The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-03-26
CHRISTINE.

N4AhlSA 44N G0
1t vas The 28l If December, u
still, beautiful night, not d breath
ofair stirring the trees, with the
light powdoringof snow that spark
led and shone ia tie weird moon.
light.
So still, SO bright was il that the
SPIDERS web, spun in delicate in.
tricate fashion from one frost.bit.
ten rose leaf to another, stood out
from its dark background as if out
lined in diamonds, and far Of
church BELLS sent their strokes SO
solemnly and distinctly through
the room that before the eleventh
hour had sounded even Robert. Lo.
yell's attention was reused; and
putting aside his book he rose, cross.
ed the room, and, ilinging open the
unshuttered window, looked forth
into the quiet, winter night
Looked slowly from its glisiening
diamonds UP to where shone its
uumberleSs stars,
A year ago he had stood by the
same window, at the same hour,
thinking how, if all had gone well,
it would have been the evening Of
his wedding day; and almost un.
consciously he began comparing
his sensations Of today with those
of that by.gono time, tearing down
the dividing curtain that twelve
months had drawn between the
past aud present.
Though there is not much to
remind ne Of it," he thought, "this
quiet scene and that other Deccm
Der night, with the wind roaring
through the trees and tie rain fall.
ing in torrents and an echo of its
fury in my own breast.
81 said then would never for.
get her, l wonder do 1 forgive her
now? No, l do not think l forgive" "
folding his arms, "but perhaps l
understand her better"
"sho was 50 weak and timid, and
they persuaded her to say Yes
All, why did she? Ifshe had on.
ly told the the truth; but" sighing,
'she had not the courage, and l.
| never guessed it. And so-yes, l
suppose the sequel was natural"
And his mind for a minute lin.
gered over the sequel, The timid
gentle girl, struggling to put
aside the love that had been for.
bidden her, and be kind to the suit.
or who had found favor in her pa.
rents eyes. Then the old story-a
fChance meeting with him who had
won her heart before wealthy Rob
ert Lowell came wooins; a few
words from him telling of the
wherefore Of his departure in 81.
lence-g soft reply from her which
told how the silence had broken
her heart; then one d&y d letter
signed John Fame" addressed to
old Mr., Davidson, informing him
that his daughter had preferred
poverty shared with the writer to
the other future to which he had
, sssaycd to bend her unwilling feet.
And by the same post an envelop
containing one small sheet Of pa.
per was put into Robert Lovell's
hands asmall sheet all bIotted with
many tears, and on it only two
words written; "Forgive me-" and
q signature, which for the moment
puzzled him-"C. Fame" But that
had all happened more than a year
ago.
1t was an old story now, quite
thrust out Of his life, and the wo.
man who had been his love was
the wife Of John Eanc, living far
away in India.
No tidings of her ever reached
him he did not wish for any,
She had cut herself adrirt from
him-from the love and the wealth
that would have stood beneath her
and the rough PLACES Of lifo-and
had chosen instoad-he paused in
This thoughts, and said half aloud;
"Has chosen instead a bad temper.
ed man with narrow income
That is about it."
lie sighed quickly yandimpationt-
ly when he had SO spoken, and
shifted his position leaning more
heavily against the window frame.
III wonder if aha hnsovor renent.