Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-05-09

would marry some one elsein twelve months
Thus she put herssh in position of beiu,
able, with perfect honesty, to assure Sophia
at any future day that PercivAl Brent
neither did nor could expect her to wait
for him. And having thus made her posi-
tion good, with rare moderation, or rather
farsi ghtedness, she did not prevent the
young couple meeting occasionally duriug
the few weeks that interviewed between the
breaking of the engagement and Breut's
departure for Australia.
Mrs. Barbara Temple went yet further
in the way OF good.nstured concession.
On the day when Brent came to take his
fusl leave she continued to be out of the
way, sending an apology BY Sophia for her
soscence. 1t was g courageous act, but
worldly wise, / presume, like all she did.
| believe to the day Of her mothers death
Sophia never forgot this particular concss.
sion. Ii sbo we'd such trust in her daugh.
ter, such kind desire not to deprive her OF
any secret comfort which the parting might
give. In fact it was an act Of womanly
generosity aud courage OF which few moth.
era would have been capable. But have
not said already that our little mother was
as truly queen OF women as Agamemnon
was king OF men?
Sophia tried TO be cheerful that dull May
afternoon; for she saw that her poor fsl
lows heart was breaking. Indeed, be
could hrrdly speak Que word. She had tc
tell him of a magnificent present which she
hsdnsde to HIM in secret which was nov
Salting for him 10 London. This was q
set Of foreign travelling boxes, furnished
With everything the good little crestur,
could think of as being possibly of use t.
her dear when he was far away l wish
could give catalogue of the articles il
leather, glass, steel silver; how she hs;
slipped into one part Bible and prsye
book; the little medicine chest, with book
under the guidance of which you coulC
heal yourself of any disease; down to need
les aud thread-"stout thread for buttons
her account read like shopmau's csta
logue. She grew so interested in her clev
ernsss and forethought that she half forgo
the impending parting Bless the heart o
women how it lives in the present, and vii
not realizs the future, be it ever 80 near
Then, blushing, she told him of one psr
ticular little pocket in one particular little
leather case, which he must not open uules
he happened to want money very bsdly
BE might have lost everything, and not b.
able to get back TO Eugland. In that cas-,
let him open the packet BE might b,
very i'll, aud have nothing to pay the doc
tor. In that case let him open the pocket
In any capital aud inextricable difficulty le
him open thst pocket. Poor Sophia the
savings of thrifty years, aud the better par
other allowance for don know how IN an,
more (uorfgsgei to Car aud SibyD haC
gone INTO those boxes and that pocket.
All this time she chsttsd on trying dss
aerately TO be cheerful, he had said it'll,
or nothing. At last he took out his watch
aud looked at it gathering strength.
II must go now, he said.
Then in an Instant, like a frsil hut
swept away by sudden hurricane, all her
little cheerfulness was gone Her stesdi
ness. her heroisu was worth nothing a
all She cast herself on his breast-he wa
able to Sustain her noS-crying, caressine
him clingiug to him, as il she could not
let him go.
Percy" vas all she said darling Per
cy" And he said nothing One thing
his madness enabled him to do he kepi
silence. Bat not word could he utter.
1t is the sea between u" she SAID sob
biug. such a distance OF sea such 0
length Of umeI"
De ouIy cls'ned her to his breast.
But | shall not forget you; you won
forget me; promise it"
No sound came from 81. lips; but some
no" she nnder'to"I. that, With an uuu,terec
vow n "as binding himself to her forever
Promise ms again she murmered
Snll hs did not make any audible reply
Promise me oHcs, she whisp 'red; ant
still without any speech, she was satisfied
that he replied.
Then followed moment Of silsncs, she
Offering q pcAyer for his sata'Y; and In VIVA
shrine so fit could shs oil .r it as there or
his manly breast? Then she felt his srmi
gathering round her in an embrace strong
er, it seemed. than death. 1t was az if 1
gian: claspsd Der; she was like willow
W.ud, aud his arms of steel. Conld such
al EN- brace ever be unloosed2 Yes; 10 4
nom ent she was standing alone on the hool
he WAS p issing OUT of the room, she Gag
herself helpless on the sofa-snd they wer,
parted now.
Ali the time he had never spoken. But
the silence of his farewell was more to hel
than any language could have been. Fl,
could not speak for gciet The intensity
OF his vow was beyond all langu .ge. Sophia
often looked back with sort OF sorro Eiul
pride to that silent farewell.