The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1883-03-21

Il = iSiStsaf essiu ~ HEli,t 4is w tu5t
and fell and rose aga 4 pleasant
, lagaiFl,
but the girl who stood knee-deep in
clover beside the meadow fence look.
ed somberly down asthe joyoushotes
struck upon her eur. rs
"Poor fellowl dear fellowlp she said
to herself. at is hard to go against
him when he is as light hearted as
that"
A moment more and Ralph Arm.
strong, her lover, vaulted lightly
over the intervening bars and stood
beside her.
Straight, sturdy, brown, something
of the contrast between himself, with
his superabundant life, and the wee
woman waiting there, seemed to
strike him,
"Why, my little Daisy" he said,
with a playful touch turning upher
chin until he could look into thesoft
eyes, that straightvay filled with
tears. "Why, DaisyI" he repeated,
in an altered, vexed voice, II thought
when l saw you out here that you
we're glad to have me come. Never
mindj you will be when l tell you
the news. l have paid off the last
installment on the farm, and there's
to be an end of your drudging your
life away. No more cookingfor lodg.
ers, or sitting up half the night to
look out for Rick. Is he up to his
old tricks again? Is that what has
taken the color all out Of your face?n
"He was away all night" said
Daisy, in a low voice. s'He never
got home until noon today. He is
asleep, and, oh, Ralph. IsrA afraid
to have him wake. 1t is SO much
worse now that Miss Winter is here.
Didn't l tell you how that would
beP" reminded Ralph, not very kind.
ly. "But, luckily, it don't matter;
you can get rid Of her as soon as you
please, and we will have the wed.
ding-when2 Iwon't be putOff very
long, my dear"
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk.
"oh, Ralph" she cried, piteOusly.
"Be contented to wait"
"To waitl What forR For Rick
to drink himself to dcath9 For you
10 grow old before your time with the
hard work of taking care of yourself
and him2 Daisy, once and for all,
you'll have to chose between your
sot of brother and me. If you are
bound to put him first now and for.
ever"
The unfinished threat fell upon
other ears besides those it was in.
tended to reach. A dogcart rolled al.
most noiSelessly past on the thick
green turf of the lane upon which
the meadow bars gave, and DR.. Lloyd,
lifting his hat to Daisy, shot a keen
glace at the young fellow standing
sulkily at her sike. He $as gone in
moment, but somehow Ralph Arm
strong experienced a feeling ofshame
which kept him for the time from
pressing what he had been about to
urge. He turned and walked tow
ard the house with Daisy.
1t was a shackly, tumbleedown cot,
tage, with moss and lichen breaking
out in patches over the decayed
weatherboarding, and a creaking
porch from which the rustic benches
had long ago rotted away. The pict.
uresque aspect of the old place had
taken Miss Winters fancy, and SO
little, fair-faced Daisy had found the
weekly addition to the sum which
she earned with her dressmaking
was all that now went into her shah.
by purse.
There was a muffled cry of "Daisyl
Daisyl" as those two approached to
gether, thence once, twice, the report
of a pistol, together with the sound
of shattered glass, was borne to theil
ears.
"It's Rick" cried Daisy, breath
les'lS al looked for him in his room
DO go and talk to Miss Winter
Ralph, till 1 get him quiet again"
She was of as she spoke, Mis-
Winter had come to the door, half il
alarm, and looked inquiringly a
Ralph as he approached.