The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-10-07

!
noon, dcar:' asked Ray mond, on his
way out Of the room
oh certainly, she responded, with
ready alaCrity.
At the foot Of tho stairs, Raymond
met Jessica. "Is It true.-this about
your marringel' he demanded abruptly.
Sho laug6ingly freed her hands from
his firm clasp
Catherine has been babbling."
That is no answer. Tell me, arc you
TO marry soonl" hg persisted.
She sh!vcrcd.
"Oh, Brother Raymond, don't yonsao
| am cold lot me 90 up to Gathie S
room: she always has a good frep
'Tell me" he insisted, placing ono
hand under her chin and raising her
face to his.
II shall never marryp Then she sped
upstairs, while laymond went out Of
the house with o cleared brow.
''jOsSlcal iou are shaking like q leaf
Have y0u q chill Catherine demanded,
as Jcssca sank down on therug, spread
ing ont her hands to the fire, shiyeriug
sud- lily.
"Oh, don't know Catherine, nm
going away jessi2a exclaimed, with
chattarng teeth.
WHAT nonsgnsop
ut is true! | think shall visit auntip
a while"
"Ani .ustnow raymond was planning
q trip for US all-Rnd | was thinking OF
Cuba, grumbl6d Catherine.
"Oh, sloald be no end Of trouble, SO
please leave me out OF your plans.n
The nOXt day Raymond said
"Ncll, ladies, how would you like to
leave home Tor a while"
"Oh, spl.ndi.ly, and intend going
straight to auntie's this very afternoon
] tolcgraphed ho this morning" said
.ossica, nonchalan.ly poclmg an orange
doftl} for little ay. Raymond looked
at hor ard asked, in o quiet voice:
why do YOU wish to pain us so,
Jessie
"Now, Rrother raymond, sho said,
deprecatlnyly, ut giving him q dctaut
glance, for you to imputO ovl motives
Is too mughlh
an hour afterwards he followed
cssica into the li9rary, whcro ho know
she had gono,
"Jcsstca,' ho commenced abruptly, "I
an going away tomorrow, TO DO gone
an indefinite time. viii YOU not re.
oSn your decision and remain with
Gathio and the children Till my rc,urn!"
"hut ! have ielcgrIphcd Aunt Ruth, -
she answered, IN n low voice, unCasily
lingering \ io0h.
You can send her q second tele.
gram"
81 will"
He went ont. A spasm Of rain con.
tor'ed his face, while ho went on to
GATHERINGS room.
very well, Raymond, We will put oil
onr trip 10 tuba till you return, she
pro Gise,t her Euslund, after he hal ex-
pIaincd that mpormn. business called
him away for seyera. weeks.
The next day, after no had said
goodbye to thom all, grouped together
In the lower hall, kissing Jpssica last
OF all in n brothcrly way, he returned
to the sitIiug.rOOm Tor q forgotten
paper half an hour Rft0r hO should
nave been on his way.
tossica was alone In tho room, arms
.ung ont on u table, head buried Le-
tween them. She looked up at the
opening OF tho door, and slowly ross
when she saw Who ii WAS.
All her bright beauty seemed gone
her lips were tightly drawn and ashy
laIC, her cheeks were C)lorleSs as mar.
bio, her brown eyes dull and dead.
Why do yOa return, Brother Ray.
mond"
81 remembered a paper had left
here, after ! had gone half way to the
station. | cane back for it." he hur.
rIediy plaiRoi.
q" Onr will. Ilcro il is, and sho OK.
tended n shaking hand to him. He
claspcd both hand and paper, and drew
her to his breast.
80 my God JcssiCa, 1t is terrible
Do you not know that | love you-dO
yoa not $40 that It Is my mad love for
you that is driving me from my homer
she hal leaned likO q dead weight
against his heart. now she lifted her.
self, put both arms about his neck, and
kissed him.
1t was o kiss of ronunclation-but be
did not know that
go, now, Brother Raymond; you
may return to Catherine SOON" and
With soft smile playing on her lasC,
she pushed hin away.
He wont out and away.
Come, FAY, lot Aunt Jessie row YOU
5ycr TO that island where We went So
often last summer.
And can't mamma and Eatio come,
60 cried tho littlo boy, clasping lis
hands
"Ygs, DEAR
II was three days aftor Haymond's
departure, and JcssiCa rowed the little
party safely to an island situate in tho
river which ran by their Florida home,
The little ones soon tired, aud Jessica
was ready TO take them home,
Jessie, You DO not seem well to-day,
dear Ian afraid il was not prudent
Tor any OF us to come out to-day. The
east wind Is 10 raw and chilly, and you
don't seem strong enough 10 row The
Uoat" Catherine objected,
Jessica, with n smile, took her place
but Catherine said sho would wait Gil
Jossica too; tho children to tho shore
then she could call Sam or Jim to CONT
back for her.
Jesslca tnoE the Children safely over
and Catherine saw hor kn cl and kIs
them thon, giving them to their nurse
who was waiting, I0s3lga onco more pro
PEELED the toat toward the island.
"JCssica, It is not like you to he 81
porvorsc Why did you not cAll Sam K
como after me, as proposed"
"Caihio, dear, don I scoId, but kis
mo kiss mo twice, ouco for IOthe
Raymond; and tell him 90 whom h
comes homo, won't your
"iOu can deliver your own kisses t