The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-02-02
The Whik'hy The side ,Oi u

The walk 6y the SIDE d Tie hSdAO q
| the indiyidual under DISCUSSION
Can hs have heard2 For once my.
self.possession entirely deserts me,
and sit with crimsoned cheeks and
down dropped, frightened eyes,
ashamed of myself; and deseryedly
so; for have l not spoken slightly Of
a guest, and my cousins dearest
friend?
"How cool and comfortable you
look" said a pleasant voice. II have
obeyed your injunction, Mrs. Trevor,
and rested for full hour, and | can
assure you 1 feel greatly refreshed
after my long journey"
Involuntarily ! draw sigh of re-
lief. He has not heard-ifhe had he
never could look and speak SO uncon-
cernedly. He takes seat near me,
and when, at last, / venture to raise
my eyes, they meet calm, friendly,
answering gaze. Not is quite ev-
ident that lie has not heard.
Before proceeding ] will describe
this college friend and beau ideal Of
all perfection of my cousin john
His name is DR.. Robert St. Clair, and
his age l should judge to be some
where about thirty. He is not tall,
and is very delicate looking; and
what detracts still further from his
appearance, he is very lame.
Now, somewhere in remote ages
very remote, should say, as I have
heard it quoted ever since l knew
enough to be proudof new cash
some one remarked that "beauty is
but. skin dssp. However that may
be, itisjust'as true thai I was born
with'an eye for comeliness and an
aversion to a deformity of blemish Of
any kind.
A week goes by; seven suns have
risen and set since DR.. st. Clair first
came to "Scraghead"-by which un-
romantic name the romantic island
upon which our summer home is To-
lated is called. The last of these
seven days finds my first impression
of my visitor modified.
When he is silent think him
plain, and my eyes wander to his
ctutch; but when he speaks and his
faee brightens till it fairly glows, then
cease to wonder at the charm he
exercises over my cousin. Two more
weeks hasten by.
II must go at the expiration Of an
other," DR.. st. Clair says, decidedly.
"Now, John, no urging, my kind
friend; I cannot neglect my duties
any longer"
That night l push back my curls
and study my reflection in nay glass.
l have reason for so doing. That
very afternoon, as sat reading in
my favorite retreat, tucked away
from the heat and the flies in an
odorous bower Of natures own max.
ing, with dropping rose sprays falling
all about and hiding me, only dis
tant a stones throw from where my
cousin and his friend had ensconced
themselves and were finishing pre-
vious conversation, before could
rise and make myself known l over.
heard something which effectually
kept me where was.
81 know your admiration for no.
Bile character" John was saying; "but
you must not think little Midget is
as frivolous as she appears. You
haven't seen her best side. She is
fitful and capricious before you be-
cause | think your indifferent man
ner rather piques her. The child is
very young, and has been spoiled by
too much admiration; she is accus-
toned to see every man she meets do
homage to her pretty face.
The answer came musingly and
absently:
eyes, your cousin might be pretty
nay, beautiful-in some eyes, but
to me there is something wanting in
her face, perfect in outline and color
though it is-the Undine needs
Esoul."
My glass shows me two dark, mis-
chievous eyes, set in a round, fair
face; small, curved mouth and a
straight nose.
~"Undine needs a soulw-what