The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1883-07-18

SNAesS ANt stAN hNlAu
promptly.
But Philip, seeing a shade 1
disappointment in her face, spck
!. once more ~.
"Ifyou willtrust Miss Halstea,
with me, and you do not min,
waiting for us-n he began, hesi
tatingly.
ut is very kind Of you,g sui,
Mark 'and 1 know the view mus
be worth The climb. What do 70,
say, Muriel2n
A few moments later, PhiliI
Wan Patten and the girl he loyet
-he said it over induvvr TO him
SELF with wild ekultatiun-Lh
gid whom heioved. and who wa
free to be won-were climbing VI
the rugged pathway.
They paused, breathlessly, upon
the slender bridge that spans The
waterfall and Muriel, looking VI
at the impenetrable darkness ol
the woods, then out upon the moon.
lit river, drew long sigh of hap.
piness,
ut is beautiful, is it not2n Phil.
ip whispered. u have dreamed ol
sho@ingit to you"
Surely, Philips friends would
have thought that some "moon.
lighted madness" had seized him.
"It is the place for two people
who love each other to stand face
to face with God and nature
alone, as we are"
Muriel looked at him with wide
open, frightened eyes, as he spoke.
But when he caught her hand in
his, she started buck with a sud.
den, terrified movement that cal.
culated neither the breadth nor
the strength Of the frail structuys
upon which they stOpd.
The slender hand.rail give way,
and she fell backward.
Not into the fOaming torrenty
though; for the hana@hieh caused
the fall never relaxld is hold, and
slowly carefully, ASyiel was drawn
back to safsIy.
e0h, MuryaF@si
He'could,fnd ttoMosdsis which
TO express his relief, as he elasped
the slight form Of the hqlf-dfaainting !
gift. x
How dare yoaga s1e. cried tart
ing to life eand consciousness. y
"I should not dare, kpo8R he
replied, huhdbly; "butlyou do not
know lio@srh hsye 6atchod and lov-
ed you in secret dllsthese weeks
yes, even when Ibelieved you were
Mrs. Halstead. Itseems strange to
yOd, but when man has struggled
with feeling as long as | have, he
has a right to be heard"
Yet there was no softening CLEAN
In the girls eyes.
"If you have no consideration
for me, defenseless as l am, you
might at least remember your
wife,"
"My wifel"-with an expression
Of amazement. II have none."
"Perhaps you expect me to be.
lieve that Mrs. Van Patteu is d
creation Of my own fanCy-that |
have not seen you kiss her good
bye again and again2"
Philip laughed, He could moi
have helped it had his life depen.
dcd upon retaining his gravity.
"Well, upon my word" said lie
at length, "if this hasn't been Q
misunderstanding, l won't say so
Here have ] been watching yor
and your brother, and thinking
there was no hope for me, and yor
have been taking Alice for my
wifel"
"Who is she then2" demanded
the young giIl,
"The property Of my brothe
HAL" replied that lady's brother
in.law' grayely.
II beg your pardon" murmure,
Muriel, feeling excessively foolish
"But it seems to me that your con
duct has been neither wise no
generous"
"You are right" said Philip. +"
ought to have remembered tina
you knew nothing of the thought
) that have filed my days and night
} Of late. Ifyou know what love il
: you will forgive mo-"
"Yes," she said dreamily, "1hav
lived and lOved-you are forgiven.
3 Yet something in bis face, a
she used the old and ever patheti
. quotation, made her add, inyolur
tarily