Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-09

I0at WIS lASt year, jim.
. An embarrassing silence ensue1 1.
Eta twisted her OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 81
between her fingers.
"What Is the matter, Eta? Tell me.
Is it the horse or the groom, or have 1
offended you? Do tell me.n
"No, Jim; thank you. Everything
is right, but / don't think shall hunt
this winter
"Not hunt"
G. jim went away completely puzzled
and miserable. The change in Eta was
inexplicable. Fancy any human cres:
ture not wishing to hunt when she had
the money and the horses! Attic turn
of the street he met Hillesden.
"Gad! You'rejust the man wanted, ]"
aid Laurence. "Come into my cham
ter and have chat"
While Eta had grown sad and strange
Laureuce's eyes caught new sparkles,
and he had learned to carry his head
Higher. JIM thought with regret of his
own snub nose and small stature.
Laurence stood over six feet in his
stockings.
"You are my oldest friend, JIM"
81 sho:ld not be here at all if it were
not for you,n answered Carlton, light
irp cigar. II shall never forget when
YOU RULED me out of the Thames, and
nearly got drowned for your pains. I've
not repaid the debt, but don't tninK
have forgotten it,"
"YOu may have an opportunity soon
of having off old scores. Jim, I'm in
love, and want your good offices. Eve
met the sweetest and prettiest girl in all
the world; and i'll can't win her life
will not be worth living fOr.n
"In lovem sputtered jim, critically
examining his cigar, r
"You may we'll look astonished. L
thought / was love proof, but nave
found out my mistake. i must marry
that girl"
@Does she care for you" Jim's cigar
had gone out.
al think 50, hope soft seems to me
I ought to have as good chance as any
other man."
"Betterr, said Jim. "IOu've the
cool and sporting eye which always
goes down with girls; naturally, she
must love you"
DO you think so? dare say you
know of whom | am speaking. | once
thought you liked her yourself, but III
that case you would have married her.
You are an intimate friend of hers; say
a good word for me, Jim, to her-to
Eta Dorncaster."
Lord Carlton dropped his extinct
cigar. No other woman in the world
was the prettiest and sweetest, no other
man was so worthy other as Laurence,
his friend and preserver. What di-
lemma to be placed in. In honor bound
to keep his engagement a secret; in
gratitude bound to assist his friend.
Lord Carlton parted from MIR. Hiiles-
cen in unsatisfactory silence, leaving
the latter under the impression that he
was cold aud unsympathetic. Laurence
felt little disappointed, for he believed
hin 10 be one OF natures nOblemen,
whose merits were only partly ObScured
~ q fonduesS for slang. Eta, he re-
fIcted hopefully, had renowned all her
Tad habits, aud was becoming gentle
md decorouS enough to please the most
faStldious lover.
Lord Carlton passed sleepless night,
and on the morrow invented a lawful
excuse to visit Eta. Mrs. Weldon was
present, stitching at an elaborate piece
ofcrewel work; but, perhaps, noticing
a spirit of determination in the young
mans manner, she discreetly departed
and left Jim free to speak his mind.
But this was not so easy, He shullled
on his seat, got up, paced about, sat
down again, while Eta lay back i'll her
chair, her little white hands clasped to-.
gether in the folds of her black velvet
gown. watching him quietly.
Eta" he said, breaking the silence,
when are we to be married" You will
be of age III January"
"Ees,n said Eta, with sigh.
MAY | tell Weeds" | think she
ought to know"
mo, 20! I forbid you-you must
not tell her"
Lord Carlton did not answer, aud the
mOuOtOnous roll of the carriages outside
could be heard quite distinctly.
"Etta, do you love me"
al have promised to marry you, JIM"
Don't deceive me-dO you love me?
You don't know how much l care. Pm
q rough fellow, know, only you always
were so kind to me and put up with my
ways. know l never was good enough
for you, and perhaps it's all my, fault;
but, Eta, you are changed-is it"
Eta kept her eyes on the ground aud
uPrvously smoOthed the laces of her
sleeve.
"Etta, speak to me. l see how it is"
He began to rub the fingers of one hand
against the palm of the other, and his
voice sounded in the twilight like a
broken sob. 1--WE had better break 1t
off,
"SO, Jim, mean to marry you, 1"
she said, firmly.
Then there is another thing"
He paced the room again, restless!y
pulling at his mustache.
II have not felt quite we'll lately-my
doctor says l ought to go abroad-it'5
Indigestion, or lungs, or something ri
diculOus that's the matter; wa couldn't
get married just yet, so, perhaps, 1t
would be wise to give 1t up"
Jim ~
"Yes, Eta, Pm not so soft as you
think-aTd I'm not the man to drive q
haId bargain--and perhaps you will
care to hunt, after all, and take the
chestnut mare"
Eta sprang to her feet, took Lord
Cartons hands in hers and leant her
cheek against his shoulder. For second
Lord Carlton thought himself fool.
Jim, how did you know" How good
you arew
The twilight deepened into night,
starred by the twinkling gas lamps in
the street; the fire danced in hooking
flickers upon Jlm's pale face and tight
" drawn lips as he pressed Eta pas.
sionately in his arms. The temptation
had been great, but the hard battle was
won. The dearest and sweetest little
woman in the world-but not for him.
Zone kiss; we are parting; it cannot
signify. Good-by-my darling; good
by"
He loosened her from his arms, but
their hands met again.
"Iou will come and see us as usual?"
Jim brushed his sleeve across his eyes
and muttered some unintelligible
words: "DoctOr foreign sepvice-bet-
ter not"
In another moment Eta stood trem-
bling in the quiet darkness of the room,
by the fast dying embers, free woman.
For one brief instant sense of solitude
and loss overcsme her. She stopped
her head and kissed the spot where two
crystal drops had fallen on her hand.
Next day Mr.. Hlllesden, seated in all
the triumph of an accepted lover by
Etta's side, showed her letter he had