Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-01

Il
yours~
HGeorge," l answered, initiating her
and giving my first name
,nly. "Shan we not be friends, Lee
lore?"
"Oh, YES" answered the voice with a
ilvery peal of laughter. Evidently its
,wner was getting over her fears.
Don't be offended, George. 1t is so
people who cannot see
,ach other and perhaps never will, max
ng friends" :,
AZ will solve the mystery yet, Lenore, "
answered, "and find out what you are.
Would you be glad to see me IN my
,,, .
"Yes," she replied, 81 should like to
zee YOU"
"And 1 would give a great deal to see
rou, LenOre. You must be very beautl-
ul if you face in like your voice.
sob, hush" WAS the agitated answer.
1T is not right to speak thus"
"Why not? Do you know, Lenore,
hat if this goes on, shall end by fall
ng in love with you, though L never
zee YOU"
"You are very audacious," was the
eply. "If you were really here, before
ne, i should punish you forit. AS It Is,
am going now"
"But you will come again tomorrow,
enOre?"
tIf you will promise to be more dis
eet, George, yes" ,
As may be imagined, l did not fail to
lep nv engagement with my invisible
find. For many consecutive days
tlse strange meetings continued. AS
alard as it may seem, the voice was
bdnning to make a powerful impress
sic upon me. felt in its soft tones
administration of a sweet, refined
W0an's soul.
lie, had made no progress towards
unrreling the mystery, Nevertheless,
/ wieonfident that through some in
explable dispensatiOn of Providence
l haCbeen permitted to hold cOmmun-
ion VII real, living, lovely woman,
from 4 unknown distance. She had
not yCtold me more than her first
name, nd did not press her for more
as yet. Her only answer to my question
"a to WI she was,iwas, "1n the garden"
She didAOt seem capable of grasping
the fact hat was not invisibly near
her. Slseemed content with matters
as they sod, and for the present l
could doc more.
l madeo one my confident as to my
daily OccIatiOn; first, because l knew
that l shqd be regarded as madman
upon my ere statement OF the facts,
and, next, ecause | shrank from hav-
ing an audor at my mysterious con-
ferenCes. i'll it be believed? | was in
love withhe invisible girl-in love
with vote Absurd, of course, but L
am not the rst man who has fallen in
love with oman's voice. Besides, l
was cOntidel that it was only matter
of time before should see the girl in
person.
One day, tOards the end of Summer,
we hau 3een Ring, as usual ana l
had said; IN stay in Italy is nearly
over, Lenore.'
"Ah," was t,quick reply, "you will
leave me, GeOn?"
mo, LenOre i answered, "not if
you wish me tOay."
allow can | hp it, George, whether
you go or stay? nave never seen you;
| never shall seeyou. What am l to
yOu""
"All the world, IenOre," | answered.
"Ours has been astrange experience.
Without knOwinsach other as people
ordinarily do, we we yet been close
friends. You are ore to me than a
friend. l love yOuLenOre."
There was quic suppressed cry, no
other reply,
"Be truthful, Lelre. Tell me your
heart. IfyOu love II trust to me to
discover your where outs and come to
you. IfyOu do not, y it, and | will
spare you the pain ofeeting me, and
let us never speak aga"
There was a pause; len she tremu-
lousy said:
81 have never seen u, but my heart
tells me to trust you. know you are
good and noble, and am willing to
leave my fate in you hands. Yes,
George, | love you"
Even as she said the wds she uttered
cry of alarm. Then, grutf mans
voice spoke:
SEQ to your room, Lene. AS to this
villain with whom you HE been hold
ing these secret meetings. shall soon
find him and punish him as he de-
serves. Search for the rasl, Antonio,
and bring him to me-"
There was q quick training of feet
and crushing shrubbery, at the men
were breaking through it Then an
other mans voice spoke:
HE has disappeared, .ur excel
lence."
Every well, we shall find IN vet. He
cannot escape me. This is alne piece
of business, surely-the dighter of
Count Villain holding secret Meetings
with some common vagabond LenOre
shall take the veil"
Eyes" j cried, "the bril- veil,
Count. shall pay my respectsn per-
son to-day"
Then, leaving them to get ov, their
astOnishment as best they might re-
turned TO the house in high spiri The
name, Count VILLAIN, had given IL the
clew to the whereabouts ofLenor.The
dwelling of which l have spoks as
situated across the plain, and Opsite
the rock, was the residence of Cunt
VILLAIN. | had met the old gentlqan
in the city, and formed spcakingac-
uuaintance with him. AS neither ,us
had mentioned our private affairs, lai
no means Of connecting his danger
with my invisible girl.
That afternoon l presented myselto
the Count, and after amazing him WI
my story, which few tests cOnvind
him was true, formally proposed for 4
daughters hand. As my wealth and
cial position were well known, he g
fered no objections, and his daughto
was sent for.
AS she entered the room, saw tina
my idea Of her had been less than true
had never seen so lovely a woman
nor one who so perfectly embodied my
highest conception of grace and beauty
Her dark eyes, still wet with tears, me
mine inquiringly.
"Lenore," said 1, II have come as
promised"
George" she cried, with a radian
smile, "iS it yOum
Are you Disappointed" l asked
sam what you expected"
"Gou could not be more" she answer
ed naively, "yOu are no less"
"Now that we meet as solid and ma
terrial beings" | continued, "are yol
willing to ratify the contract We made
when we were only voice, LenOre'
Your father gives us permission"
Il, ,~,o,- no o,,,,nocnl tbot rapni,-nl g