Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-04-28

ner llle tlms ana never seen hlm IN pam.
So when he pointed out TO her the obser-
vatory where he worked, the queerly-
shaped building that showed its dark out
lines in the moonlight, just over the
campus on the hill, she wondered what
prompted her TO beg him TO take her
there, to exact : promise from him that
OH the very next evening he would con-
duct her through the building that had
been built after her fathers orders. She
persuaded herself that it was u desire %
see some manuscripts Of her fathers
which Seymour told her Lad been left
there. Perhaps il was.
Notwithstanding her mothers mild re-
monstrance, the next evening found her
with Brent Seymour in the telescope room
Of the observatory. The roof had been
let down and ,he was watching the stars.
81 wonder if father often studied them
from this roof" she said.
Whenever the sky was clear"
"I wonder if he can see them nows"
"No; l think that throIgh some one Of
them he is looking at us"
Far from science and astronomy, far,
very far from his scholarly standpoint,
the mans childish reply had taken him,
but il had carried him nearer the heart Of
the girl than he dresmed.
Mrs. Merdon's disapproval OF her
daughters visit to the observatory with
Seymour brosdeued iuto anger rs his calls
were repeated, and repeated often. An
intimacy grew between the young people
that even to themselves they did not un-
dertake to explain. The girls friendship
had opened up new world TO the hard
worked student. Had lie known more Of
life he would have known that he was
falling in love. Over tho other secret
was stealing as steadily as comes over us
the morning. \ month had passed since
the senior party. Tho two sat again in
the telescope room. She seemed to be
studying the stars.
"And do you remember" she was ask
ing, "that, that evening, you thought
through some one of them father was
looking at ust"
Yes" III
"Do you suppose lie can see us nowP'
eyes" in n surprised wsy).
"Then" (hesitat;nglyl 'do you think
he is gIad-glad to see us together"
"Won't you" (the voice was very
husky)-"won't you answer for me?"
eyes," she said, in voice clear as
harp-chord, 81 know he is."
Seymour wondered If his senses were
giving way. He hardly knew what fol
lowed. He meant to ask-he tried to ask
if she didn't think her father would be
glad to SEQ them always together. Some
how that seemed lcng AID heavy, and he
couldn't make the words come. He had
a choking sensation In his throat, and his
ewes were blinded with tears. He felt
just as he had in the greenhouse the night
of the senior party. lie wanted TO kiss
the hem of her garment. He felt that he
was in debt 10 her, aud falling deeper ia
debt every moment. Tie knew he was
making a fool Of himself, but lie didn't
care. lie WAS the happiest fool that mo-
ment in Gods happy world.
"You are just as much mine," she ,aid
at last, her hands resting upon his head
which somehow or other had found q
place in her lap-''yeu are just as much
mine as if l had not done all the wooing
myself"
The Merdon mansion had never seen
such storm rs followed Charlotte
avowal Of her betrothal. Her mother in
sisted that she would never consent, never
In the world, and the girl who haG always
honored her wishes above everything else
was in distress.
"But you did not marry rich man
yourself, mother; why should you want
mo to," she urged.
""I married man who was great
whom everybody knew; why, II you were
10 marry the man, whoever he is, who
will fill his chair, should be happy for
ever. but this fellow" and her indlgna-
ton almost overpowering her she left the
room.
1t was late in the afternoon when Char
lotte stole up stairs. Passing her mother s
room she saw that the door was partly
open. She knew what Ii meant. Women,
even among themselves, make their rec
onciliations gradually. She pushed tho
door wide open, "a her mother had in
tended she should, and wentin. The lady
sat By her writing table; her head rested
on her hand, AMI she Vas evidently sleep
ing. A little pile OF letters lay before
her, a picture beside them. Tears had
dropped upon the letters and the picture
showed the stains Of tears. Charlotte
looked at the picture closely. The face
was familiar. Surely she had seen it
before. But where! She could not place
il among her acquaintance. Whose face
was IL? She started. A broken, uacertain
voice seemed to say, "That's q good pic
ture of the president" Her lovers very
awkward remsrk st the party, the portrait
on the wall, the picture that her mother
cried over. 1t was all clear, very clear
and she didn't care TO read the open letter
by the picture.
"My poor, dear mother" she thought,
a., without awakening her, she glided TO
her own room, carrying the greatest
secret OF her lifetime, save one.
II was after midnight when Mrs. Mer-
don awoke. She had hoped her daughter
would come IN. She wanted 20 tell her
that she was no longer angry. She had
been carried back over parts Of her own