The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-09-08


and fnaliy 70 OPEN ,tAffate on the psrt
ofthe generous people who had once ex-
tendcdt their arms 10 hlni. His father
had died, and the widow, an ardent
soutbener earned tolcok on him with
eonstrains Even Hal, merry, haud-
some Hal Who had adored the ground
lance trcd upon, began to quarrel with
him. ThdFt Wa nothing for It but re-
tteat. Laneelct tettitned 10 his northern
home and soon heard the news that Hal
had become q volunteer at Manassas.
After that there wn,a long and painful
gap III sieir relassonA It was while
wandering aimlealy ground Eurcp tati
years later that Iancelot made up his
mind 70 rtilfh 70 America, and to yidt
the home q his fathers. The iresolu.
ton once aiken wa acted upon with
almost ieverilh zeal, Now HiGl
he had again lhaken HalS hand, had sat.
isisd hinistli that To aim lad of 70 was
still somewhege lurking behind the ven
Of adipose matter onthrcndink tlio man
OTIS, Bafksdala bfeathod long sigh q
'gellci. tt3sl .hs tguils, b. va oneot
those guileles natures content 10 take
things as they find him. Barksdale'S for
eign airs excited ID him wonder not un.
mixed with amusement. he fell to spec
ulating over what the women would say
to the coming Of this importation Of fas.
tidIous elegance into their impoverished
household, In old times Chetrycote had
never Speculated secufe in humely
plenty, II had simply flung wide open its
doon and hidden the stranger in.
Suppose we walk the rest Of tho way"
Barksdale said, springing with Glacrity
from his ttiouSstrap Of an equipage. u
havs so much to say to you, Hall l don't
know whore to Begin
i don't walk much nowadays; but
still" said the squire, getting down in
rather q breathless fashion, and leading
the mule, followed by Pos and his spas,
ined steed, along a road rarpeted with
pine tags and bordered with wild honey.
Suckles.
Haven't asked Jou about your wife"
LAncelOt said, when It appeared that the
question could no longer In common
courtesy bs deferred.
@Kittyi Why, she's Splendid" said
the squire, heartily. ~And II you'll be-
lieye me, lance, I've six young ones, all
girls. The old house Is as full ns ever,
but you'll find things down at the heel,
| reckon. The same story everywhere
hereabout: no money, poor labor, no re-
pairs the women struggling with tneffi-
cient servants, worn-o out furniture, worn.
out clothes. But Kitty's temper don't
wear out, thank GOdl You've not for
gotten what q splendid girl she was,
Lancer
Il have not forgotten her In the least, "
his brother answered, in o tone Of slight
restraint,
"You must have been surprised to hear
married her. When you left, was
far gone in the direction Of Polly Rivers,
Of Rivers hall, you remember. Polly
played the dsvll with me; was engaged
70 another fellow all the while she wore
my ring. saw her last year at the Old
Sweet, and, by George, Lance, she's as
big round as q barrel, and has three
chins, Kitty, noW, Is slight, and has
kept her figure wonderfully. ] didn't
lose much time in courting her after
Polly bounced me, did II She was al.
ways the jollieSt little thing, was Kitty"
Lancelot thought Of tho time when he
had last seen Kitty Morris, then a youth
iul cousin Of Mrs. Barksdalc's, on a sum.
mer visit to Cherycote. She was stand.
ing In the deep grass Of the old orchard,
under thrcherry blossoms, In the springof
81. She was atnerc slipof a girl then, with
large, dark eyes, and a weight Of dusky
hair upon her small, proud head. He
remembered the gown she wore, sort
Of full.bodied, thin white stuff, with
sash Of crimson, and the trick she had
Of interlarins her small, brown south
ern fingers when she talked.
sNeyer! nsverl" she had cried out, In
an impetuous treble, the sound OF which
still echoed In his ears. -What prom.
iscd was not to an enemy OF my coun.
try, / would rather die than marry
you"
She had faced him brayely, deflautly,
two red spots flaming in her ordinarily
clear, pale cheeks, hut there was a trenl.
bic in her voice as Il she would have been
going to cry instead OF speaking.
Thus they had parted, and now Lance
lot was again to meet her as the wife Of
his half.brother, the mother Of Halls six
girls, For moment he felt like turn
ing back upon tho threshold Of his
visit, but after poor little Vaga-
bond Poss had been sent 10 the
servants quarters in quest Of rsfreslI.
mmt fUr tfian and beast, the two walk
ers struck into q well.remembered path
across the orchard leading TO the house.
The cherry blossoms were again In
bloom, and there, under green arcade
Of snow.laden boushS was seen a merry
group Of ladies and children picking vio-
lets in the grass.
LAncelot caught one GLIMPSE Of Kitty,
recognizing hOr instantly. From tile
girl Of II she had expanded into a splen.
did beauty OF q, 1.-THE and brown as
ever, with rich color in her cheeks, not
in the least Suggesting matron op.
pressed by many cares Of maternity and
housekeeping. Swarning over her
wUrg q number Of affectionate small
girls, and at 4 little distance sat Nn.
Barksdale the elder, looking thin and
care-worn, engaged In conversation with
lady whom he dimly recalled as an.
other cousin Of ths by.gone days, then a
coqusttish pssunage with dimples, and
wonderful plaits Of hair worn in a crown
around her head. The dimples were
still evident, though the checks had
faded, but the abundant braids were
percephbly thinner. Barksdals took in
all these details, although he wondered
at himself for observing them In face OF
the immediate and powerful impression
made on him by the first view OF his
sister.in.law. Tho color had recedsd
from his face, leaving him deathly pale.
what Is thv mAttOr with you" asked