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

4
made no sign of how it hurt her.
"But, Birdie" and there was sucl
agony in his voice that her owl
heart quailed a second, don't speaI
of obligations to the man who love
you as / do; speak as II you kne,
you would grace queens throne, a
you would, Birdie. Birdie, don't b
so cruel TO me-"
Her lips quivered and her eyes ov
ertlowed suddenly.
"You mean what you say, M.
friend, l know; or, rather you thini
you ttiean it, which is the same I,
me, since 1 cannot accept it. Bu
you. dre only pitiful, kind, and sym
pathetic, and the sight of my tear
and grief has touched your grea
heart. That is ALL"
She drew her hand away from hin
softly.
at is not all. Ilove you--"
Then something in her imperlou'
face made him suddenly desist, and
by the way she looked and acted
Cleve symington knew that she was
desperately in earnest. She would
not marry him, because she was 81
proud.
And he went sadly away, feeling
numb and stupefed, as he walked
home in strange, dazed way, that
his fond mother saw from her peep
ing place between the curtains; and
her face lost all its matronly bloom
as he came in, whittier and death it.
self, and threw himself on the sofa.
Then, when he had told her, be.
tween spasmsof pain that forced him
to lie speechless, the rosy flush crept
softly back and into the eyes, fairly
radiating happy hopeful thought,
"Try to bear it, my boy" she ..said
gently. "You have proved what a
noble woman she is, if nothing more"
Ia
Then she vent on smiling to her.
self.
4 4
A plain, large room, situated on
the second story that bore evidence
of very recent furnishing, in the
new, cheap carpet on the floor, the
cheap, coarse, homely chairs and ia
bles. Before the small mahogony-
framed looking glass that hung be-
tween the windows, Mrs. Symes
Symington was tying her bonnet
strings-narrow black strings to q
black straw bonnet, trimmed with
Quaker plainness-that compared
suitably with the black alpaca dress
and dull plaid shawl. She smiled at
her reflection, then glanced down at
her unaccustomed toilet.
II think l shall be successful-I
will be successful for my boys sake.
The sight of his patient, pale face
will inspire me 10 any degree, and if
Miss Lorne is the woman | take her
to be, she will prove it before an
hour passes over our heads"
"Since her descent into poverty
genteel, ladylike poverty, however
| learn she passes this house every
day at II o'clock, and takes her din
ner at the restaurant several doors
below; so il l intend to meet her l
had better be going"
She locked the door, put the key
in her pocket and went down the
stairs into the STREET. exactly in
time; for slight, graceful figure,
clad in gray twill, passed quietly by
and into the restaurant. She knew
it was Birdie Lorne as well ds Cleve
would have known it, although she
had never seen her before. She
walked calmly to the restaurant and
took seat at the same table with
the pretty, high-bred girl. The
place was nearly full, and Mrs. Sym.
ington was glad of it. She could
converse all the better with this
prospective daugh,er,in. law of hers;
and naturally, as sensible women,
the two formed speaking acfuaint.
ance while waiting for the neal
All at once, as if suddenly impress,
ed with the ideai Mrs. symington
looked curiously into Brides face:
81 beg pardon-but are you not
Miss Lorhe? lam sure you must be
the young lady my son speaks Of SC
often"