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


leeu. 'Poor Talbot You know We uset
to tease you about him st one time, Hester
indeed, al Silvercombe thought-
"Good night sYca must tell me "a tn
news TO morrow am too tired to talk 10
night. Please seud me up cup q t.
prssent,y; Ispontr come down again" [
j., Hester took mp her wraps with her usua'
/, quiet dignity, and, head erect marched up
stairs, If abe we're wounded, none should
know. But abe vas not Sounded. No such
false report should destroy her faith in Tai
bot, her lover, alive or deadI The girls had
made mistake. 10 could not be truei
\ Next merning, Sunday, she caled herself
as il were in srmor OF aProof, and went Oh
to church. In her 9nist corner, hidden from
the eopgreaaGsa By the old carved pulpit,
abe Wa. mot panied by giances Of either
wonder or pity, nor BY the sight Of borette
Trscy In her ksbionable mourning, wiping
I, away an occasional tear, with q black Dor.
4 defed handkerchiefs .Butan ordeal awaited
! Der, when the service vas oEersISAs she
] emerged by the chancel door, intending to
escape The usual greetings IN the chuFoh'
| yard, and steal quietly home by the private,
! path to the Rectory, she WAS waylaid By
graceful figure in trailing black robes, who
stood barring her way with outstretehed
hands. b.
Dear Hester! the very person | most
wanted to seeI You were at GuestWycke
yesterday. Do tell me how arc thedear old
people1 You know, of course" with 8
keen glance at Hesters pale faee-"you
know the tie which binds US together You
have heard that poor Captain Guest and l
:. :" She paused, a pause suggesting
uncomfortable emotion, and passing hand
| kerchief lightly over eyes.
| II know you say you were engaged to HIM,
| If that is what You mean, Mrs Tracy, Hes
ter answered bluntly, trying to disengage
the hand which the widow retained in her
own.
I'VE kept our secret well, think. Mrs.
! Tracy faltered gently, "but now | have
thought it right to let his parents know all
that passed between us, and how dear he
was to me.
Hester, wrapped in her panoply Of proud
reserve, bowed with grave indifference, and
made as though she would pass on.
~ have begged for an interview directly
they are able to bear it. Meantime it has
been such relief to know you were with
lhem-you who. knew my poor Talbot SO
Hester wrenched away her hand quite
fercely. Excuse me, MrS. Tracy-my IA
| Their is waiting" The torture was more than
she could bear. There were limits to endur-
ance; and though she miSrusted Lorette
Tracy and her heart chung obstinately to
| lis belief in Talbot's fidelity, her reason was
beginning to yield. What if the report were
true? Who could blame him if hurt at her
cold rejection, be had consoled himself else
where, and carried his suit where it would
find more ready hearing? II only 1t had
been any one else! Hester moaned in her
despair.
The girl had left the manor house with a
promise to repeat her visit to ralbots pa
rents as soon as possible. II had been ar
rarged between them that the rector should
drive her over one morning early 10 the fol
lowing week, and leave her to spend long
Gav with her old friends:
Hester for her par! burned with feyerist
Impotence 10 find herself once more at
Guestwycke. Perhaps amid the old scenes
her faith in Talbot would revive, and this
horrible conviction which WAS forcing itself
rpon her would loose its hold. Alas! poor
Hester
Upon her arrival at Guestwyc&e on Tues.
day morning she found the quiet household
stirred into great cOmmotion. \ fire burned
in the large seldom.used drawiugroon;
freshly.cut dollhouse flowers we're disposed
about the tables. Mrs. Guest came to meet
Der in a strange hutter Of excitement,
though with the usual afectiouate welcome.
MY dear. You have heard the news!
How little | guessed it when we last talked
together Mrs. Tracy comes to Us this az
ternoon-we could not do less than ask her
bere-she who would have been our poor
boys wifc" The old ladys lips quivered.
She made her young visitor sit beside her
on the old.fashioned couch and began I'M
fastening her wraps with trembling fingers
Dear Hester, you will not mind driving
back in the socisble this evening? The
barouche must 90 for Mrs Tracy; we must
show her every honor for Talbots sake; or,
better still'-with a sudden happy inspira-
tion-"wont you stay few days and help
us eDtertain,herT
mo, no; impossible" Hester broke out
smitten with sharp and sudden pain.
Mrs. Guest turned with mild surprise in
her bright old eyes
my dear! l would not press you against
your will You have many duties and en-
gsgements, know.
Hester recovered herself with an effort.
Dear Mrs Guest! ] am always 50 happy
here! Some day when you are alone again.
One visitor at a time will be enough for
YOU. .
"Ah. WE'LL it seems all so strange, If
Talbot had but trusted us with his secret
Did you never suspect il, Hester? You and
my poor boy were always friends; indeed |
once hoped passing her hand
carressingly over the girls auburn hair
But was not to be!
Hester writhed under the kind touch which
almost broke down her composure. She
could not speak word.
You know this lady, think, my dear, "
Mrs Guest went on. Tell me what is she
like? Pretty? Gentle? Well hammered
oh don't ask me- poor Hester broke
out in uncomfortable agony. Her over
charged heart seemed bursting with pain.
Then in a stiAed voice: 81 kuow-so little
about her.
lam not fond ofstrangers," " sighed Mrs.
Guest
~ wish you could have stayed, Hester!-
But CT course she is very nice, and we are
sure to ike her; dear Talbot's choice the
mother consoled herself softly.
AS Hester in the humble sociable reached
the end of the drive that afternoon the re-
turning baroucbe dashed in at the great
gates Of Guestwycke. The groom who was
driving her pulled up to make way for it,
and its occupant Mrs. Tracy, leaned forward
with bow and smile. A smile of triumph,
Hester thought bitterly, And this was the
rival who had supplsnted her, who was to
take her place at GuestwYcke as the child
of the house!
1t had been some comfort TO her sore heart
to think she could be of use to Talbot
dear ones. To cherish and care for them
TO fill the place had left empty-what else