The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-09-13

unloyely, and he morose and neglect
full
"Then you think love an halluci-
nation2"
81 think marriage is a mistake on
twelve hundred year. If | became
dowdy and hadn't time to cultivate
a taste for aesthetics or whatever was
the fashionable craze, and grew jaded
and spiritless with the uncongenial
task of washing pots and kettles and
stewing over a range, and if nobody
turned to look after me as | passed,
one day you would find yourself dis.
enchanted. Then, supposing the
new administration should push you
out of office, even for month, or
should you fall ill? No, we are hap
py enough, just as we are; let US
lsGaitslike Mr. Micawber, till some;
thing turns up"
And SO Van Week waited. Per-
haps he was disappointed in Helen's
views, but he refused to confess it
even to himself; all women felt SO,
he supposed, cared more for shadow
4
than substance, or mistook the one
for the other; it was their poetic tenn
permanent which made poverty hate
ful to them and splendor their natur-
al atmosphere, and he applied him
self more diligently than ever to his
idea, working far into the night at
times.
"You were not at the Presidents
last evening" one of his fellow clerks
said to him later.
"I? No; l should think not"
"But Miss Hildreth was there; she
and Mr.. Sterling, NJ. c., were hand
in glove. l heard him ask her to 90
and hear Lohengrin' tomorrow
night"
"Mr. Sterling is in luck" was all
Van Week ventured to say; he did
not choose to carry his heart on his
his sleeve for every clerk to peck at.
If Mr.. Sterling was fascinated by
Helen, it surely was no fault of hers;
many man had been bewitched by
her before this elderly Congressman,
only Theodore forgot that they all
had been needy suitors-and as for
Helen, he felt as sure of her as of
seed time and harvest.
But on one occasion he left his
work early and hastened to see her;
a cloud of ugly rumors had assailed
him, and. ipterfered with his tasks;
she should brush all the cobwebs out
of his heaven. He met her coming
down the staircase in a white eve
ming dress, with flowers in her hand
costly exoctics, such as wealthy low
ers send their sweethearts-such as
he had never dared 10 buy.
"Where did they come from?" he
demanded.
"They grew, 'spects-like Topsy,"
answered Helen, laughing uneasily.
"Where did You get them, Helen?"
"You are inquisitive, MIR. Van
Week. They were sent me-"
"By Mr., sterling?"
"You do credit to your nationality
you're capital Yankee. Yes, by
Mr.. Sterling, of course"
"Helen," he cried, beueath his
breath-"Helcn, are you going to
marry MI. Sterllng?
"1-I believe l am," she said, drop
ping her eyes.
Theodore never knew exactly how
be found his way out of the house.
He was vaguely aware of brushing
against q stout gentleman in n fur
trimmed ulster as he shot into the
street, of a stately carriage and pair
standing at the door, and a dark.
browed lady leaning out to look after
him.
The next day he resigned his po-
sition in the postoflice, drew his
savings from the bank and left
Washington. 1t were well, perhaps,
if he could put deserts and seas and
mountain ranges between Helen and
himself. 1t seemed to him as if the
earth had reeled from its orbit, and
it required time for him to readiust
himself to the situation. His idea
was all that was left TO him. He
He put into it all his earnings, and
devoted heart and soul to its devel-
|