Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-08

counif&, and thooRhk no<t1pe ehont fhem-
The holiness Of the GRAY. Heese. bdx-
eseS did iAn pPoa pe sonssAst Hks .
N, husbana 'Tas ssry bosy:: The NaSen-
hsr ieee, 9ciisaedn 81 Deeember ckiEs. had
played 80 hGg3 suas npOa the vocal chords
and hpgpekiat suhes u old and goaag. and
Il vas = kaod time Cor The doctors, but
scareely 80 f0E the doctors wires My hus
band. Waller. did not think me very streag,
and his Rreat love made him careful Of me,
20 bad uos begun to 60 those promised
rounds" with him. l must wait I'LL the
Spring for that. he told me, or 1t any rate
till my cough was gone; so the days proved
very long ones 10 me, Andour evenings and
-uichtz we're often disturbed too; Walter vas
80 frequently wanted. i loved him, and did
not regret my marriage, bat life In the Gray
House has . wonderful change from the
dear life in our busy home at Lsngford.
There was NO sohiuded there, and but little
little time for thought One Of those dear
eleven, Of whom made the complete dozen,
was always wanting something, if it were
only eonpauionship. Now, there was no
one to speak TO but my mother in-laR, and
she was in low state Of health and almost
confined to her room. This i did not mind
at al when nv husband was st home. out
during his many hours Of absence, l we'll
nigh regretted the fact
There was no need now for me to turn
dresses; my rousseau had been good one
for al that my father was not wealthy, aud
| had enough good clothes TO last me for
years; nv stockings were new and didn't
want one stitch. Walters shirts were all
perfect couldn't find button Oh. was
not the young lady who had nothing to
wear, but was certainly one who had moth
ing to do. All my calls had been returned;
the few festivities given in nv honor had
been attended, and Christmas was drawing
near.
We were to have given q party to &C
knowledge the eivilities of our neighoors,
but Mrs. Fairfax's state of health precluded
the possibility of anything of the sort
As the year wsned, so did her strength,
and Walter was seriously alarmed about her.
On Christmas Eve he passed his arm round
me, Lily. darling, he whispered. Il am sorry
YOU should have such duh season; | fear
YOU must feel it after ysur own bright old
home"
Il feel nothing but happiness, love, when
/ have you with me-" answered, raising
nv face for the kiss he did not tail to give
me.
II fear nv mother is very i'll, little wife"
he continued in q low voice, but please
God, she may pull through. / have done all
my work for tonight, my Lily, and we will
hang our holly wreaths together; it will be
pleasant to do that our first year in our own
home"
II thought of that and waited" answer
ed him with q smile.
"Of course you did, little one; loves in.
tuition told NE So and be smiled too.
During that evening we went up to see
Walters mother many times, and we
stirred the pudding" when we came down
again. :,
The last piece Of holly was being placed
behind one of the pictures, when violent
peal at the surgery ben told its own tale.
Mr. Fairfax was wanted immediately
II thought | had visited every one who
could BY any possibility need me, ne said
in a yexed tone, as he listened to its clang-
ing. They seem in hurry, l had better
see what is the matter"
He left the room accordingly, but soon
returned.
Unjust 20, little woman" he said regret,
fully, and / shall be lucky il am home
By midnight; shall have ridden 20 miles
before we meet again; look after mother,
there's darling"
Yes, dear, and shall send the servants
to bed? can let you in.
ut would be as well, perhaps; I'll ring
for Martin to put away the horse when l
return. He viii get half nights rest be-
fore then" and with one kiss he was gone.
1t was the first Christmas Eve l had ever
spent virtually alone, and felt very dull in
deed.
Every sound seemed to increase in vol
ume and intensity; the very tick OF the
clock upon the msntlepiece seemed to bears
unusual meaning, aud seemed Ike the beat
ing of human heart, o. human pulses, to
have human hopes and human fears.
went ~ to look at Mrs. Fsirtsx-she
was asleep came down again and played
q game at "sohtaire," struck few notes
upon the piano, and shrsnk from the noise |
lad made.
At nine I rang for prayers and read them,
then gave my two maids and the lad their
dismissal, telling them all to go to bed, and
that Mr.. Fairfax would ring for Martin when
he returned; and once again / was alone
The FIRE was getting low, replenished 1t
with q log, witch threw ont htful CLEANS
while / sat beside it thinking of my old
home and wondering if they missed me this
FIRST Christmas that their number had Aot
been complete.
From them began to think of Mrs. Fair.
fax again, ana questioning whether she still
slept.
Il certainly was bitterly cold night, aud
shiyer would run. every now and then
down my back, but somehow do not think
it was altogether the cold which kept me
crouchlpg over that fire. watching the gas
lets ard the blinking flames Il wanted to
20 up stairs to see my mother-in-law, but
something chained me where | sat. Surely
II could not be fear?
had never felt afraid that could re-
member, during those eighteen years OF life
in the old hone at Lsngford. | had listened
10 ghost stories and laughed at them, and
yet as I sat there that Christmas Eve | re-
called the rumors had heard Of there be-
ing something uncanny in my present home
and | felt uncomfortable. / could not re-
member any definite tale or legend, but
vague stories came to me Of there being some
thing amiss, and settling upon my mind, al
most paralyzed it. 49,.
Am l myself9' l cried at length; this
Will reyer do, Lily Fairfax; you're COW
ard"
Thus self accused, l sprsng from my chair,
and shook myself as Newfoundland dog
might do after indulging in too long a nap
when his masters premises want looking
after; and with feeling akin to tear-if
not of fear itself, which contracts the heart
and tightens the nerves. crossed the room
and assembled the stairs.
How glad was that went
Mrs. Fairfax was awake and wanted some
beef tea, and her FIRE needed replenishing;
she was quite in a talkstive mood, and l
forgot myself while attending to her wants