,sof.
row had laid its mark upon me:-un-
til, one bright, blessed morning; my
youth came again.
A letter from Roy lay atmy break
fast-plate. 1t lay untouched,until |
could feast on it alone; and what a
feast was every word, since it told
me, at last, success had crowned his
efforts He was coming home- would,
inSfacti be with me within a fort
night from the date of its receipt.
| had never told my child, my lit
tie sister, who seemed more child
than sister, of my relationship with
Roy. Something keptlne silent now.
A strange, new difference crept upon
me as the days went by. / grew to
studyingmy face In the gIass-ah hab-
itnew to me-to wonder if l were
not sadly changed, but no word es-
capped my lips. Iwouldtell Ethelall
after he came home. There must be
no longer waiting. He had written
to me, ave must be marriedat once"
| was sitting alone in my little par
lor, the gas unlighted, on the even
ing of the tenth day after receiving
his letter, when there camea sudden
peal of the bell, which thrilled me
into motionless expectancy. Then /
heard a deep, manly voice, inquiring
my name-a quick, firm tread my
heart had not learned to forget. The
door opened-Roy had come homel
ts.,eA faint sspeam betrsyedame. In
Iinother moment I was clasped in his
arms, the'sixteen long years buried
in the past. We took no note of
time; hours flew on wings. As yet |
had scarcely seen his face. The ser.
want had lighted the gas but dimly,
and we had sat rhheeding, living
over our lost youth. Then came a
sudden disturbance in the hall, peal
of silvery laughter, cry of "Sister
Beatrice, where are you?"
In another moment, Ethel burst in
upon US. | had but time to whisper,
She knows nothing; do not let her
suspect" ere she had turned on the
gas full upon us, and stood flushed
with happiness and laughter, where
its brightest beam fell upon her
Never had l seen my darling so beau.
iiful, as, discovering the stranger for
the first time, she stood half-timid,
half.amazed.
This is an old friend, Ethel, of
mine and your fathers. Yon will
bid him welcome will you not?"
ut is mott cannot be-Baby
Ethel?" Roy answered. "Now Be-
atrice, l can estimate the lapse Of
years"
"How young and pretty you look
to night, sister Beatrice!" Ethel said,
an hour later, as l entered her room,
with Roy's goodnight kiss still warm
upon my lips, "and how handsome
your neW:old friend isl"
Yes, she spoke truly-how truly,
only the pain which crept into my
heart, in the days following, taught
me.
The years which had wrought in
me such change, had but told for the
better with Roy. AT forty, he was a
man calculated to win any woman's
heart; and I-even, knowing moth
ing, called me, laughingly, an old
maid.
Since that first night, Roy had not
been the same. He urged our i'm.
mediate marriage with greater fer
vor, but What was the but? Did
not his words imply an almost fever
iSh eagerness, at variance with his
natural calm?
lie had been home two months,
when, one morning, ran softly down
stairs to speak moment with Ethel,
whom thought alone.
Halfway, stood transfxed. The
door of the library was open, and |
could see within the room. She