Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-08


The next morning Travers proposed
to take advantage of the cool, fine day
for horseback ride. Miss Barrow was
willing, and couple OF hours later
they were under way. The roads were
in coed condition, the air was exhilarat-
ing, and Miss Hamersley's horses were
capital. The color came into Maud's
cheeks, and her eyes shone like stars.
AS for Travers, it did not seem to him
that he had ever enjoyed such ride be-
fore. By-and-by, however, he said:
"Don't you think we had better turn
back, Miss Barrow: 1t may be too
much for YOU"
"Oh, | am not tired. L am thirsty,
though"
Travers looked around him. II
think could get you glass of water at
that house on the top ofthat slope, but |
don't like the idea of leaving you
alone"
ooh, / shall 90, too. 1t will be
change from riding" said Maud. "lOu
can tie thehOrses here"
The climb proved to be upa rougher
path than she had imagined, but she
would not he persuaded to take Travers'
ann.
mo, no" she laughed, and stepped
qnietly to one side. In doing so she
stumbled over her habit and uttered a
cry of pain.
'NIiss Barrow! what is the matter?"
exclaimed Travers.
"I-Tm afraid have sprained my
foot. Let us turn back" she murmur-
ed family. She took step or two, and
then stopped again, flushing and pal
ing alternately.
Travers looked into her face.
"IOu mean," he,said that you can't
walk step. You must let me carry
you"
"Oh, no, no"
Miss Barrow, this is really unreasOn-
able. / must insist" And without
more words e raised her in his arms
and began descending the slope again.
Maud crmsOned, and q faint flush rose
in Travers' cheeks also. The wind
blew q stray wisp of her hair against his
face, and with it the faint perfume OF
violets she had on her handkerchief.
When he reached the foot of the slope
and lifted her OH her horse his heart was
beating rather fast, and Maud was
trembling little. "Does your ankle
Sllll pam 81 SNlN 'SHN
shook her head.
They rode slowly home through the
green fields, almost in silence. TraverS,
while constantly watchful OF his COM
panion, seemed to be distract. 81 sup
pose he is thinking of that girl he was
| i'm love WITH" said Maud TO herself,
and for young lady to whom the
masculine sex had grown indifferent
she certainly allowed the supposition to
| give her considerable pang.
Miss Barrow, for the next week, lay
| OH a couch which was wheeled from
the house TO the grounds as she felt in
| clined TO sit indoors or out. Miss
Hamersley and Travers took turns in
reading to her, but the latter's office in
this respect was rather sinecure. He
| always found after few moments that
it was much more pleasant to have
| Maud talk to him, and to be able to
look at her. This tendency, indeed, III
few days grew in tOsuch distractlng
wish to be always near her that Travers
might have been alarmed had he
! chosen to question himself and his feel
ings. But he did not choose to.
One warm afternoon he came into
the Library, where she lay on a lounge
| near tie open NInuON1 WIN ~ NAUotSh
| of red mOss-rOses in his hand.
'SThey are the first of the season." he
said. Maud raised her hand for them,
ard he stood looking down at her. She
wore thin white dress, ana looked
prettier than he had ever seen her:
Her cheeks were little flushed, and
her hair tossed about tritie as II she
had lust been asleep. She seemed too
listless and comfortable to move, but
thanked him with bright glance, and
pressed the roses against her face, Pres
entity his persistent gaze appeared to
embarrass her, for she said little I'M
easily: -.
allow hot it is! Why don't you sit
down."
Travers sat down mechanically, still
without speaking. Miss Barrow
glanced at him, and her eyes began to
sparkle mischievously.
"Perhaps | should not have asked
you to sit down, though" she said
demurely. You might have been
contemplating a speedy exit for the pur-
pose of smoking cigar"
II assure YOU. ! was thinking OF
nothing of the sort. Miss EarrOw."
mot thinking of smoking? / fancied
there was no hour of the day a man
did not think of that"
"He may make an exception when
he is in the society of ladies'"
Indeed he does not, or have yet to
learn it.
Oh, women are not of as much import
ance as that to menu Her tone had
changed, and she spoke the last words
bitterly.
"That is what that brute of q man
she was engaged to has taught her.
| thought Travers. az should like to"
He started up, and completed his pious
wish with regard to the said man at
the window.
| But Maud was in a strange mood
this afternoon When she spoke her
tone was quite different again
"Are you angry?" she asked softly.
"Angry?-no," he replied, coming
back and standing. before her. "How
tantalizing you are to day." he broke
out after a pause.
She took no heed.
''To show 1 did not intend to be rude,
will give you rose" she said-"shail
l." ..
Eyes" he whispered.
"Stoop down. she murmured. He
knelt besides the lounge, and she pass
ed the stem of the rose through his
buttonhole. Her little white fingers
were very near his face, and he saw
that they began to tremble. Suddenly,
he caught them both in one of his, and
before she could stir, without knowing
himself what he was doing, he threw
his arms aronnd her and kissed her.
The next instant he was on his feet
Maud, crimson and palpitating, stood
before him, supporting herself against
the lounge.
"You have insulted me"
"Miss Barrow-Maudi Forgive me!
Pardon me! / did not know what ]
was doing, love you sop
SIT Is an INSULT, she cried again