The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-02-16

ed some trace 0 sorrow on the hand.
some brow; but when ls eDlered;sip
obedience to her summons, the frank
smile lit up his lac as devoting
Ehimslf TO the in valid. Sc spoke 70 her
Eonly when courtesy required.
Somehow these weeks seemed TO
have improved him, too. He had
acquireda polish; .or was it only in,
difference where love had reigned2
Men easily forget, she thought,
Eand With The thought, She sighed.
\ The winter wore to an end, and
slowly the INVALID grew weaker and
Eniore weak The shock had been
greater than her nervous system
kcoullkhear, shesank under II das
I.by day, until the exertioh Of moving
from her bed to her couch became too
great, when, for the first time, the
realization burst upon her daughter
that she was soon 10 be left desolate
indeed.
Earl. during these months, came
and went as Of old; but sometimes
Irene asked herself if his words to
her had mt haen n dream
Not once did his eyes rest on her
with the old look-not once did he
hold for a single moment the little
fingers within his own; and sense
of empty disappointment, none the
less bitter because unacknowledged,
brought to the proud eyes many an
unshed tear. But the bitterer sor-
row was in store, as the invalid's rest
approached more and more near, un-
til the Angel of death stopped and
gathered her TO his breast. Earl was
there at the last, and as she lay so
quietly on her pillows-they thought
her spirit had tlown-she suddenly
reused, and laid her daughters hand
in his.
"Take hern she said, ~ give her
to you!"
Then the eyes closed forever.
"Do not mind it; she meant only as
a brother, Irene," he said, in comfort
days after, to the weeping girl, and
Irene wondered why she could not US
such accept it.
So the weary days merged into
weeks, the weeks into months, anc
the proud young spirit learned it.
own .bittefness.s She-saw Earisrarely
Il now there was n6'lohgef the inva
lids impatient demands upon his
time. Some Of the old friends haG
come forward in this second hour o.
suffering; but through all she missed
him, and the thought that he had
learned forgetfulness brought her tc
comfort. She was thinking of hin,
one evening when he entered.
~ am going away, Miss Irene," he
said; "will you bid me God speed?"
The old pride struggled for mastery
against the choking in the slender
throat, but the words she strove tc
utter refused to come.
81 have been studying law during
these years of had work, and am now
able to wait for the practice l hope
will come. You will think Of me
sometimes, Irene; and if in trouble
remember Tie words once said: that
| stand always ready to act the part
of a friend. Is even this asking toe
much2" he added as her silence con
timed.
J Had he, then, forgotten all hiI
words-the love he had said was
hers forever-or did its pale ghost liz
| buried, too? But she must speak; she
must not let him know.
Goodbye" she faltered; then
spite of herself, the words she hat
thought locked in her heart burs
from her: Earl, do not 60; | canno
bear itw
"Irene!" Where had his icy indif
ference fled now? His face was pale
his voice trembled in his struggle fo
calmncss. "What matters it toyou?'
Everything" she exclaimed, a
her pride lay with folded wings a
her feet. "or you must go, taxi
me with youl"
"Irene, do you know what you
words mean-that l can take yo,
only as my wife? My darling, is thi
) true?"
But in answer she sprang into hi
open arms, dimly realizing that th'