Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-01

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playmate. She had now no fresh res-
soa for surprising so-far from 1t; but
she had begun to believe that he must
be-perhaps b cause she did 90 hope he
was net. This uncertainty made her
little shy with Mr.. Smith, and shyness
lent q charm to her manner and q soft
ness to her words which fairly intoxi.
Gated poor Bob. And yet the brilliant
blush, the downcast eyes, the slight
tremor round the mouth with which
abe hailed the entrance OF one OF the
two were not for Bob. But he was too
much occupied In noticing and dwell
ing on the little stammer and pretty
shyness with which she often greeted
some chance remark OF his to see how
she received his friend.
On Tuesday, exactly 3 month after
the lawn-tennis party at Mrs. Fosters,
the two young men were out riding.
That there was something special in
this ride both of them knew. IL had
been solemnly arranged that morning,
and both felt that there was something
which would have to be said before it
was over, and yet they had ridden now
for nearly an hour, and but little, and
that very unimportant, conversation
had passed between them. But, as they
rode down lane with steep banks Of
sandstone on either side slightly covered
with grass, q road so bad that both men
should have been occupied in holding
up their horses, Victor Smythe broke
the silence:
81 say, Bob, old chap, do you remem-
Der what You said this day month when
we were driving home from Fosters
that you meant to fall in love with
Alice Markham? Because, if you are
playing at falling in love, 1 wish you'd
STOP" ,u'
"But Pm not, Victor, old fellow; and
I'm very glad you have spoken at last.
You are such a reticent chap that l
dareu't speak first about it; but | have
seen plainly enough lately how it is.
We both love her, and We both want to
have her. Now, in the old days we
should have had to fight, and one of us
would have been killed, and the other
could have married her; but things are
Giffe rent now, so We'll do the same
with a difference. Well toss up, and
the one that wins the toss shall have
the first chance, a week from to-day,
all clear-shall make love, ask her, and
be either the happy man or a miserable
sinner this day week; if she says No.
then the other shall ask her. What
do YOU say? But, Vic, whichever it Is,
don't let's sacrificed friendship of years
for the sake of any girl, however, love-
lyi Of course 1 am not to you what
you are to me; you aren't lonely beg
gar like me, but"
tha hnrSoo NUara tn-
gether, and the two men grasped hands
tightly; then Victor said.
"Iou are right, Bob. It's an odd
idea to toss-up in such matter; but L
think it's best. You "-and SOW
erign flew into the air.
"Headw shouted Bob and head it
was.
A silence; then Bob said:
"l'm almost sorry, Victor. Well, this
day week" and again shaking hands
the two men nodded to each other and
separated. ,
For week Victor Smythe devoted
himself to his duties; for week Bob
Smith haunted Oaktield. At the be-
ginning of that week Bob had an inter
view with Mr.. Markham, but he begged
that gentleman not to influence his
daughter, but allow him to plead his
own cause. And Alice? That week
taught her that, if Bob Smith was her
boy-loyer, she would not fulfill her
childish promise. For the first three
days, when she entered the hall after
being out, she glanced at table for the
card with "VictOr B. Smythe" upon it;
but it was never there.
After the fourth day Alice devoted
herself to her garden, and went for no
more drives in her pretty pony carriage.
She knew now that she had already
given away her heart-and surely not
unsought, But where was he? Bob
Smith had never mentioned his friend
and she could not ask.
The week went by, and Alice, as she
dressed on Tuesday morning, only knew
that it was week since Victor had
GAfa vt a94kkfttasld,. She.. did not know
Smith had been there the evening be.
fore: but, though he had tried, some
how he failed to pluck up his courage
and tell her that he loved her. This
morning, hiring hanson, he drove
out to the Markhams, and was shown
into Alice's morning room, where she
was sitting, endeav0ring to read, but,
oh, failing so utterly.
Then snd there, in q simple, manly
way, Bob told her of his love and ask
ed her to be his wife. Astonished and
hOrrified-and, oh, so very sorry.-poor
Alice only mu rmured-
"Oh, nO-oh, l can'tw
Bob stood up.
"Please don't cry: Pm so sorry |
bothered you. 1t does not matter. If
you are quite sure you can't, you can't !;
but are you quite sure" he asked, 80
wistfully; then, as she managed to look
up, he saw in her face something Of the
truth. 81 think l know" he said,
bending over her as she half reclined on
the sofa. "Don't be unhappy; it'll all
come right. And he's the best chap
in the world"
He raised her hand to his lips, pressed
= It, rushed out of the house, and jump
ing into the hansome, buried his face in
his hands, sobbing like child,
Alice, springing from the sofa, flew
into the garden, and, throwing herself
upon 4 grassy bank, cried as if her
heart would break.
The week was up. Another ham
some passed poor Bob some two minutes
after he had lett the house, but the oc-
cupant of each, buried as he was in his
own thoughts, did not notice the
other.
AS Victor Smythe drove up to the
Markhams' door, he saw white form
among the trees, which, with true low
er's instinct, he knew to be his lady
loves. Diminishing his hansome, he
walked softly toward her over the grass.
Perhaps she was asleep or-horrible
thought-hurt. Yes, for she was sob
bling dreadfully.
"Alice-Miss Markham-what has
happened:"
She turned; he was bending over her.
There was something written on his
face, something on hers, and neither
was astouished that he dropped down
by her and that she made room for
him.
Now tell me- what is the NATTER he
said.
Poor Alice. She had no mother, no
friend near her, except this one, who
wanted to hear, and she felt as if she
must tell some one. SO, as well as she
could, she began.
"Mr. Smith" A pause and a
bright flush followed.
II know" from her sympathetic
sgta h,o l.n,,