The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-09-21

She laughed then. something IL
the words amused her; something
that how well she had Kept her sec
ret-an old maids secret,
Talk to her," he went on, "tel
me if she feels, if she ever will fee
for me that for which | long"
"Nay, speak to her Yourself" sh,
can scarcely deny sou, pleading
your own cause"
"You think so? ThenI will come
tomorrow. Good,byel God bles,
youw
Al last she wasalone,a Erhe knowi
edge came with long sigh of relief
as some hours later the aGood.nights'
had been said, and Dora could face
the misery the morning had brought
her. How long hcw-ssfy long ass
it seemedl She drew chair beside
the open window, and sank into il
heavily,
At that moment faint tap sound.
ed on the door and a golden crowned
head pushed itselfihrough the space,
where it was held ajar,
"Please let me come in, dear Miss
Dora!" said a young voice, 81 can't
sleep, and l want to talk to you"
Then, without waiting further per-
mission. little, white,robed figure
glided in and sank on u stool at her
feet.
The moonlight showed the fair, up
turned face, and it was only the
shadow resting on her own soul
which made the older woman fancy
that graver expression was upon
it than was its wont. She softly
stroked the bright hair.
IL have something to tell you,
Miss Dora," the girl went on, after a
little pause. "I love you so much
that would like that you should
hear it first. But tell me frst-am |
still child? And do you not think
that children, as Ronald calls me,
can love?"
"You love, then?"
Almost breathlessly she put the
question. Her own pain was swal-
lowed up in the Joy that, at least tu
Ronald, his love would not be re-
turned to him as bitter Dead Sea
fruit.
ifYss, love-, said Cara. at was
5sdeh a sunny accident, our meeting.
y tssg = two years ago His regi.
iinent was stali0ned atthe same town
where | was at school. He is only a
lieutenant, but he is so brave, so
handsona My own dear father'was
an officer, you know l think re.
membering that first made me care
for him."
Then Miss Deane recovered her
breath.
"a lieutenant! Who is this man?
OF whom are you talking?"
"l1is name is Harry Linden. He
will be here next week. He is COM
ing down, he writes me, to ask my
guardians formal permission to mar
ry me. Oh, Miss Doral do you think
he will refuse or be angry? He is SO
old, perhaps he will have forgotten
that he, too, once was young"
Bitterest mockery of Fate! So old,
she said, and not yet had forty years
crowned his brow.
Once again she met Ronald Ray
alone, as he came next day to plead
his cause. He listened with a white,
drawn face, while she told him Of
that other secret with which she had
been entrusted, meanwhile sparing
him, in the telling, all she could.
In her tender pitying for his
wound, she forgot that hers, too,
bled.
"You have been very kind" he
aaid, when she had finished, III
am glad that she never suspected the
truth. l will not see her today
Tomorrow | will be stronger"
"He turned, but as he gained the
threshold he totte'ed, strove to recov-
er himself, but failed, and fell for.
ward on the floor
The fever was upon him. Already
in his veins the shock had brought
the hidden enemy to light. Tossing
in a delirium for many weeks, Dora
learned how wholly the mans heart
had fastened itself upon the one hope
L Il --....- II. 4 ell L