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

pears to be insinusting himself into her
Laurence is my oldest friend" said
Jim but he looked serious.
Lady Marigold's good nature was
proverbial. "Gistep,n she said. '"Tell
Mr.. HilIesden want to speak to him,
and then to take his place - soon as he
Vscates Il"
Lord Carlton gratefully accepted the
proposal, and soon found himself in
blissful peace at Etts's side.
"Lend me your chestnut mare to-
morrow" she said, eagerly. 81 had
not intended to hunt, but as find 1t is
likely to be = first, rate day, should
like to go, and l know you won't
mind"
at will give me the grestest pleasure
10 do anything for you," he answered
with unnecessary emphasis.
Eta gave little laugh Of conscious
tr umph and rose to join the procession
Of ladies at that instant swarming up
the stairs with candles in their hands,
on their way to rest. Eta fingered un.
usually late in the blue chintz room
appropriated to her ehaperon. She
stood lingering her bracelets and medi-
tatively arranging them on the lace
Weldon, meanwhile, whom Eta mis-
chievously nicknamed "Weeds," in al
fusion to her widows weeds, quietly
unloosened her hair and arrayed herself
in dressing gown.
"Etta, are you not tired?" she said at
last, yaYniDg. =,
al am never tired, you know Weeds"
responded Eta, briefly; "but II you
want to sleep Pl go. Blythe. by, l am
TO ride Jim'S mare tomorrow"
MY dear, how often have told you
to give young men their full titles? we
have only known Lord Carlton ie"
months"
"Well, at least, We have seen good
| deal of him. Ii does not signify; only
really, Uranias, you need not come the
widow with experience over me-"
| Then, poising her head retiectively,
"What delieiously light weight Jim
is!'
MY dear" the chaperon reproved
sgsiD.
VVery well; will try not to offend
| any more. Dou you know, | think
| Jim is in love with me"'
at would be an exceedingly nice con-
ne2iiOn."
Certainly; and economical, for We
could ride the same horses, which
would simplify the stable arrange
meDts.
Eta, when you marry you must
give up hunting"
Then shall not marry; that settles
the question Good night, Weeds"
Eta abruptly left the room, but almost
directly opened The door again and
pope q her heat IN To say, IL think
Mt. Hiilesden very good looking, and,
though he is no; quite ~ light as a
weight, am told re rides better than
Lord Carlton"
Eua's drapery rustled down the pas
SAGE and away into the distance before
Mrs. Weldon recovered sufficiently
from her surprise to murmur, lovingly,
"Oh, you foolish girlw to which eXcla-
NATION her mighty prayer for her will
J ftl charge formed fitting sequel.
Mrs. Weedon's responsibility was no
light one. Round the pretty, piquant
Eta, with her fair, trim head and be-
witching figure, especially round her
fortune, considerably exaggerated by
public rumOr, these fiuttered a swarm Of
suitors more or less eligible. Thanks
to Etta's VOW, suggested by Mrs.
Weldon, the dangers Of matrimOny
! bad hitherto been successfully avoided.
! Lord Cartoons cOurtship, however, re-
Ceived Mrs. Weedon's approval, and on
| him, she tried to flatter herself, Etts's
| choice would eventually fall.
Eta looked her best on hors eback,
| and she knew it, which was, perhaps,
| the reason on this occasion she deter
| mined to ride the chestnut mare. Jim
meant to keep by his lady-love all day,
| careless that she seOrnfully rejected his
! offer of lead. Much to her chagrin,
| circumstances favored him, and COM
| pelled her to put up with the company
| Of this self elected cavalier down
| green lane, instead of following the ex-
ample Of Mr.. Hillesden's break-neck
| Iesp over a wide brook, as she should
have preferred.
"N-ou are little angry with me-"
spId Jim, as they rode alSrg.
Eta, prudeItly silent and distracted,
striking with her whip st the leaves OF
| the hedge. row. 81 am; why did you
n AXE me lose the hOuuds by your i'll
reference, instead of letting ME jump
| that brook
"Why?' Lord Carlton rode nearer,
End fixed his gray eyes On her pretty,
pOutipg face. "Becau~A-Etta, | must
peak out becau,e love you 50, dar.
| ling"
1T is coming now," thought Eta,
with sigh; chow tiresome men are AL
ways to love me"
Eta, could you, do you think" he
laid his fingers timjdly on the little
hand gripping the reius so firmly,
could YOU care for mam The sllnting
rays Of sunshine lighted her calm, de
termined profile.
Il shall not marry till am one land
| twenty" she said, decislvely. IL have
| ade VOW"
Il would not ask you to marry till
you are quite -quite-ready; bu. let Us
re engaged. Will you, dear?"
81 don't mind, on one condition.
that you say nothing about it to any
body. hate fuss and congratulations,
and want to hunt next Winter"
Lord Cartoons outspoken gratitude
was promptly checked by her next re-
mark:
"Weeds said no man would let me
hunt when | was married. | would
not agree to that, you know, so we had
better understand one another at once"
| "You shall hunt "a much as you
| like" Lord Carlton said, with sigh,
provided you promise to take care"
| "You won't insist on my riding down
green lanes with you, instead OF jump
ing fenees?" She gave HIM coquet-
fish glance which sent the blood to his
| cheeks.
Eta had been courted before, ana
knew the way to mems hearts.
mot more than l can help, darling"
| With this assurance she had to DE
content, and, arriving at the castle soon
after, went upstairs with the intention
| of taking off her habit and informing
Mrs. Weldon of Der engagement.
Instead, however, by some feminine
| precOci'y, she only executed half OF her
programme, arrsying herself in tea
gown and reading Black, but Comely"
by the fire till dinner time came and
the hour for confidence was over.
4 year elapsed, Christmas approach
eI, aud with it the hour of Etts's ma
| jority. She had insisted on such rigid
secrecy respecting her engagement,
whether from maidenly modesty or
giIlish love for mischief did not trans.