The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-02-01

on me as a friend and a straightman
--one that never goes back on his
word, you shan't be disappointed. :.
Now, then, how can l serve you7"
The big pocket.book had disappear.
ed, and the girls face softened at his
rough gallantry. She extended one
little hand frankly.
"Forgive me, sir; l know that you
are all that you seem. / cannot &C.
cept any pecuniary aid from you or
any one. The landlord has offered
mea situation as table girl. l shall
accept it, and in that way can pay
our Indebtedness. Thanks for your
kindness. Ishall not forget it."
With a little fitting smile she
slipped past him and went swiftly
up the dark stairway, while the dri.
yer proceeded to The bar-room, where
|shs men aEe lhlhiagi laughing,
smoking and drinking.
Here Hollister listened to detail
ed account Of the disappearance of
Colonel Pressy, interspersed with va
rious comments concerning him and
his daughter Cora.
Presy was stigmatized as a cheat,
a villain and q sponge-anything
and everything, they called him, but
an honest man. There were some ex.
pressions Of sympathy for the girl, but
it was easy to see that she was not
liked. Miss Pressy had held herself
too far aloof from every one in the
house to win the approval of this
free-and-easy western community.
One loutish looking fellow, leaning
against the bar.rail, remarked, with
a snee.ing grin:
"That gals mighty stuck-up lit
tie critter-reckon she won't put on
any more airs with mel" and he sent
a stream of tobacco juice in a very
skillful manner straight into the
mouth of a spitton which occupied
the center Of the room.
Hollister, who had been d silent
listener until now, crossed leisurely
to this extraordinary marksman,
and, striking him light blow upon
the shoulder, said, evenly and dis
tinctly:
"Look here, Jerry, you don't want
to talk any more like that about Miss
Pressy."
"Goin' to marry her, FrankY"
81 expect TO-" replied Frank, cool
iy, ,;as heturned to select. q cigar from
the case.
There were no more insinuations
against Cora Pressy in his hearing
The daughter of an unknown adven.
turer, no matter how thorough lady
she might seem, and the sweetheart
of the jolly, keen-eyed, strong-armed
stage driver, were two different per-
sons, and when the lonely girl en-
tered upon her new duties the next
day, she was surprised at the kind
ness and consideration of all about
her.
Frank did not try to weaken the
impression which his words had
made. He knew that it would be
her surest protection; and he felt an
intense desire to protect and to help
her-she was so delicate and sorrow.
full, so absolutely alone, now that her
unnatural parent had deserted her.
Two or three uneventful days went
by, Cora, filling her new situation
with satisfactory promptness. Every
night, on the arrival of HOLSTERS
stage, she was left to wait upon him
in the dining room.
She felt an instictive confidence in
this big, bluff, sun-burned fellow
There was bond of sympathy grow
ing between them which she had no
desire to break.
One day, twenty miles down his
route, Frank heard d bit of news
which worked him into fever of
impatience. Never had the whip
curled so sharply over the flanks of
his sturdy horses; never had he made
better time than on that day, when
it seemed to him but snails pace.
At last, however, the stage drew
up before the inn whose roof shelter.
ed the girl who, in few short days,