The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-01-19
JJtNTY Y, JANUARY 10, 1881.

been her home and the scene of her
sfailure and success in life. She had
libeen, engaged to him nominal1y, but
they both knew that even if he re.
covered they were lovers only in
name. Felicia's heart had beaten
I,its dHii uteasarei and ached togits
own longing, although her future
had been settled for her by others;
| then, when the time camej and she
was.ffeesand able to- mould it 10 her
hearts desire, she was, perhaps dis
appointed byftheresult.s; As'
All this has been told elsewhere,
butione oddphase Of the story hap
pened tive, nights ago, and / writeiit
,downsasiit was told me BY some peo-
pie wholgerea present.
It was from Mrs. Wii1oughby ]
heard it all. She is a middle.aged
woman who has known a good many
people, and seen something Of the
world (Which means seeing some
thing more than people sitting in
rows in it), and Felicia Baxter and
she were old friends. Mrs. Willough.
by had been at Felicia's wedding,
aud admired-as who would not ad-
mire-the lovely young bride and
the stately bridegroom, little think
ing Of the dismal result Of all this
white satin, organ-straining, promis-
ing, vowing, bride.cake, and congrat-
ulations. Everything seemed pro-
pitious. One Of Felicia's former low
ers was present in detected attitude,
the friends who approved and the
friends who disapproved were there,
all equally smart. The Colonel's lit
tie daughter, child of twelve, was
there with the aunt and the cousin
who had brought her up, and with
whom she was to remain till the
couple returned They were tospend
a month or two at Rome, and then
come back. But though after time
they came back, little Lucy Baxter
remained, by her fathers wish, with
the cousin for whom she had SO great
an>affection.
When disagreement began between
the Colonel and his wife, Colonel
Baxter, who was somewhat morbid
ly tastidious person, shrank from
bringing his little Lucy from her
peaceful home to witness the disturb.
ance, and strange, almost inexplica,
bic troubles Of his newfife. She was
nearly thirteen. In a year or two
she would be q woman. lie was
ashamed that the two women who
had made his home there ten years
and more should know Of his present
perplexities. He made one excuse
and another to put of Lucy's coming,
and Felicia guessed the reason, and
felt a wild, miserable pang in her
heart; self-reproach, acqiesence, bit.
ter resentment, were all there in her
foolish, passionate soul.
One day she said to him:
"You married me, but you never
loved me. Why did you come to dis
turb me? What was there to prevent
you from marrying some ono else?
If it was only my money you wanted,
you might have had it for the ask
ing"
Baxter's dark face turned white.
81 cant forgive this" he said, "lt
is no use, Felicia; ! must go away.
You can't say anything to undo this,
| have felt it all coming for some
time past. You have insultcd me,
wounded me, humilitated me, past
my indurance."
"Oh, Jiml Jiml You would not
have spoken to me so," sobbed Fell
cia, apostrophizing the dead cousin
to whom she had been engaged.
"No; but I have not the forbear-
ancc that your cousin possessed; and
though you broke his heart, you shall
not ruin my life and my child's,"
said Colonel Baxter, in u cold, con.
centrated fury.
Felicia was frightened by his
strange tone and strange looks; she
came up and caught his hand,
"Lcave me alone" he cried; don't
touch me-"
She ran out of the room with q
pale face and desperate eyes; spoiled,
lonely, inexperienced, she was not