Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-05-19

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came flying into the room, without any
more warning than IL she had been shot
| from gun.
1.-The old missus says you are 70 come
over at once, both you ladies'" She cried,
standing before Mrs. Rashleigh. and re-
peating her lesson like parrot. There's
something OF Importance, and you're
needed at wonst."
sect your bonnet, Cornella," said her
mother. "Ill just put on this sun-hat.
| What is it, Sally, do you know!"
81 knows it's something dreadful. Mis-
sus is almost wild, and there's lots Of folks
there. Something about Mr.. Spear"
The two ladies said 10 more. They
hurried away together, and, entering
grandma's parlor, found there assembled
| more of the members of the Spear family,
aud a friend or two besides.
Orvills had indeed disappeared. He
had never been seen home since his visit
to Cornela; aud now the alarmed rsla-
tives were anxious to get all the informa-
tion they could regarding the interview
between Orville and Cornelia.
81 had reason to be angry, Mrs. Spear"
said Cornelia, proudly; "good reason;
and l took of my ring, and gave 1t back,
| and went out of the roem. That is all
know. l don't know when he went, or
where. IL thought he wouldn't mind
SO much. believed he had stopped car
ing about me-"
'.He ought to, at all events" said grand
! ma.
"My boy is dead, Pm sure! shall have
the pond dragged" said Mrs. Spear, amid
her tears. Gle left all his money at
home. lie wouldn't have gone travelling
| without a change of clothes. Oh, you
wicked girlw
81 hope" cried the eldest Miss Spear,
"that he'll haunt youW
81 could kill you, you hateful thirg!"
cried the youngest Miss Spear.
Cornelia had kept up bravely until now !;
but when her two friends turned upon
her thus, she gave little scream, and
fell over on the sofa. She was In dead
swoon, and the water they sprinklcd in
her face did not bring her to.
Grandma grew frightened.
81 hope it isn't an attack Of heart dis
ease" she said. Poor child! sho looks
as If she were dead"
"Oh, don't say that" cried the mother.
They gathered around Cornelia, and did
all they could for her; and soon she re-
covered and sat up, but all her pride was
gone.
"Oh, dear oh, dear !" she sebbed; 81
wish | had died wish had never come
to! Oh, Orville! Orvillc. what has be-
come Of you?"
"Oh! OH" moaned the mother.
"Oh! OH" moaned the sisters.
And Cornelia's head fell back again.
Emma, get the lavender out Of the
china-closot," said grandma to her daugh-
ter. "Quick! It's on the corner shelf
Mrs. Rsshleigh rushed to the closet.
1T won't open!" she cried, wildly.
"It's patent lock-" said grandma
clocks as it shuts. Here's the key"
And Mrs. Rashleigh flew back to the
door, opened it, and uttered u shrek.
There on the floor, huddled up under
the shelf, lay poor Orville Spear.
He was white and limp.
Cornelia sat and stared at him, In the
most awful way. She thought him dead,
but the more experienced matron saw
that he was yet living.
Sally was sent post-haste to the doctor
and, there, in Mrs. Rashleigh's drawing
room, he found CorneIia and Orville lying
quite unconscious, like Romeo and Juliet
in the scene at the tomb, and the rest OF
the party in state Of bewilderment and
terror, past description.
At last, however, both were conscious,
and, seated in arm chairs, regarded each
other, while the observers kept silence,
and Mr.. Orville Spear uttered tbs fret
words.
"Of all COMPOUNDED fools"
"Who, dear'" asked his mother.
"Me," said orville, regardless Of gram
mar. "Who shut me imp
"What were you In the closet for ~
asked grandma with guilty conscience.
"To pick something up that rolled
there" said Orvillc.
"The ring?" asked Cornelia, frantical-
ly.
eyes, the ring" said Mr.. Spear, "More
fool | {! Some one banged the door TO. /
shouted, and howled, and Kicked, and no
one heard me-"
"Oh! oh oh oh 70 shrieked Cornelia.
"I believe you hid there just TO kill me,
for no other purpose than out Of revenge.
"You banged the door on me, said Mr..
Spear. "a jealous woman will do any
thing.
y 81 banged the door, Orville." said old
Mrs. Rashleigh; al! You'd left every
thing dying. just pushed it n passed !;
and you ought to bless your stars that you
are alive; for people don't go into the
arawlng-room, sometimes for fortnight,
| in this small family. We use the parlor
much more and I'm deaf, and so is old
| Hepsiba, and you might have died there.
Yes, and YOU'D have killed him. CsrneAa,"
added the old lady, Throwing his pretty
diamond ring on the floor"
| "Oh!" moaned Cornelia. "Ohw
at wasn't her fault. I was a con-
founded fool all through ~ cried Orvilie.
81 knew that closet had q spring lock.
! No; don't blame Cornelia."