The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-02-16

sale.
She turned haughtily toward tho
stranger, but something pliis clear,
blue eyes bent upon hat witnessed
the words 5aId Iis1sst Hi6aning.
= beg yodf pardon sir,a she am
|sWtred, unable to disguise wholly the
pride these lattersdays had developed
50 forcibly- u have not the pleasure
Of your acquaintance.
ut is for me to beg pardon. I for
got Imight not be. known to you
personally, though ! am the auction
eerappointed by the estate. Your
father. once did me a great kindness,
and, though ! would not seem intru,
|sivs, would like very much u pre-:
serve any article yon may desife.nn
"With many thanks, sir, desire
to receive no favors," she replied cold.
ly and passed on, TO take one feeting
look ere she fled to the place she
must now learn to call home, to be
haunted all day by the sound of the
auctioneer's hammer and the voice Of
strangers, desecrating the hall.
But when, in the dusk of the even.
ing, cart stopped before the door,
and one by one articles hallowed by
association-her fathers chair, her
own desk, her mothers favorite pic
tures-were brought in, her feelings
so long repressed gave away to a
bust Of tears.
Who had done this thing? For
one moment the honest blue eyes
that had met her own that day rose
before her. But no! such delicacy be-
longed not to their owners rank in
life. Nor was it q strangers work.
Some one must have known her well
to have selected the few things it
had been such bitter warfare to part
with.
They were, indeed, like old friends
sent to comfort her. as, in the weary
days that followed, her eyes would
rest upon them in her bitter struggle
for the daily necessities of life fol
herself-the luxuries which to hel
mother had become necessities.
Business had thrown her more
than once with Earl Kenneth, the
owner of the blue eyes. There. hae
;been matters connected with the SALE
which compel led lef 10 meet him
until he grew 70 her almost as !;
friend, and ut times she would forge
the social gulf Which separated them
she, the once wealthy bankers daugh
ter; he, a man who had risen from
tie humblest ranks, but whose sou
was that of nobleman.
The friends she had once known
she no longer knew. They rode: she
walked, and must stand on the curl
to let their carriages drift by.
Earl's CHEEKY voice and pleasant
smile her mother, too, grew to vel
come, with the few choice flowers OF
the early fruit he ever laid SO quietly
in Mrs. Arthur's hand, growing daily
paler and thinner.
But one evening as he sat by
Irene!s side alone, very calmly, very
truly, yet with acertaln humbleness
he told her that he loved her, anc
asked her to become his wife.
~ cannot bear to see you strug
gle," he said. "0nce, as you vel
know, | could not have asked you tt
become my wife, and though l have
not forgotten, dear, that l am mar
who has only honor and ambition,
yet can take you from this life q
toll, can shield you with my breast
can toll for you and yours if you vii
give me the precious assurance
seek"
Was the man mad? The pride sh'
had forgotten in these quiet month,
now surged upward as she turned to
ward him with pale and sparkling
eyes.
| "Sir, you insult mel"
"No man insults woman with hi
honest love, Miss Arthur" he an
swered, the pride in hers bearing it
reflex on his face. 81 loved you
nay, l love you'll My love you spurn
| can never offer it again, Miss Irene
but remember-should you ever neet
it, it is always yours, ready to do fo
you, to suffer for you, 10 die for you'll
y u Il 4
"Why does not Earl GOMEZ" ques
tioned tho invalid T wunt IN CO.