Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-15
HESTER.

Il should think you might have known
when fellow was in earnest. I've gone on
with TO end If other girls before, but this is
the real genuine thing. You must have seen
all the summer how I've worshipped the
ylyy groDud you trod upon. Look hereI'
Hal Owed Ia'o the recesses OF a coat pocket
scmer here near the region of his heart,
brought forth 8 small paper package, and
extracted from it q sharp fragment Of white
ryck. Hester Conway looked on with in
tCr5St.
0uartl. isn't ~ she asked gravely.
de nodded. You remember the picnic
on Earricane Reach? You picked that up
and gave il 70 me because it was q bore to
carry, and I have kept 1t ever Since.
lnyoluntarily Hester broke into a merry
laugh, for she knew that impetuous Hal
had been in love fifty times before, and
would be nifty times again. But for the
moment he was desperately serious AMI
Hester repenting grew suddenly grave
again. oh Hal! how ] wished il had
Seen something better worth keeping, and
E.Ore-mOre comfortably portable. Pray
throw it away, and let as forget all this
nonsense.
impossible Hal stalked gloomily
along between the high banks Of the shady
pe,oushire lane where the two were walk
nc and looked mOOdily at his boots. I'm
not q fellow 10 fall in love one day and out
he next, Hester, You must have heart
As hard as this stone, or YOU would listen to
me more kindly
4 look Of distress came over her sweet
lace, she stopped and laid hand upon hts
Am. Dear Hal, forgive me for laughing
L. -
indeed. cant give YOU any other answer.
Not if ! t7y again next YEAR come
Of age next year.
80, Hal; ! could never think Of you IN
that way
Then there must be some other fellow"
To account, Of course, for my refusing
arycne so extraordinarily fascinating as
Nr Hal Lester, Hester answered, laugh
:ag again; bu, Hal was quick to perceive
hat she aushe4 TO the very brow. His face
IL
Well, must make the mos, Of it; but
,9yy that other fellow his good lack Hal
Ugh dhesvilY, sigh strangely out Of accord
uah his sunny face. and the short silence
rEch :o1ozsd brought thsm to a turn in
H.. ono lane where the paths Of the tEO
IrHrchcd Gpari-Iyesters by grass grown
aIidle-road. whose uukept hedges we're tllu-
minated here and there with SPRAYS Of flame
colored bramble leaves, to the Rectory, hard
oy the old church tower-Hsl through the
massive gates OF broad carriage drive to
he stately mansions brimful OF wealth and
luxury 10 which he was sole heir. At that
moment Hal felt he would have gladly ex-
changed all-broa1 acres, house aud sill the
chattIes thereto appertsining-toc : ~ rs
rom the lips of the girl who stood facing
him, holding out her hand.
This must be good-by, as you leave to-
morrow. We are friends still; are we not,
Hal And hope somes day you will ind
some one ever so much nicer than am,
who wiz be able to love YOU as you deserve,
and when you do, I'll welcome her as a SIS
ter
The promise was poor comfort to Hal,
who could have dispensed with such passion
less regard, and who felt at that moment
and perhaps would feel for the space OF a
whole weeE-as though his Rfes happiness
WAS wrecked forever. He walked on pom
derinV with some old suspicious revived
within him. Could it be after all that she
really cared about that fellow Guest? and, If
40 WHY lad she let him 60 to Egypt when
ali Siiyercombe knew she had only to LII;
her finger 10 have him at her feet? Hester,
Tor her part had often lately asked herself
the same question. Alas she did not know
hen. what she had found out since, that her
Old playmate Talbot Guest was more to her
than any one else ever could or would be.
Il Was the old story:
How could tel I should love thee TO day
Whom that dly he'd not uC8r.
How could know ! should love thee away
When did not love the anear.'
Not until she had sent him away did Hes
Ter begin TO find out how insipid and color
less the routine Of daily lite was without
him. But il was not too late. Had ne no:
aid he should try again, and meantime make
himself mere worthy of her? The girl we'll
remembered The sieadfaSt look III his sunny
ry,s "a he held her hand in \ clasp whlch
,nrDed out 10 be one of farewell. Hester
had lafl SilyercOmJe 70 visit some trlendS
Jirectly afterward, and the next news she
heard Of her lover was q notification IN Inc
Western Times that Captain Talbot Guest,
mn Battalion Of the Devon Rifles, had been
,pno;nted 10 a command in the Egyuan
4rmv, and was leaving England immed!-
a,eIy. That was only last winter; but al
raadv in her dreams, waking and sleeping,
Heater was picturing her hero's return from
hi, harvest of glory, bringing hls sheaves
with him to Law at her feet Halls plead,
NOS this November afternoon had recalled
lat 10 her thoughts which was never Tar
way. With q rapid step and happy hSu'
IN her fawn brown ewes she hurried hom-
ward through the gathering dusk. Iea-thS :,
intrD,iye afternoon meal which we have all
made 20 welcome to our hearths OF late
WAS already waiting when she reached the
Ractory. The bright little kettle was steam
ms ON the fire, but her sisters had not re-
tpTped There was only the rector tue
hall putting on bis o7ereoat.
Going out again, papa! You have only
lust come i'm cried Hester in surprise LOT
her father usually held this hour with the
newspaper (which only arrived at tea'ume'
sacred from disturbance.
lam going on a sad errand, child; Inose
Door old people at Guestwycke Hester
hear, stood stin. She seemed to know every
tbipg in a moment, and when her father
snoss sgaip Il was no news he was telling
her.
There are terrible tidings from the Sou
Dan. What a world it is! The son OF theiI
ola are and such a son as Talbot Guest,
Thers | can't wait. Take The Standard
and read for Yourself have TO go and
break the news The doctors coward 10
such things; and Lethbridge says II Is no nj
bus business, though he has managed 81
their affairs for;fosty years. Tell Dora Whe .
am gone. may not be hom S,, I'LL lS's.
Is the trap ready, William Inc rector o
groared to himself as he mounted the ooH
seat aud drove on. But Hester never uttered
sound. Silently she took up the ne"Spa
per sud turned to the kilograms
Disaster il the Soudsn. Total detea'