The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-11-01

think Settled the matter he arrang.
ed long ago. OF course he would
have married her anyway; but
just to think how splendidly he has
behaved to me"
And something very like, the dia.
monds in her ears glittered in her
fond eyes as she turned away.
A delightful little octagonal room,
hung with the exact shade Of dainty
pink silk that was most becoming to
Birdie Lorne's fair complexion. A
pink carpet covered the floor in an
unbroEen expanseof velvet. Chairs,
ottomans and cushions, upholstered
in pink and ebony, with little lace
Tides, and snowy zephyr mats scat
tered gracefully around; with elegant
ly designed and executed Atghans on
tho-.oitomape and eefae, With the
white walls hung with rare paint
ings, with statuettes on peaestals in
every available niche. A charming,
girlishly ordered room, that opened
from the back drawing-room by one
door and into the beautiful conserva-
tory by another. A place where
tears and trouble ought never to
come, and the sight of both of which
uncanny visitants made Cleve Sym
ington pause a second on the thres-
hold, as he caught glimpse of a
golden head buried in two tiny
fair hands,, and heard the unmistak-
able sobs that shook the little white
robed figure crouchiug in a heap be-
side a low hassock, He only hesi,a-
ted second; then with a look of ten
derest love, pity, and sympathy,
crossed the room to her side.
"Birdie, do not cry SO piteously.--
Can sympathize, or do l intruder"
She sprang up in sweet, shy sur
prise, her face all tear.hushed, her
eyes as bright as dew drops. She
was one of those heaven. favored
mortals that weeping beautifos.-
She only looked fresher, fairer, and
SO pitiful, and Cleve's arms fairly
ached to take her to his heart and
kiss her tears away. And he would,
he vo%ed, rapturously in another
five minutes. She took her hand.
kerchief from her pocket, little lace
affair, white and fragrant, and essay
ed to wipe the tedrs ftoin her lashes.
81 am afraid l appear very child
ish, Mr.. Symington-but when l
think-when it is all gone"
Her exquisite lips quivered again,
but she checked the rebeIlious tears
brayely.
81 am as poor as church mouse
that is all. A letter from my guar
dian says everything was invested
in a mining company, and the shares
are not worth the paper they are
printed on" Cleve fairly worship
ed her then, as she honestly explain
ed her position with the quiet, lady
like way, SO natural to her.
at is a misfortune, l admit; and
yet, Birdie, there will inevitably
come one good of it-you will learn
who are your real friends"
Somehow he said it so very earn
estly that Birdie glanced curiously
at him, then dropped her eyes under
the blue-veined, long lashed lids
Cleve wGs close by her side the next
instant, with her hands imprisoned
in his, and his impassioned eyes
fairly scorching her face.
"You will surely understand me,
darling? You will let me prove my
friendship, love, my admirationl
Little girl, say you will be my own.
Tell me you love me, and promise
me the great privilege of caring for
you forever, my little WIFE"
1t was so sweet, this manly, hon.
est, eager avowal, and coming as it
did, on the very heels of misfortune,
and from the lips of the only lover
she ever had prayed TO hear the
words from.
And veto, woman's foolish pride!
all her perverse little heart rose in
rebellion ct accepting everything
and giving nothing It never should
be said of Birdie Lorne that she took
the first offer she received after her
misfortune simply because there was
money in it. So-while Cleve wait
ed, smiling patiently Mt her bowed