The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-03-01

you the news, Cornelia,' said she.
You've been too cruel this sine-he.
he, he! Orville Spear ha'n't been
heard of since he was at your house.
His mother says he went over to ex-
plain and make up, and he never came
back-he, he! She thought maybe he'd
stepped over to his brothers, but he
hadn the, he. l reckon he's drowned
himself.'' M
81 don't know why the whole town
should talk over my affairs and every
meddling old maid giggle about them!'
cried Cornelia.
Piety jumped to her feet, seized her
parasol and turned towards the door.
.'Good afternoon, Miss Corneliasand
Mrs. Rashleigh," she said, with con-
temptuous courtesy. .sI'll remember
my manners, II other folks forget theirs
Only there's other folks as likely to be
old maids as me, and fancy it's Mrs.
Spears affair now if anything has
happened to her boy!''
Away flounced Miss Pratt.
you've put Piety in a rage, Corne-
liza, said Mrs. Rashleigh. That's a
pity; she has long tongue"
But Cornelia was crying.
80, mother, DEAR she sobbed, sit
isn't true, is itp Orville did feel dread
fully. Won't you see, mother?"
But at this moment Sally, the little
servant girl from Grandma Rashleigh's,
came flying into the room, without any
more warning than if she had been
shot from gun.
''The old missus says you are to come
over at once, both you ladiesm she
cried, standing before Mrs. Rashleigh,
and repeating her lesson like parrot.
There's something of importance, and
you're needed at wonst.
SECT your bonnet, Cornelia,' said
her mother. ssI'll Just put on this sun
hat. What is it, Sally; do you knowP''
II know it's something dreadful.
Missus is almost wild, and there's lots
of folks there. Something about Mr..
Spear
The two ladies said no more. They
hurried away together, and, entering
grandma's parlor, found there assem-
bled more Of the members Of the Spear
family, and friend or two besides.
Orville had, indeed. disappeared. He
had never been home since his visit to
Cornelia, and now the alarmed rela-
tives were anxious to get all the infor-
nation they could regarding the inter-
view between Orville and Cornelia.
81 had reason to be angry, Mrs.
Spear" said Cornelia, proudly; 'sgood
reason, and took off my ring and gave
it back and went out of the room. That
is all know. | don't know when he
went or where. IL thought he
woudn't mind so much believed he
had stopped caring about me- :.
.'He ought to now, at all events, )"
said grandma.
my boy is dead, I'm sure. shall
have the pond draggedl" said Mrs.
Spear, amidst her tears. ''He left all
his money at home. Hewouldn't have
gone travelling without change of
clothes. Q, you wicked girl"
II hope" cried the eldest Miss Spear,
'sthat he II haunt your
Il could kill you, you hateful thing"
cried the youngest Miss Spear.
Cornelia had kept up bravely until
now; but when her two friends turned
upon her thus, she gave a little scream
and fell over on the sofa. She was in
dead swoon, and the water they
sprinkled in her face did not bring
her to.
Grandma grew frightened.
81 hope it isn't an attack of heart
disease she said. Poor child! she
looks as if she were dead !.
80, don'tsay that" cried the mother.
They gathered around Cornelia and
did all they could for her, and soon she
recovered and sat up, but all her pride
was gone.
o, dear! O, dear!" she sobbed. II
wish had died! 1 wish had never
come to! o, Orville! Orville! what has
become of-you?'
40! oh!' moaned the mother.
80! oh!'' moaned the sisters.
And Cornelia's head fell back again.
Emma, get the lavender out OF the
china-closet," said grandma to her
daughter. "Quickl It's on the corner
shelf
Mrs. Rashleigh rushed to the closet.
1T won't open,'' she cried wildly.
! s.It's a patent lock- said grand
ma; clocks as it shuts. Here's the
key
And Mrs. Rashleigh flew back to
the door, opened it and uttered a
shrek. 4
There on the floor, huddled up I'M
der the shelf, lay poor Orville Spear.
He was white and limp.
Cornelia sat and stared at him in the
most awful way. She thought him dead,
but the more experienced matron saw
that he was yet living.
Gol1xv xuoS copf roct ha fov. 20 dr,fs-
ter; and there, in Mrs. Rashleigh's
drawing room. he found Cornelia and
Orville lying quite unconscious, like
Romeo and Juliet in the scene at the
tomb, and the rest of the party in q
state of bewilderment and terror past
description.
At last, however, both were conscious
and seated in arm-chairs, regarded each
other, while the observers kept silence,
and Mr. Orville Spear uttered the first
words.
s.Of all the COMPOUNDED fools"
"Who, dearP'' asked his mother.
.sMe,'' said Orville, regardless of
grammar "Who shut me IMP"
what we're you in the closet forp"
asked grandma, with guilty con-
science.
ITO pick something up that rolled
there" said Orville.
ssThe ringp" asked Cornelia, frantic
cally.
Eyes, the ring" said Mr.. Spear.
more fool /! Some one banged the door
to. / shouted and howled and kicked,
and no one heard me-
80. oh. oh. Ohi' shrieked CorDelia. II