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


those great hills close in nearer in the heavy
atmosphere.
Bride shiyered as she looked out and
drew Picnic away. why do you sit here,
dearT she said with an attempt at cheerful
ness
I'm not cold" said Picnic. bride, did
it ever strike you that We are just like birds
Gagged here2 we can't get Out"
Bride was distressed TO see these signs OF
the girls old restlessnes returning, and tried
to reason II away "You ere only feeling the
gloom of Winter, dear" she said: every
'one does at this time of year."
Eyes" said Picnic; and there is moth.
ing to help one to forget"
Poor Bride she only half understood, and
she had no cure to apply. She thought Phe-
ME would get over it" aud settle into
placid content as she had done So the girl
dreamed away her days and ate her heart
out in silence.
The days grew on to Christmas, and still
Young Christopher Derrick wrote those bril-.
liant cheerful letters; sometimes to the doc.
,or, sometimes to Picnic. The doctor an.
swered his, and Picnic sent messages, such
] quantity worded messages that made her
father smile. He though she was pale and
quiet, but be hoped his fears had been I'M
founded, as she said nothing. He took her
out with him often, and she would tramp
by his side with fierce activity that sur
prised him. She was often exhausted after
these walks, but never tired, and always
appearing anxious to 60. II he did not
| take her she went alone.
About week before Christmas letter
came to her from Christopher Derrick,
fixing the day of his arrival. She gave the
letter to her sisters to read and went away
20 her rooms, and sat there at the window,
looking on to the loch, with those other let
ters of his in her lap She was looking out
vacsntly at some children playing on the
road; she seemed to find some relief even in
their appearance OF life, among this silent,
desOlate nature. The gray desolation that
had fallen over all the landscape had con-
tinued through these vintry days.
Bride came soon to call her, and made a
comment on the letter, she could think Of
so little to say to Phemie now. She half
dreaded the meeting between her and Mr..
Derrick, but she could not give vent to her
fears.
I'm afraid she wishes he was nct COM
ing she said to her father. Even he was
struck by her utter quietness this evening
1t was very brilliant moonlight night
Brides rest lately had often been inter
rupted by Phemie's habit of talking
in her Sleep Sometimes she had
awoke TO see a white figure pac-
ing the room or sitting BY the window. At
| 90 ho. onN1I
ing, Picnic would say meekly; 81 cant
sleep, dear Bride; let me stay here it is bet
ter than disturbing you in my restlessness."
But the elder sister had no patience with
such vagaries, and Phemie was forced to
subslde into her couch. Lately the rambling
incoherent talk had grown more frequent.
Phemie had one haunting idea. Those
everlasting hills we're closing her in that
dreary sheet Of water prevented all chance
Of escape.
40 get away somewhere" that was her
one idea. In walking hours they heard
nothing Of it, it was only in the feverish
nighttime that the clue could be got to her
state Of mind; and Bride, loving as she
vas, had no comprehension what it all
meant.
At last there came night, one bright
moonlight night few DAYS before Christ
mas, when Bride, walking from her SUM
bers with half startled fear, missed Picnic
from her side. That was not so unusual a
thing as to cause her intense alarm. She
raised herself and looked about the room
and there was no Picnic to be seen.
Bride sprang from her couch in alarm;
| pbah,ia haI IN lanai
No; Janet was sleeping alone and serenely
until reused by her sisters eager clutch.
"Phemie not in her room? Perhaps she
had gone down stairs for book, or-or-'
but Janet, too, sprung up instinctively with
dread OF something.
They went down stairs to5ether-the front
door stood open, and broad stream Of
moonlight flooded the passage. The two
women's faces grew white, and Bride stole
swiftly up stairs again and reused her
father. "Phemie gone out? Nonsense, the
door must have been left open last night"
| Nevertheless he hurried down, too late to
spare Janet the terrible discovery.
Impelled by that vague fear, she had hur.
ried forward following the track Of small
footprints IN the soft sand OF the garden
walk Through the gate, down to the
waters edge, DR.. Maclean and Bridge fol-
lowed, in time to save her falling forward to
grasp at something white that could be dis
,inguished little way of-the bird had
got out of its cage.
: X
Christopher Derrick arrived on Christmas
Eve, to be plunged into dire distress at the
calamity that had overtaken his friends.
He had an interview with the doctor, who
looked grayer and more meagre than ever
The young fellow almost cried in this dis
ress and pity. When his own implied share
in the tragedy burst upon him he buried his
face in his hands and sat crushed. He
only once made an effort to defend himself
Il didn't know never thought" he cried
brokenly. One makes friends with so
many girls wanted to be her friend
That was the mistake, said the doctor
quietly; she didn't understand. 1t was her
| rrisfortune-poor chld-not to be on level
With this Plaionic age don't blame you;
int in my days young men were different,
hey said less and meant more. II you d
known how young and how Ignorant she
was, and how she never played at love-
30 it was a terrible reality yet-youd per
h8ps have gone away sooner. ~.
"a would have done anything to save her,
said the young fellow, with a warery Look in
bis eyes, IF Id only known
The people OF the hamlet dwelt with pa
,hetic interest on the sad story of Miss
Phemie's nervous illness, and tragic acct.
dental death. The poor dear had wandered
cut in her sleep and stepped into the loch.
= Belgravia.
M0SAlCS.
Art builds on sand the works OF prid"
And human passion ChaD-" aud TALL
But that which shares tn" lie "i God
| With him suTviyyth all.
-WOrd,w %, h.
4 L IL e 81 10