The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-05-21

III luet lWtutV1 ~
May Warren made answer IN
tone of surprise, raising her ssl.l
anxious eyes to her fathers face.
AS if her gaze discomposed him
Mr. Warren turned his head, aud
his glance wandered rcstlessly
around the apartment He was
an old man, with a tall, spare fig.
ure, thin, gray hair and was sit.
ting in an arm chair by table
covered with papers, while his
pretty daughter, May, sat beside
him on an ottoman. She repeated
the words:
ain me, father2r
"Yes," he replied, starting from
a moments abstraction. "Do you
remember Colonel leighton, my
deal?'
"Colouel Leighton? An old man
with a heavy beard, partly gray,
and pleasant blue eyes. He
dined with US a few days ago. Yes.
/ remember him, father"
"Not go very old, May-not ST
old as am-and one Of the finest
men living. He is wealthy, very
wealthy, too
He met his daughters question
ing gaze fully, now, as if he wished
her to read something in his face.
She kept her dark eyes fixed
searchingly upon his countenancet
the ebb and flow Of the soft color
upon her cheeks betraying the
quick pulsalion Of her heart.
"What do you mean, father?'
she asked at length.
81 saw HIM last night. He offer
cd to help me-save me, if"
"If what, futher?"
@1fI would give you to him"
The words came hurriedly from
Mr., Warren's lips, as if he feared
that if he deliberatcd he should
not be able to utter them ut all.
As they fell On his daughters ears
She started to her feet, pushing
back her hair from her pale face,
in a bewiIdercd sort Of way, us il
she were half.stunned.
Marry me, father? Colonel
Lcighton?' she cried, in a low tone,
Mr., Warren took her hand and
drew her down to her seat again.
"May, Colonel Leighton will be
a good husband to you. l have
known him from boyhood, and un,
derstand perfectly his character
and principles. lie loves you
will be kind to you, and strive in
every way to make you happy
And more-and more, May; he will
save me from boggaY!"
He paused, but his child, with
her face bowed upon her hands
made no reply-nor stirred not
The mute distress that her attitud.
betUkened was not unnoliced by
him.
"l do not force you to do this
May, remember; the matter is left
entirely to your own choice. But
you know what my wish is-whaI
the alternatives will be if you dc
not accept the offer"
She knew only to well. Fully
she realized how absolutely necos
sary tho luxuties to which hel
father had been accustomed were
to him. Absolute loss of possession
did not seem the most dreadful
thing in the world to her, but she
knew what wreck il would make
of him. In her youth and strength
the future would still DO brighI
aud full Of hope 10 her; but how
could he, with his aged frame ant
burden of sixty years, commence
life anew? The hopeful though
that she could work for him anc
supply him with his accustomed
COmforts.aiIOrded her but a mo
menEs comfort. To him, with hi
stubborn, arisLocratic ideas, thi,
would be the most severe trial o
all-his deliCatcly reared, pottcd
child laboring for his support. Hi
would never be reconciled to it
There was no alternative, she saw
att glance, Then, with dosper
ate effort to think calmly, she re
called the form Of Colonel Leighton
She remembered his bowed hoat
and dsilVcrcd beard, his dark, deeply
furrowcd fnce aud fifty years, She
could get no further, a younger
face, with merry, azure eyes ant
tossing, sunny hair spraAg up il
strong contrast. Stretching. out
her hands to her father, as il fol