The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-09-24

aif you can't play, let il alonel"
A mighty effort enabled the wiz.
70 suppress her tears, and she still
endsayored 70 30 cheerful.
When morning came Belle wa.
nervous and weak, but she would
utter no complaint, and the mo
ment his breakfast was disposed Of
Arthur started for his store.
The day was dull, and its gloom
itritated the feelings of the mer.
chant. Trade was but trifling, aud
he had good opportunity for raaec.
tion.
AT timesIhe felt thaths had been
wrong the evening before in allow.
ling hisyexation to be SO apparent,
but he could devise many q good
excuse, 80 that he felt, OF tried 70
feel justified in the course he had
taken.
But all this while conscience was
whispering that he had been very
unjust and wounded his wife's feel.
-ings without any cause.
He could not drive away The
whispering monitor He took his
lunch, as usual, and then returned
to pace up and down the store.
He had never felt so unpleasant
before, and to increase the trouble,
he saw not how the unpleasantness
would end.
Just as the store was about be.
ing closed, for IL was kept open
very seldom Of an evening, some
business came to hand which re.
quired his immediate attention,
and Arthur and his book.keeper
were detained an hour beyond the
usual time. When it was compile
ted they closed the store and walk
ed away in company, as their route
was the same for several blocks.
A short distance from Roberts
store they passed another, which
was closed and the door draped
with Grape.
"a sad case, that, Of Mrs. Parks,''
the bookkeeper remarked, nodding
in the direction Of the door.
"In what respect, Jared2"
"The manner Of the lady's death,
sir. Parks and l we're school.boys
together. He has only been mar
ried six months, When he left
home yesterday morning she was
rather indisposed, but he thought
nothing Of il, and came down town
as usual. Before noon they sent
for him, as she was dying, and
when he reached the house she was
dead. Singular, wasn't it3"
every"
Arthur Roberts thought for q
moment of the man whose house.
hold had been thus thrown into
mourning, aud then his thoughts
travelled quickly 10 his own. He
remembered Of the illness Of his
own wife. Could IL be that she
was very siok2 He started at the
thought as though struck by a shot.
Possibly she was dangerously ill
perchance he should never speak
TO her againl How bitterly he re.
collected his heartless words the
night previousl
Fortunately their ways diverged
at this point, forgetting all save
the pale face of his suffering wife,
Arthur started forward at a run,
Block after block was passed, but
he seemed to be no nearer. How
long the distance seemed. He
reached the door at length and
burst it open. No one came to
meet him. The little sitting room
was deserted, but he heard che
heavy tread Of the servant ascend.
ing the kitchen stairs. Athousand
distinct emotions were experienced
as he approached her door, careful
lest a rude step should disturb her
He swung the door open, for it was
ajar, and stepped inside. The wits
lay upon thd bed sleeping, the pain
marks still deeply stamped upon
her features. He saw at once that
she was quite i'll, and tears, which
did no discredit TO his manhood
sprang to his eyes. As he would
have turned away there was a
sligt movement, and the sleeper
a woke.
"YOu are much worse, my deal
Belle," he said, tenderly, as the
blue eyes unClosed.
"oh, no." she answered, quickly
II feel much better now. l have
been in pain, and weak, and fool
ish, and SO became nervous"
II don't blame you, my deal
Belle, for getting nervous" ht