The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-10-27
AHEaRTTo HOLD.

boarded with her rich maiden aunt,
whose heiresss she was TO be.
Only twelve and but two single
men in the party Clarence Hester,
the only sonof n wealthy New York
merchant, and George Harding, a
returned Australian, with a bank
account that had no end, and a lovely
country seat on the Hudson, over
which, before he had been one week
in Theodora's company had asked
her to preside.
She accepted him.
In her heart she really loved the
shy, silentman, who was thorough.
ly worthy Of her affection.
But no sooner was she sure Of him
than the demon of mischief prompt.
ed her to spend the leisure hours o.
bright, blue summer days in endeav-
oring 70, punish the other lover, who
had sought her too negligently al
at first, only to whisper to her Of hii
misery and despair when at the last
by his own carlessness, he had LOST
her.
She tried her power.
The beautiful gray saddle.horst
that George Harding had given wal
exchanged, in her daily rides, 70,
the chestnut colt which Clarenc,
Hester had been training for a month
or more for her lady's use.
The gray was too gentle, she aver
red; and when George spoke uneasily
Of the temper" which all beautiful
"chestnuts" inherit, and which
might on the mountain roads endan
ger her life, she smiled, and said thai
harm would never come near Will,
Clarence kept as her guardian escor
at her side.
Ifthey walked, Clarence walked
also, if they gathered flowers, thu
boquet that he presented was treasur
ed with the one given by George. l
they boated, Clarence held an oar
and if they sang in the great parlo
at twilight, the clear tenor of Clar
ence's voice blended with deep con
tralto of Theodore, till George Hard
ing was forced to leave them les
they should observe his jealous pain
sothe happy days-happy, appar
emily, to all except George Harding
went on.
Theo was but child, he told him
self-a simple, innocent child, VIII,
was all UNFIT to cope with, or to un
derstand, the natureof q trifing prof
ligate Xix Clarence Hester .
One day she would see him as h,
really was, and scorn him.
And, contenting himself with tina
thought, George Harding bore hi
grief in silenc and never uttered on,
word of reproach to his pretty it'll
butterfly betrotbed.
The day sooner than ever
he had expected it. 1t was in tn,
greenest, bluest flush of the beautiful
5 summer. The sky stretched over
head, an immense plain of sapphire
unfecked by single cloud. Ever,
one was out-climbing the mountain
or making domestic pic-nics amonl
the green dells, by the side of dub
bling, cascading brooks.
George Harding had hoped for
solitary excursion with Theo tina
day. They were to ride, and to joil
Theo's aunt and the Others in tim
for cold luncheon, near favorit
waterfall some four miles from tn
Bent farm house.
At the last moment Theo descende,
from her room, looking lovely, in
dark gray linen riding-habit, with
scarlet tie combining her collar, an,
a scarlet-tipped plume flaming i,
her dark-gray hat.
A handsome, blonde gentleman
in a dark-gray suit and hat, tina
matched her own, lounged round tn
corner Of the farmhouse. A keen
eyed, sharpyisaged Yankee ''hire
man" followed, leading the chestnu
and the gray. Behind him came
boy of 15-his very image-leadin
George Harding's brown hack.
These two helpers looked critical
on, while Miss Mayson stepped il
gloved hand that Clarence Heste
offered, and sprang to her saddle lik
n bird.