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

They stood together in the orchard
Alfred Brannon and his pretty sweet
heart, Esther Gray. They were not
quite alone, for a girl, startlingly Like
Esther, but her junior by three years,
sat perched upon a mighty limb OF a
huge old oak not many yards away, and
swung and swayed, keeping time to her
own listless, dreamy motion by the
murmuring hum of a most delicious
voice grooming sweet old song.
ATS no use, ALT" Esther said, in re-
Spouse to her lovers pleadings. NO
use in wasting both our lives on fond
dream that never can become reality.
Think of the years it would take you to
earn fortune! And while am wait
ing, growing old and faded, and letting
other chances pass me by, you may
fail, after all? No, no-giye ME back
my promise; our marriage can never
bem
1T can't shallw cried Alfred,
earnestly. "'Other chaneesn If you
loved me truly, would you think of
them" Do you love me, Esther"
She looked into his flushed and hand
some face and sighed involuntarily.
'.Yes, do. IfyOu were better off I'd
marry you and be a happy woman. But
that will never be. | love you, but L
hate poverty. have been poor all my
life. | must better myself when mar
ry. Why shouldn't /? You all tell me
Pm so handsome. Even your brother
Henry tells me that. By-the-by, L
thought you We're so sure that he would
lie our friend?r
HE tells me he said all he could, but
father will not hear of it. What of that?
He finds no fault with you but your
poverty, and when am no longer de-
pendent upon him, but my own master,
able to support my wife, he will welcome
YOU rs q daughter, Essie. Henry says
so; it was Henry who suggested that L
should 90 to San Francisco-the land
of golden dreams and speedy fortunes,
EsSie. / shall make fortune for you
to share, my darling; only promise me
to wait three years. We are so young
yet; you are but eighteen. Oh! what
are three years-save for the pain of
parting-to love like ours?"
He Judged her byhimself, poor fellow,
and never doubted her loyalty and
trust; but Esther was of very different
nature-selfiSh, worldly, calculating and
cold. Even now, when her lovor's arnao
wore around her u:hilS his eager tones
vet trembled in her ear, while his
honest, loving, pleading eyes met her
own dark, thoughtful glance, she care
fully weighed her chances-set inclina-
ton against interest thus:
al do love him-dear, kind Alf. do
wish could marry him. He is so bright
and hopeful, perhaps he may get rich,
after all, and, meantime, what other
chance will come to tempt me, living LII
this out-of-the-way place, and seeing no
one? And three years will soon pass"
So in the end she promised to wait for
him, truly and faithfully, through three
wears, and then, when he should claim
her, become loving his wife.
Meantime, the musical murmur from
the tree had ceased, though quite I'M
noticed by the lovers, and as Esther
Vave the promise a graceful, girlish form
swung itself down from its lesfy nest,
and suddenly placed itself before them.
Esthcr's figure, only less fully and
finely formed. Esther's beautiful face
and glossy, abundant, dark hair.
Esther's dark eyes, too, you would have
thought at the first glance, until you
saw that quite different mind and soul
looked out from them.
Alfred held out his hand TO her.
Al had forgotten you, Pear" he said.
"Well, you can witness our engage
ment."
The girl drew herself up to her full
height.
al shall witness nothing so foolish and
false she said sternly. Then turning
to her sister: "Why do you promise
what YOU will never perform? Why do
YOU deceive one that is so honest and
true-heartsd? Esther will never wait
for you three years, Aft You must be
mad to believe it."
And with that she left them. Esther
looked after her with a smile. -,
"A silly girl, and you are her hero, "
she said, pouting little. II am not
good enough for you in her eyesW
He cIasped her to his heart enthusiast
tically.
"And YOU will be true, my darling,
through three years, faithful and patient
for my sake?'
And Esther-flushed still with anger
and tinge of jealousy against poor
Pearl-renewed her promises, and so
they were betrothed.
One year went slowly by. Ais
letters, bright enough in the beginning,
grew sadd9r and less hopeful as the
months rolled Old. He had obtained
pOsition in Sam Francisco, and toiled
patiently and faithfully at his post; but
he began to realize that his modest saw
inVs would not suffice to obtain the OBJ
iect of his hopes, and he wrote to Easther
gloomily of his disappointments, and
spoke of that first year as wasted time.
Henry Brandon was besides her when
she received that letter; he was often
with her now, lavishing upon her the
most flattering attentions, under pre-
tence of guarding her for ALI. She
TUNED 10 him reprOachfully. 81
':Alf hoped 90 much from your ia
fluence with your father" she said.
"Since you like me so well and are so
kind to me, why did your father object
to me as a daughter"
He caught her hand; his bold eyes
fixed on her face.
ale does not. He will welcome you
as . daughter tomorrow, Essie. But
not as Alfs wife," -a5. :,
She shrank away from him, startled
and frighten. E-Fe. ,
Whose, then?p she cried.
But his look answered her before he
uttered: "Mine!s only mineW
HisoYn brother'srival! The thought
repulshed her awhile, but not for long.
Here was o sutton, rich, while All was
poor; present, while ALI was absent;
waiting and ready for her acceptance,
while ALI might never be ready The
temptation was q great one to q woman
of Esther's worldly mind.
But shame withheld her--shame, and
positive fear of Pearls reproaeh and