The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-04-21

ON i1u e0uiQfn NOT see MARY nm,
'tils6 hen, but { / ielb sure she would
know | would come to her, and would
go with no one else.
"But when the evening arrived, l
found when / called for her, that she
had already gone. Perhaps, sir, in
your rank of life, you know, too,
what it is to be jealous, and how
many man destroys his future hap
piness by it.
"My first words to Mary we're those
of reproach, while her smile at my
entrance died away and her face
grew white.
"'I did not know you were CON-
ing, John. How could Il?
"You might have waited then!"
| exclaimed.
"And staid at home, perhaps, to
have had you laugh at me, with the
rest. Besides, I am quite satisfied
with my escort, and believe l am
the only person to be consulted in
the matter"
Gas you will," said, turning on
my heel, muttering the word go
quetl" between my teeth, and un.
needing the little, pleading glance
she sent from time to time across the
room to where l stood.
She was not without pride, and if
she suffered from nv GOODNESS.
she only smiled the brighter on 9th.
ers, until grew mad with jealous
anger. That night began a series of
dissipations with which l employed
every leisure moment. | drank
more deeply than I had ever done in
my life-not as before, for so.called
goodwill aud good-fellow-ship, butto
drown memory.
4 did not go near Mary for a
month. To me it seemed year
Once, after nights carousal, |
passed her on the street; but not un-
Til long after did | learn of the bit
ter tears my haggard face and dissi.
pated air had cost her. FINALLY, my
better nature triumphed, and | went
to her, repentant, to ask her forgive
ness, and perhaps her love.
On long, lonely night ride /
made up my mind to do this, though
like q thousand mocking devils,
memories Of the moments l had
spent in the last few weeks crowded
around me, as though taunting me
in contrast to her purity; but with
Gods help | would make myself
worthy, | said aloud, and thought
the hours would never drag along
until | could find myself once more
in her presence. She came in to see
me, holding out her hand with
sweet smile of welcome, as though
we had parted only yesterday, and
yet-and yet there was q change
All, learned it, all too soonl In
those first few moments | told her
the story of my life for the past few
months, Of what | had been before l
knew her-of what it should be if
she would give me the assurance and
promise of her love. Then paused.
For moment silence fell between
US; then she spoke. A bright flush
was in her cheeks, her lips trembled,
her lashes yelled her eyes, but her
lips faltered not.
"John,' she said 4 am only girl.
it is true, but the man marry must
be man. Perhaps l might have
loved you'-here little tremble
crept into her tone-'but l have al
most ceased to respect you. Were
you my husband, l would fear for
you, and fear and love go hand-in-
hand
"stopl' l said. Do you want to
drive me back to the life had hoped
to left behind me? Oh, Mary, do not
be so cruel. Be my wife, and let me
prove the stuff that is in me-.
"'No, John, she answered, softly;
but the blue eyes she now raised to
mine were swimming in tears. IF
you have seen the wrong, surely you
will not return to it. Rather, if you
indeed love me, prove yourself man.
1t does not take battlefielk to make
a hero
"Prove yourself a man. These
were the words that haunted ME in
the weeks that followed, saving me
from the ruin l would else have
drifted into, but torturing me with
their hopelessness. What hope had
1 in my daily routine of duty chang
ing Mary's mindP Yet, spite Of her
words, somethingin her eye had told
me that she loved me, and that some
thing gave me strength to live, and
to withstand the daily temptations
of my life.
$50 six months passed, when one
morning I mounted my engine to
take the express train to c.. We
were going along at the rate of thir.
ty miles an hour, when suddenly,
right ahead Of us, it seemed, tiny
speck of red futtered on the track.
"1 strained my eyes-1 blew my
whistle. What could it bel Mercifnl
heavenl Another instant it was
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