Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-04-19

Y
He spoke of his future confidently, aud
seemed perfectly contented with 1t. he was
| certainly a youth Of resources; he found
| plenty 10 amuse and interest him for the
fortnight he spent at St. Neon in spite OF
the utter absence of society.
There's nowhere to 60, said Phem'e
one day, unless you take the coach and go
! the way you came, or unless you cross the
loch, and the Summer terry has stopped
now. II you did get across, perhaps there
would be nothing to smuss you at tIncaiie,
it is only little village.
Mr. Derrick declared he was sufficiently
amused and that he liked new experiences,
and the monotony of St. Neots was very
novel to him. He used to lie on the ed : OF
the loch in the few bright, warm Indian
| Summerlike days that followed his arrival,
with a pipe in his mouth and moor" as he
called it 1t was rest, be said, in the in'
tervals of travel. And he often went long
tramps with the doctor, who greatly en-
loved his society. With the elder Misses
Maclean he did not get on so well. Helper.
picked them By his cheerful manner and
alert ways. and they were always losing
themselves in The midst Of his rapid talk.
| So it happened nearly always when the
doctor was away that Picnic and the
young man." as Bride called him, passed
their time together and grew more aud
more intimate. He took pleasure in draw
ing out her thoughts, in seeing her expires
siye delicate little face brighten and
change, Phemie had grown quite different
since he came Her father saw the change
so did her sisters, uneasily. She did not
trouble her head about her own sensations
she only felt that everything was very good,
and that life was brig liter than she had be-
Eeved possible. She lived in the present
entirely, because the present was enough
for her, and her experience had no clue to
the future.
Toward the end of Mr.. Derricks visit
she began 10 consider it. 1t was forced
upon her by a vein OF talk opened. between
them.
He began it: "Do you know, | guessed
YOU and | would be friends" he said; but
it's funny what real good chums we are
like talking to you and telling you things
your re what we call sympathetic you
seem to understand fellow so well. |
never knew but one other person who did
understand me like that"
our mOtler. dShSu ucnllo
Nc" he said, not my mother, a much
younger woman"
Then he bent his head over sketch he
was doing, and did not notice how Phemies
color was changing aud her breath coming
quickly with pleasure at his praise:
Il hope" he said presently that your
life won't be like your sisters"
"Oh, no. said Picnic. The words
were almost cry for help, He seemed to
understand them so.
"If | can do anything to pevent it, 1t
shall not" ne said, in tone that was quite
fercely decided Then he looked gently at
her. DO you think could do anything,
he said, TO make you happy?
There was small boat rowing acrOss the
loch at that moment-the dip and splash OF
and nearer to them in the stiffness OF tue
bright afternoon. Now it came in close,
and the crew, two ragged boys and little
GIRL selected the very spot where they were
sitting to land.
Step out and pull her in, Touald"
cried one shaggy, haired urchin to the other
and Tonald obeyed, but as he put his bare
foot outside the boat it gave lurch, which
sent him head foremost on the single:
Mr. Derrick sprang up quickly and lifted
him, than gave hand to the boat pulling
her in with will, and gaming glance Of
admiration and gratitude from the little
maiden, whom the boys called Maggie"
and who, with her blesched eli-locks hang.
ing over her eyes, looked The impersonatlon
of Young Highland witch.
Derrick was sized with desire to draw
her. He soon persuaded her to sit down on
stone beside him, while the boys watched
curiously; their opinion OF their sisters i'm.
portance suddenly elevated many degrees.
He seemed to have forgotten all about that
unanswered question Of his. Before he had
finished his sketch the bright sky was over
cast, and one of the heavy sudden rains so
common at ST. Neots began to tall. lie
sent the child away then and hurried
Phemie home with the ready carefulness
that was one Of his characteristics.
When she looked out Of her window after
taking off her things the loch was all
sheet of sullen gray, with a tempestuous
breeze stirring its surface.
That is ike it looks in Winter" she
said, shivering, as she hurried down stairs.
Mr.. Derrick was in the sitting room,
discoursing to Bride on the mysterious
sympathies between nature and created
being. 1t is to be supposed that something
he saw in the landscape before him had
awakened bis interest in the topic. but he
had habit of discoursing on the first thing
that came into his mind, until you imagined
that he had thought long and felt deeply
upon it. 1t was part OF his youthfulness.
Bride was not sympathetic listener, so
he turned gladly to Picnic when she sp-
peared, and talked to her until the elder
sister suggested that the blind might as well
be drawn ard the lamp lighted, and the
bleak evening shut out. BE was Just talk
ing about the Canadian Winters; describing
the glorious snow.covered landscapes that
would now surround his home. Phemie
was standing, little quite, gray, entranced
figure, in the dusky light.
Il should like you to see my home he
said suddenly. Il should like to take you
to Canada and show you things you would
feel and appreciate so much.
His voice sounded tender. Picnic was
glad the twilight covered her blushes.
Then he said in louder tone, "MY mother
would like you; you must come and visit
US. Ifyou did that eagerly, there would
be no fear of your settling down to life
Xix this.
He glanced toward Bride who was sitting
in the freight, bent over her work with the
usual gently depressed stoOp Of her thin
shoulders.
Phemle gave little sob Of pleasure; her
excitement was more than she could sup
press, and she was thrilling all over with
the strange sensation inspired now by the
very tone Of Christopher Derrick's voice.
When he drew closer to her she fairly trem-
bled.
Bride looked up with a little start, as if
the atmosphere were too much charged
with emotion for even her serenity to be
unmoved. She only saw picture of
Phemie in the window, her little figure de.
. 60 s..s:,.s. -. III. a..l EL=:=.s..Ls -