Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-17

waltz at AoeSt s-A.Ss~A
she said. Zone more year"
The zone more year." passed by.
Alfs letters, growing more and more
hopeless and discouraging, at last ceased
altogether Three months went py
without q word from him, and then
Esther, two years Of the three being
over, set all her sisters prayers ana re-
proaches at defiances, ana became
Henry Brandon's bride.
Meanwhile, far away In the gold
fields of Californea a certain dlgger:
patient, silent. sad, toiling night ana
day, with heavy heart and wear
fraine-a sad-eyed, lonely man, 70
whom no letter came, whom no com,
panion cheered-a man whose long ana
unchanging ill-fortune had won Tor MIN
from his rough mates the sobrlquet OF
"I.uckless Fred"
This man one day, without mo-
ment,s, thought, struck his spade against
an enormous nugget Of gold and arose
up from his toll the fortunate possessor
of thousands.
"My own-my own at lastn' he cried,
and fell upon his knees, and kissed the
nugget, and laid his face upon it
and wept. "Not for yourself, my
yellow beauty.r he murmered, "but
that YOU give me back my hopes-my
life-my love? Her patient faith shall
be at last rewarded, and in her tender
arms NV sufferings will be all repaid.
/ will not wait to write; will go to her.
Fortune and happiness for my own
love, nv true and faithful love"
He would not wait to write-what
need?--to one whose faith he never
once had doubt, measuring 1t by his
own. True, he had heard from her of
late, nor had he written; having no
good news TO send. But what of that?
She knew his heart. Doubtless she was
waiting, sadly, patiently. Oh, what a
bright reward was now III store for such
sweet constancy! He would wait for
nothing. He purchased such clothes
as he could find, and set sail, looking
shabby enough, Ia be sure. But what
matter: That could be rectified at
home. 1t was himself that Essie loved.
Doubtless she would welcome him,
though he came home beggar and in
rags! And then fancy took him to
nut that to the test---to test them all.
She how they would welcome him If he
came home poor? He had no doubts of
Essie---but it would be sweet to show
the world how she loved him for him.
selfalone. Laughing to himself in the
excess of his new happiness, ALT Bandon
resolved to keep his wealth secret for
awhile, and return to his friends as the
poor lucklesS digger he had actually
been some weeks ago.
The autumn sun was shining hot and
fierce, as a traveller---poor-lo0king and
travei-stined---came slowly up the
dusty lane that led to certain well-re-
membered orchard. He had resolved
to look upon the old place first---the
dear old spot where they had parted.
"And who knows but may find her
there?" he unused. Doubtless the
place is dear to her"
1T seemed as if his love had been pro-
phetic. There, under the treeS--under
the very tree where they had stood
that summer evening over two years
agO-he saw once more the graceful,
slender form an lovely face that had
animated his hopes and haunted his
dreams so long.
Her soft, fair cheek was leaned upon
her hand, her dark eye downcast as If
in sad and earnest thought. What he
said-what he did, he never knew-but
suddenly cry of love and the next
moment she was elasped i'll ALT Bran
dOn's arms.
In that moment all but the joy of his
return was forgotten. 1t was ALI who
embraced and passionately kissed her;
ALI who she had mourned as dead
whom she loved-ah, she no longer
concealed the truth from her own heart!
whom she had loved from her girl
hood-Alf, who, too evidently mistak-
ING her for Esther, now blessed her for
her constancy and truth.
Sho otr~ssiea from ~ S---~- t.I.-t-Io
with shame TO remember now WlillnSy
she had yielded to and returned his first
caress. Not meant for her at all-tor
Esther-all for Esther, his brothers
wife!
He looked at her reproachfully.
ssDo YOU shrink from me? Oh, my
darling, is it because have not written
for so long? | had so much i'll luck,
Essie, wanted to spare you, dear. You
are not changed. Not one day older in
all this uneasy tlme-more beautiful than
ever indeed, my own sweet wife"
Hs had her in his arms again, but
she broke away, spreading out herhands
wildly to keep him of: ,,
''You don't know what you say!s she
cried. "And OH 1 cannot tell your
She misunderstanding at his pale,
perplexed face. No, she could not
wound him with the truth!"GO to Hen
ry-he will tell you alln she cried, and
bursting into tears at the thought of his
coming sorrow turned and fled wildly
from his sight.
The brothers stood together face to
face. ,.
There had been stormy and bitter
words, and now came long and omin-
Gus silence. ALI, broke it.
"Where is she?" he demanded bitter
IL II desire to see her"
The other answered:
"She is far from well-unfit for such
an intervsew. What good can your APP
proaches do now"
"No good. Nevertheless l desire to
see once more the woman who was 10
be nv wife. l return to California to-
morrow, and would bid her good-by
before go. AS to her illness, she was
well enough few hours ago in the Or
chard-and seer pointing tothe garden
-''theres she is now! With your permiss-
ion ] will join her thereW and without
waiting for an answer, or noticing Hen
rvs look of quick surprise, he hurried
out.
Pearl saw him coming, and arose,
pale and trembling, to meet him. He
stood for moment, regarding her
sternly and in silence; she raised her
gentle ewes to his timidly, sorrowfully.
trDo not be angry with me, Aft" she
said. ~ am not changed-I am your
sister still.n
But he stopped her with great cry:
mPearl! MY little Pearl! o what a
blind fool l have been"
The memory of the welcome she had
oiven him. the affection that had found
expression in her eyes-nay, even
Esther's half contemptuous words OF
long ago: "You are her hero, silly girl"
All these came back to his memory