Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31


last he was lying in the very invalid
chair he had watched from the car. The
geranium, with its red flowers, stood at
bis feet, and beside him, applying
restoratives, and chattering over him
like mother would to her infant. was
the girl wife he had sought 30 long;
who received him as though she had
believed in him all these years, just as
he had trusted her. And then the doc-
tor came and she was sent away, and an
hour later she was called back to hear
the result of his injuries.
"Nothing serious, I assure YOU" the
doctor said "There is only sprained1
ankle. a fractured wrist, bruised
shoulder, skinned and battered knee,
and q few other slight contusions mere
and there. Mere trifes, Miss Haven, L
assure you," seeing her horrifei face;
CIT is a very unfortunate occurrence
mistaking her look, and speaking In a
fond aside, "but it won't be necessary
to have him upon your hands for more
than week. In fact, il you oblect, 10
his remaining, he can be removed with
ont much pain in two or three days
He will probably be feverish at first,
for he is pretty we'll bruised; but af
socn as that is over he can &c to the
hotel. IT, you wish, I'll engage rooms
for him at the Hilltop House, and have
a carriage sent for him at the first
possible moment. From his appear
auce. Judge he can stand the e1-
pense."
"Pray, don't trouble yourself" she
answered, SO coldly, the doctor won
dered what was the matter. Mr..
Wait is all old friend, and I shall Ger
tainly kesp him here until he is quite
veil"
But after the doctor had gone, and
Ada had sent Ursula to look about
some supper for the invalid, she shcok
her finger at Arnold, and warned him
not to speak of their marriage, upon
pain of death.
at will create so much talk she
said, when he began to interpose OBJ
jections to such course. Everybody
takes me for the most demure spinster
in the world. Wait uutil you are well,
and then we will be married over again,
if YOU arc still OF the same mind"
1t was no use for him to say word,
She coaxed him and finally she kissed
him, and, OF course, she had her own
way. And then she told him now her
father had taken her directly to Canada
after their wedding, where, when she
found him still determined upon her
marriage with her cousin, she at last
disclosed the fact of her previous mar
riage. Out Of revenge ho had her
watched like a nun, and every attempt
to send word to Arnold was frustrated.
This went on for. years, when he was
taken i'll, and then, since the physi-
clan pronounced his malady fatal one,
he bonnd her by promise, to refrain
from writing Arnold until after his
death.
This done, he returned to the States,
bought cottage within few hours of
the city, where they remained until his
death, which occurred only a month
before.
"And now," she said, che is gone,
and I am free. I am OF ago he has left
his whole property to me as sAda Haven,
but without restrictions. fancied, by
your remark when you landed so un-
tremendously at the gate short while
since, that you were glad to fiud me,
and, though I strongly obiecs IT, the
manner of your coming, I am glad l
was not obliged to send you word before
you came, after all, L have heard of
your irreproachable conduct, and itwas
frightfully hard to wait and not tsend for
You, rs I had promised. But now we
have found each other, we must keep
the. olst secret, or no one will ever
believe in demure maidens and good
little bays any more" -,
"Rut you don't consider me at all, !"
he said, laughing nevertheless, think
how hard it is to be married, lose your
wife fo1 five years, and then when you
find her. to be obliged to WOO her all
over again. II I am, however, 1 give
you fair warning, Mrs. Wait, the second
wooing will be shorter than the first
She blushed at the title he gave her,
aud held up her hands deprecatingly as
Ursula's step was heard in the passage.
"I'll manage you somehcv," she
laughed, and, being woman, she did.
She sent for his Aunt Ennis rs soon
as she heard of the old lady's existence,
and, much shocked, his affectionate rel
alive repaired to Ads cottage to assist
the poor girl in taking care OF Arnold,
and he was too kind hearted to be cross
about it, whatever he thought OF the
proceeding.
As soon as he was able to sit up and
hobble about the room, Aunt Eunis dis
closed the reason for her invitation.
"I haven't money enough to leave to
keep q cat alive" she said; "but I've
in nv possession set OF really valuable
rubies that an old aunt ofmine once gave
me, and everybody thought had sold to
keep body and soul together. So I said
I'd leave 'em to my nephew that thought
the most of me; or, if they ell liked me
we'll enough to come out and stay over
Christmas, I'd divide the lot among
them. SO here they are, Arnold, for a
wedding present to your WIFE" .
The old lady opened the casket, which
trueh compels me to say was a paper
collar box, and exhibited really fine
set of rubies.
81 thought had fallen into mine
of rubies the other night" said Arnold,
and was right after all, as he held up
the glowing gems for Ada's inspection.
And Ada had them for wedding
present, for they were remarked before
the beginning of Lent, making nine
days wonder for society people, because
Arnold had fallen in love 30 abruptly at
last.
"You have most excellent husband" 7"
said au old lady to Ada. n few days ago,
"but were yol not little afraid to
accept a man you had known 30 short q
time?'
"Oh, mol" returned ADJ fastening,
L. ~