The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-07-30

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{ 10 you'd s6 West
sl'hesn slEo sli H wee lpne,
pnes % i!le pigs Sslef WOULD
'h6klet ny ilsls come home.
he sllla 7 Ha DECEIVED him. Per,
hFr 4 heq blt 1 did not mean to do
so Elal Iete often. Sometimes
lel lsi Sc hopeful; more often.
sefe! !sad with tho xeafiness of
Pop5 erred Occasional mention
'6as 2edesofa certain pilkes Ram
fy, gentleman whom her father
assnsss
Ramsey, she wrote, was very polite
to her, but she did not fancy him
She didn't want to drive with him;
she didn't care to see his beautiful.
home. But her father seemed 10
wish her to accept these attentions,
and then it would not last so long,
for the two years were nearly over.
September came, and with it a
wild, piteous letter from my darling.
She had heard nothing from Philip.
Perhaps he was dead, certainly he
loved her no longer or he would
come and claim her. Her father had
waited until the two years were up,
thento her it was will his she should
marry one who loved her, and not
waste her life signing over the un-
faithfulness Of one who cared moth
ing for her. She told me she had
written Mr.. Ramsey a note begging
him to cease prosecuting her with
his attentions, but that he came next
day as smiling and determined as
ever"
"Thcn she wrote again. She had
ceased to rebel against fate. The
marriage had been arranged for the
third week in December. All she
had Stipulated was that l should
come to her and spend the last week
before the wedding in her fathers
house"
81 went. Though MY poor girls
face lighted up with joy at seeing
me, she soon fell into listless, de.
spondent way, sadder to see than
any tears or reproaches. Once /
mentioned Philips name. She
Started, us though she had been
stung."
"Do not speak of him. she said,
wildly; che does not love memo
one does!" Then more calmly, "For-
give me, auntie dear, | am not
strong, | think" and she subsided
into her usual downcast state.
"The evening before the day set
for the wedding, a servant entered
the room where we were sitting, and
handed Elaine n casket. AS she
slowly opened it, even / gave cry
of surprise at the sight of the rare
jewels it was Dilkes Ramsey's wish
his bride should be adorned WITH
She pushed them YEARLY aside.
Strange that any one should mar
ry for such things" was all she said.
"The next morning as, with my
old eyes blinded with tears, Ihad fin.
ished fastening the white veil over
the still whittier brow, I attempted to
clasp the necklace of brilliants about
her neck. She pushed them aside
with flash of her old spirit, and
said, bitterly:
Don't, Auntie! For another half
hour at least, am my own prop
erty."
81 said no more, and we descended
to the parlors.
"As Judge Fosters eyes fell on his
daughter he said sternly:
"Where are the groom's jewels2'
"ordering them brought, he clasp
ed them himself about his daughters
neck and arms. She submitted, list
lessly. :
"We had entered the church. We
had taken our places before the altar
The last strains of the Wedding.
March had died upon our ears. The
brilliant assembly was hushed as
the minister began to speak.
"Dilkes, Ramsey's answer II will"
sounded clear and firm. Iraised my
eyes; who was it that | saw leaning
against pillar, his sombre eyes fill
ed with contemptuous scorn Of the
woman who was selling her soul be-
fore his very eyesF Elaine raised