The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-05-10
4 WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.


"Such q weddingl No brides.
maids, no music, no breakfast or re-
ception! / declare ] should not feel
as if l had been married." exclaimed
Marion Willoughby, throwing her.
self down upon low fauteuil in her
own elegantly-appointed drawing.
room, and drawing off the delicately-
tinted gloves which served as a finish
to the exquisite Partisan toilet.
There was only one other occupant
Of the room, man, tall and hand.
some, standing with one hand rest
ing on the back Of her chair. She
did not glance up as she spoke, or
note that Chester Thorley's face had
lost its color.
"You are speaking Of Miss Mar
vines wedding2" he said. "There is
one essential to most marriages you
have not enumerated in your list Of
things lacking. Was love wanting
too2"
"Oh, no! 1 believe she loves him.
She certainly must do SO to an al.
most absurd extent. They are to 90
to housekeeping in small fiat in an
questionable locality up town,
where he must be away from early
morning until quite 8 o'clock. He
occupies some salaried position
clerk in bank, 1 believe-and she
u girl who might have married any
body"
"Honest labor degrades no man,
Marion" came the firm, quick an.
swer. "Even a clerkship is not al.
ways to be found, and l would rather
break stones in the street than live
on money acquired dishonesty or
doled out Of charity, though in such
a case would ask no woman to
share my lot"
"This looks like breaking stones,
does it not2" she laughingly answer
ed, letting her own jeweled fingers
close over the mans hand where it
rested-a hand whose shape betoken.
ed Its aristocracy, and which was
white and soft as a woman's.
At her light touch his strong frame
quivered. He bent and let his lips
rest an instant caressingly on her
hair, for the girl beside him was his
affianced wife.
II could break stones, though, dear
and don't know butthat it would
make me better man. Suppose l
lost my money, Marion? Suppose it
were all swept away from me in an
hour, and I had had a position offer
ed me-a position which would en-
able me to live very humbly, very
much as your friend going tolive-
tell me what you would do2"
"You are only talking to try me,
Chester, and l hate such questions.
In the first place it is entirely out of
reason; for even were it so, papa, you
know, is very rich, and our home
could always be with him."
II have said to you, Marion, that l
would rather starve than eat the
bread Of charity. Therefore, putting
this possibility asidei tell me what
you would d."
Her fingers relaxed their grasp up.
on his hand. Was there significance
in the action? He smiled bitterly as
he saw it. His face was very pale
now. Except that he still stood be-
hind the chair, she must have no.
ticed it.
"You are utterly absurd this after
noon, Chester" she said, petulantly.
"Havc l not just told you that Edith
Marvin'S wedding was more like a
funeral than q wedding, and though
| presume l shall one day have to
attend my own funeral, it will not, l
assure you, be as q voluntary agent.
Have you nothing more agreeable
you can find to say to me?"
The man shook of a certain some-
thing which seemed to envelop him
in an almost visible cloud, and he
answered with the old, courteous