Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-10-27

"What do you want?' he asked.
"There is a letter here" she replied.
"For whomT'
'For Mr.. James Hill"
"How much to pay?"
'Postagc not stated" was the faint
reply. .r..v ~.
They all laughed loudly and looked at
me, for that was my name. The blood
rushed in crimson floods TO my face.
got on to my feet somehow and with my
heart torn between wild desire to 20 into
that hall and wish to sink utterly away
from human kind, stumbled ont Of the
room.
The door was closed behind me, and l
found myself alone in darkness, rs the
hall was but dimly lighted. paused
moment and then heard the faint sound
| of quick breathing; another heart was
beating as violently as my own. For once
in my life | knew what TO 10 with my
arms. caught hold of her. | scarcely
know how. The darkness gave me cour-
| age, and held her in n close clasp, and
pressed my lips to her cheek in three or
four rapid, half-frightened kisses, before
she could free herself from my embrace.
'"There. there, Mr.. Ill.," she said, with
a faint, merry laugh; "don't be so bash
full again. I'm sure you are bold enough
now"
'IIaye 1 paid my postagc:" 1 stam-
mered.
''Indecd, yes; enough anG to spare.
Come, let us go back to the parlor."
She led me in, Il willing prisoner, and
the rest of the evening was her bond
slave; her partner in all games, her conf
panion in the dance (wherein | eXcelled
the country boys, and gloried in my ac-
complishment, and, at last, crowning
delight of the evening, her escort home.
This was all. The next day returned
to my home in the city, and Mabel Byrne
became only memory; strong ut first,
fainter as time wen: on, but sweet al
ways. When l saw other girls compared
them mentally with the picture my imag-
ination painted of Mabel, and they never
seemed half so fair and sweet as she.
But then did not see many other girls.
| NV bashfulness, instead of diminishing,
seemed rather to increase upon me as the
years went by. l avoided society, and
was so much of n reclusc from ladies that
my mother was quite worried lest should
become q confirmed old bachelor. Per-
haps ore reason why retained my diff
dencc was that my pursuits were among
books, and not among people. had made
the science of geology my study, and at
twenty-seven founG myself in comfort
Portable pos itiOn as assistant professor in
one of our best colleges, the salary of
which, with my own income added, max
| ing me so far ut ease that | resolved to
| devote my summer vacation to tour in
Europe.
a4 - +nis
Equipped with bag and hammer, Au-
gust found me making pedestrian tour
of Switzerland, with special view to the
study of its glacial system and lithology.
| avoided the well-trayeled ways, thus es-
Gaping the society of all other tourists,
and L was therefore utterly amazed when
one evening, as 1 drew near the little
house which was my temporary abiding
place, a tall form strobe toward me out Of
the darkness and hearty voice cried out !:
"Jim! jim Hill"
"What is it?" replied, with a half
nervous start. ,.
"Ah!. thought it was my old friend.
Have you forgotten Tom ByrneS"
OF course not, for / had met him occa-
sionally since we were boys, and | was
heartily glad to see my former comradc,
always ono of tho best of companions. i'. d
"I saw your name on the book at the
inn," he exclaimed; "was sure It must
be you. At any rate I thought I would
start out to meet YOU" ..
"But how came you here?" inquired,
in this out of the way corner of the
world?"
"Because it is out of the way. Mabel
and are making trip in search Of the
picturesque. You know she Is quite an
artist!''
SO Mabel was with him. Ny heart gave
n curious thump, and for a moment l
could hardly make sensible reply, -.
eyes," he went on "she is SO devoted
to her art that it seems to quite absorb her
life. She has not thought OF marriage,
and does not care in the least for the or
binary run of society. She will be glad
to see you though" he added, cons"ling-
", Gas you are a man Of science"
We walked back together to the little
inn, and presently was shaking hands
with beautiful and stately woman, whose
bright, dark eyes flashed with the strange
intensity and fire that j had never seen
in any other eyes but those Of Mabel
Byrne.
She greeted me very cordially, and after
we three had taken an evening meal To-
gether there followed delightful even
ing in the little parlor that Tom and his
sister had secured.
For once In my lHe L lelt NY oSh Iu'N
at ease in a lady's society. In the first
place, there was Tom TO keep me In coun-
tenance by a predomnancc Of my own
sex in the company; then Mabel did not
expect me to talk of airy nothings, that
light foam of the social whirlpool which
had never yet been able to skim. She
spoke first of my scientific pursuits; she
showed so much knowledge of the subject
that really found myself talking with