Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-11-25

4
"Oa, Jim" said the little wife despair
ingly.
C,rroll was white to ais very lipA
Never mind, childie,n he said, putting
his arm round her and trying to speak
stsa1ily.
oh, my dea-, 1 can't help it." she
sobbed.
There was long pause; then Msriury
said, slnost cheerily: "Perhaps if You
went to Mr.. Lyle he could tell you,
jim"
81 did 60, MrjoTy, yesterday" hs in.
terIupted her, quietly, "but he has ,ne
from home for fortnight. Itmy drawing
had been Successful he would have written
before he left. Try ros to gr;eve, darling
it can't be helped" Jim went on, with q
sickly smile. 1--WE must try something
else. 1 may hesr OF som stbing to-day"
"Pe-tap, there wilt be a letter to.
right" said Msrjory with renewed hopa,
ss size bid her husband goodbye at the
door.
Jim came homs a o. 1T six, looking terri.
bly, weary and dep e:ssd. He had beet
uns Iccessful-onca more
mo letters yet, DEAR" sad his wife,
fastening CO answer the unsroksn question
In his eyes. As she spoke they heard ne
p >stman's knock in the distances; it came
nesrer-and died away.
Perhaps there will BE- ons in the morn.
ing" Marjory went on, but her voice fall
tered.
In the morning another long, awful,
sleeIless hight of hoping against hope. of
madden;ng, steadily-growiBg despair! Jim
shuddered. He was worn out, physically
and ueatally; and he fit as though he
could not ttInd the sickening suspense
longer. As he looked at his wife, her wan,
changed little face, with its pile ghcst OF q
smile, seemed to pierce his heart.
A strange, terIible, determined look set
tied round his mouth, but Marjory was
leaning her curly heId against his arm
and did not see his face.
Tee room was q1te da-k now, but ttey
ware still standing at the window. For a
tims Carroll was very still. Then he said:
~ am very tired, Marjory darling. l
will lie down for q while. DON'T disturb
me. IL didn't slesp last night" (ncr
FIR many nights, he might have aided
'B1t won't you have cup of tea first,
JIM"
NO, don't care for any"
"a long sleep will do you good, dear"
she saii, apxiously and caresingly. "YOu
look dreadful
Yes" he answered, in a strangely
quiet voice, "a long sleep will do me
good" Tbea suddenly, kiss me, Ma
jory?"
"Ah, my own dear disappointed boy
she cried, thro wing her arms around him.
He held her to him tightly and kissed
her again and again.
'My darling" he said hoarsely. MY
own darlingr
Then Re lei her g and went away. She
heard him go up stairs, and his footsteps
echo N the rooms aNOVe.
M joiy SIT at the window for long,
'Ong time, aud watched the stars grow
b. lighter and clearer in the soft dark sBy.
Somewhere in ths distance st:est organ
vas wa'lrng out an old hstkueyed waltz
tuce 1t stirred hfr te,rt strangely. Sac
remen bsred dancing that WALL with jim,
go ve-y, very long ag)-.t seemed lO1g ago,
ike everything else that was bright and
hpp5ful Even MNjory's brave i,tl9
h art wa3 heavy Tonight. What would
b:crme of them, she wondered? God only
kew.
The clotk in ne Ct b ,riug church 20 yer
doomed out GA t15 night air, and as the
last stroke died away there WAS a sharp
knock at the door. 1t was the postnan.
Mli Try took the lstte, he held out 20 her,
aad c'osing the DIOR again she went back
to the sitt!ng rO)m. With trembling fn-
gers she lighted the candle and sx tmined
the euv, lOoe yerly. Yes, it was Mr.
L7le's handwriting! MsIjOry recognised it
without difficulty, for it was ap,culisr
ta7d. With betting heart she stole soft
y no stair --yhe did not take the candle,
for fer CT wskirg Jim, should he b.
asleeE-aud p cpd alto the bedroom. All
WAS still In the pale starl GIT she could
jus. make Gu: tis i'm outline Of his figure
on tie bsd
Jim" che whispered
NJ answtr.. II, WIS evidently asleep.
Al! itse med pity to wake him, she
thongtt; and p"rhars, after ell, the letter
held lad news. She salty laid shawl
over him in the semi-darkness, and crept
down star again.
Af'er Ioolirg at the fateful env, slope fn
some time, she slowly oEe-e1 it. She
co1ld rot wait, and shs knew Jim wou'd
not mind. In another moment she uttered
a little glad involuntary cry, and her lips
parted in a joyful. half-ircredulcus smile.
Could it be 10 sib!I! Yes-Jim's deIign
had been sele tied as the best; the premium
would b, his. Aud this was not the only
good news the letter contained; for Lyle
went on t. say tia he had heard of va
cant appoiI TIM ant, which he thought be
could-througI his fathers ind1tnce-se.
care for Carroll.
Mgioy h d her facs in her ra1ds: for
mcm4 Dt thu revision OF feeling was al
most 700 much. Teen. in passion OF
tears and thankfulr e3s, she fell upon her
knees. But she could only say: Thank
God, Thank G)d"'
An hour psstd The moon was drift;
irg sm1rg the stars and streaming in
through tbs one lrtsin' windows on Ma
iny's f &c wet with happy ters. The
ca IDLE had burned itself oat.
Alb, what jryous waking il MS would
be! Should she lay Il e letter on his pillow
to Rurprse him when he aEoSe? o.
should she reuse him? PERHAPS he was
already awake.
She lii fresh BIT of candle, and, still
boiling the pretirus letter, went Up stairs.
She lad tie c1ndla down Just outside the
bedroom d or and entered very getty.
How deadly It II the room was.
jim she sid scit'y.
Bat jim dill no ans wer. How soundly
he slept.