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


and an otlicer OF great promise"
ID was late when the rector returned. tired
and wet with his drive in The drizzlins rain
which was now failing fass-Deyon fssbion.
A slight, dark figure, with . pale deathly
face, met him in Che hair and entlyItook
bis dripping oysrcoas. Dora and Kxtbleen.
tired OF waiting, had gone otto bed Only
Hester remsined to received her father.
She warmed HE clippers ct the IRE and
poured out the coffee she had kept hot for
him, al with the same serene impassabi
Her father sas down By the Ere and
stretched himself. and slipped the fragrant
cofee before he SPOKE. g. !,
Hester waited silently. -
Well child / have had sad TINA.
Poor Jobs Guestt Hehas seen four sons
80 before him. and now the old place must
iAA 70 strssgeFsI- She,brought ont all Tai,
bots letters to show me. Hester, praised
him ard Kept by turn. Not q word OF re-,
ptHiog or complaint Their patience preach,
ed me q lesson. tell you. ~
The rector spoke 6ercely. perhaps TO hide
his feelings, and swallowed down lump
which rose in bis throat &.
"Ohl by the-Oyi, Mrs. Guest wants you to
90 ard see them. If you did not mind.
she said, sweetly, so humbly. always think
ing of others before herself"
When papa?' Hester's voice sounded
strange and untuneful.
she is going to send the csrrisge for you
to morrow afternoon, and hopes you will
COntriye TO spend night or two at Guest
wycke. You are good hand at comforting
people, Hester Do what you can tor them.
GueStwycke was fine old Tudor manor
house, lying high above the river, which later
on, after many windiDgs, rushed through
Silvercombe on its way seward. II was
built of red sandstone. ard was smothered
twice a year In purple wIsteris blossom.
But the flowers had faded and gone like
everything cheerful about the place; the
windows were yelled as Hester drove up, the
silenced seemed to speak sudibly OF the
calamity which had befallen. How many
happy hours Hester had spent there in the
old times never to come again! How many
8 warm welcome had she received in the dim
old hall which was the glory OF the manor
house. Now she was drawn silently into an
embrace almost convulsive in its fervor, and,
blinded with fast.falling tears, was led into
the darkened library.
The good child has come, John. Here
she ism Mr. Guest took Hester hand in
hers and drew her to the Preside where the
master of the house sat in his great leathern
chair. He was elder than his wife by many
Years but the storms Of life had failed to
ruiile the serenity of the fine old face; those
arisiocratic, clear cut features we're stamped
with tke impress OF noble mind.
49, Hester
felt awCd rs though in a royal presence as
she sat between her kid old friends. Hers
were the only tears that fell, for the tount Of
sOrroWs soon runs dry in aged eyes But
the sight Of the girls sweet face saddened
by their grief-for the simple old couple
never guessed at her share in it-seemed
comfort TO the poor parents in these first
days Of tteir Ices.
from chilihCOd Hester Conway had been
a FREQUENT visitor at GuestwycEe and sweet,
sad memories luIksd for her at every corner.
Up and the shady avenue Talbot Hsd led
her cid pony when he first taught her to
ride-uron the shining beaches of the river
rippliug below-dull now, and gray with
the gloom that wss everywhere this dreary
November. They hGd Hoated lszily through
summer afternoons; on this very shady
bank they had fingered last autumn when
he had asked her 70 be his wife. What
issues-though she knew it nOt-had de-
pended upon her answer!
One word from her, and Talbot would
have STAYED to be the comfort OF his parents
and in good time to play his part in lite as
master of Guestwycke, an honest country
SQUIRE ike his father before him. And now
liesteI Folt that his death lay at her door !.
She pictured him toiling tired and sthirst
across the arid desert. thinking Of her as ne
rode YEARLY on She pictured the three
DAYS fghting face to face with Death IN that
terrible ravine amid the thunder OF guns
from the heights above, amid thirst, and
WEAKNESS and despair, till the mercitul
messenger brought its almost welcome sum
mons. Or did he fall early in the battle
and was that beloved head with its dark
curls trampled in desert dust by friend aud
Zoe? Oh, it was too horrible And it was
she who had goaded him to his doom
Should she ever dare confess as much to the
poor parents who mourned the son OF their
/ Old age? Hester felt almost guilty in re-
| ceiying their caresseS. If they had but
/ known! She crept away into solitude when
ever il was possible to weep her heart out
! in miserable selfreproach. She had not
thought it possible to endure grief more bit
ter than she suffered during those two days
: at Guestwycke, but her cup. as 1t seemed
was not yet tUll.