The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-05-04

|1,t,h D. & - I-t Z, e, ~ y ~ t..H y ~
- 4. 81 ss.lI
crying out Of pure sympathy for her
brother and sister.
"What is the inatter?o asked Mrs.
somers. "Has anything happened
lately2 Only last week your father
told me that the report of his intend
ed marriage was false. 1t seems to
me you alarm yourselves unnecessar-
ily.p
"0h, no." replied Alice, fair girl
of sixteen; "she is coming here next
week, and l heard father tell Uncle
John this morning that he hoped his
house would be a little more cheerful
before long, forhe thought Of bring.
ing home q bright presiding genius.
These were his very words" and AL
ice leaned her head on Mrs. Somers'
shoulder and sobbed bitterly.
"Well, we'll" said Mrs. Somers, at
last, overcome by their united tears
and entreaties, II will exert all my
influence in your favor, but l am
afraid it will be useless when opposed
by Mrs. Dayton's charms. How did
your father become SO infatuated
with q woman ho once disliked SO
excessively"
"oh," said George, "she 'flattered
him so much. heard her tell him
that he was one Of the finest looking
men she ever saw; and she called him
SO dignified and stately and then she
looked at Mrs. Dale and laughed, but
father did not.see her."
"stay! that reminds me-" exclaim.
ed Mrs. Somers, 81 have an idea in
my mind; but I fear it will hardly bo
right to act upon it,"
"oh, yes" said Alice, raising her
blue eyes, filled with tears; anything
would be right, it seems to me. Pray,
do all that you can"
"Well, dearest, dry your tears and
go home, and / will think about it,"
said Mrs. sommers, kissing her brow.
"There, 1 see your father coming;
run home through the garden and l
will speak with him."
And Mrs. somers stepped into the
little grass plat in front of her house
and called to Mr.. Clinton, who readi-
ly obeyed her summons, for he had
been waiting for an opportunity Of
informing his old ward and favorite
Of the determination, and of justify
ing himself in her eyes for what he
feared she would consider q rash
step.
Long and earnest was the conver-
sation. She recalled to his mind the
dislike formerly existing between
himself and his now wosshipped Mrs.
Dayton, asked him if he had forgot
ten that he once thought her SO heart
less and worldly that he had once for.
hidden his wife to visit her, and re.
minded him Of q conversation he had
overheard between Mrs. Dayton and
one of her friends, in which he was
ridiculed so numerically as to al
most produce an open quarrel. But
it was all to no effect.
He listened with ill.disguised i'm
patience, and said that she had been
very much misunderstood; she had
explained everything to him, and in
village like theirs SO many un-
founded rumors were flying about
that he thought persons of sense
should pay no attention to them
For his part, his determination was
taken, and oaced formed, Mrs. Som
ers ought TO know it was seldom
changed.
He had studied Mrs. Dayton's
character with great attention, and
the more intimately he knew her the
more he saw to love. She had own,
ed to him that she was formerly very
much prejudiced against him, but
now he hoped-indeed, he might say
he was sure, she thought favorably oi
him; and Mr.. Clinton rose to go.
"Promise me one thing" said Mrs
somers, who could scarcely repress a
smile at the Malvolio like conceit ol
her old guardian-"promise me that
if can prove to You that her opin'
ion of you is the same now as when
you overheard that conversation,
that you will discontinue your ad'
dresses.n