Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-24
JEAN.
1iTQosy.

Win RSr u 2lSGUl OI OutSiuS IlSlt 9uN
the scent Of violets.
II have come for q long talk, Octa-
via" she said. 81 have much to say,
and you have much to listen to. Where
is my old friend, our homemade couch?
oh, there it is, pushed away back in
that dark corner, Octavia, how could
yeu treat my hsrdiwOrk with so little
dignity" Then she pulled away with
her pretty hands until the couch with
its worn chintz covering and cushions
vas placed to her liking in the broad
window, and she comfortably estab-
lished thereon. The warm, golden
beams ofths setting sun rested lovingly
IN her sweet face.
And So, MY dear said with sigh
Of content, fer | was very glad to have
Jean home CHcC more after an absence
OF several w,rIs, you are really en-
.aged to b. married.: l only h,a;L &c
lumOr, as true, the O.0rI day, >i.d hNyv
waited for yoar Own lips 10 tell me AL
about it, and as many Of the secrets Of
loTemakipg Us you will contide to az
cd maids keeping
"Oh, yes, Tm engaged, she answered
carelessly; "but, Octayia, if you art
pinipg for love secrets, | have none to
tell. Surely you know as well rs do
that it was all arranged long ago, before
papa died. It was his dearest wish that
| should marry the Baron Won Stock,
and abroad we are taught to obey our
fathers, even though they die and leave
us: and even without that We DOrsays
never break our word"
She said this simply and as 4 matter
of course, taking of her rings one by
one and making little row of them on
the top of the couch. She was very
young, only just seventeen, but there
was ring of proud truth in her voice
that showed that she had learned her
lesson well.
"Yes, | know, child" answered,
with another sigh not so tranquil as my
former one; "only, you see, can
neither understand nor believe in such
a keeping OF ones word. Here in Amer
lea. generally, a girl msrries for one Of
two reasons either because she loves,
or because she il poor aud needs a home.
The latter can never Ue your case; then,
Jean, do you love the Baron Won
stock: ."
Jean shrugged her shoulders. HE i
fifty" she said, land hiss gray hairs
aud / am just seventeen, aud, you
know, summer and winter can neye,
agree. But I'm D'Oray."
"D'Orsay or no D'Orsay,n ! replies
shortly al do not believe in any such
nonsense. Jean, do you realize WA
you are giving up IL marrying a man
you do not lOve?'
al thiuk do, Octavia."
is there, then, some enc you do love,
Jean"
a long pau,e followed my qu'st;o a.
during which Jean put on slowly tnr
Ginning little circlcts that belonged l.
her slim fingers. Then she said IN
troubled voice: "Oc;avia, that Is it.
what have come to tell you"
A PeremPtory knock ut the door, fol
lowed by the Immediate entrance aGc
familiar voice OF my favorite, DeIi
Durani, Interrupted jeans little c3nEs
siCD-
Are you here, Madam Octavia, all
alone in the cleaning: And may
come in"
Come in and welcome, Dams; but
when did you arrive? Your last letter
said nothing of your intention to return
40 soon. You were on your way t.
Florida then. Did you weary of the
sunny South? or were the Florida girls
less winning and beautiful than you ex-
peCted~
mo ard yes, Madam Octayia. AS to
the Florida girls, fortunately for me
they did not make up MY entire COM
munIty, for / had other things to think
about"
Denis crossed the long studio, and now
stood beside US where We sat in the
quick-cOming shadows. / turned to
Jean To make them known to one an
other.
Jean" l said, "this is your one rival
in my affections; Denis, this is your on.
y cOmpeer in my heart"
bad proceeded thus far, when was
shaken out Of my usual calm by little
2sspiDg noise from among the cushions.
Denis started forward, and to my utter
dismay and establishment | saw him
seize Jeans hands and cover them with
eager kisses, while he said in broken
voice:
"Youhere, my darling! why thought
atnA Madam
tsvIa were friends"
Then Jeans frightened little voice:
"Oh, please, you must not. Oh, De-
tavia, tell Mr.. Durant all about it,"
"Tell Mr.. Durant all about it,n |
echoed; indeed, think it is you two
should make explanation to me.n
And so by degrees they told me. 1t
was the same old story that is forever
and forever repeating itself. They had
met In Florids, gone sight seeing and
pleasure-seeking together, until, as =
foregope conclusion, they had come to
love one another; and then-why, then
came Jeans summons home, followed
by her formal betrothsl to Baron Won
Stock.
'She never let me know. Madam De.
tavia," said poor Denis, where she was
going, or why. Did she suppose held
her love so lightly won and so lightly
lost? What II she Is engaged to Baron
Won Stock, and bound by all the be
trothals In Christendom, 1t doesn't mat
ter In the least. No guardian can dis
pose OF q girl that way in this country.
Jean, / tell you it shall not be. Don't
YOU believe me, JesnT'
But Jean was sobbiug quietly to her.
seIf her face buried In her hands, only
the soft, dark fringe Of hair upon heI
brow visible.
"JGan," said, at last, "sTrely Their
Is no cause for all these tears. II Is quite
simple: what Denis says Is more or less
tue; Ne Baron will never hold you un-
Hing to your word. BE frank with