The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-08-24

amid the sweet-sCented grass sud WalCl
the clouds as they sailed along above, o
to follow the swift flight Of heswallow
as they circled and whirled at dig,
heights, He would lie thus for hour
with his mind filled with wild iancles o
the future, when his luck had changed
Denny had a poets soul, but lacked
poets power oil expression.
Denny and Inza Porter grew up to
gether. They were playmGtes Will,
children, and their friendship seemed Il
grow stronger as they became older
Denny was so kind and gentle that III
seemed much like a girl himself, Inzl
was a little, dafk'eyod, red.llpped witch
whose very soul seemed always a'bubblt
with mirLh. She was unlike Denny II
many respects, yet something seemed Il
fbind them together,
One night they wandered away across
the fields 10 an old moss.cOYered well
where they stopped To watch the sunset
Inza sat down upon a fiat stone anG
Denny flung himself at her feet, The
sun had just sunk behind the western
hills, but the purple and gray clouds
were painted with The various colors o.
damask, crimson and motion gold.
For several moments they satthere en-
raptured at the beautiful scone. Finally
Inza spoke:
breathed.
lie drew a long breath as though .
sweet spell had been broken, and his eyes
sought hers.
"Beauufull" he whispered, in a soul
thrilling way. "Yet the word does mol
express 1t. Painter or poet cannot repro
duCe the beauty, the peace, the love o.
God there Is In such scene"
For a long time after this they did mol
speak, but Toasted their eyes on the acene
before them. Finally Denny took lnza't
hand, and gazing into herdark eyes, said
"Inxa, / love you. You know this al,
ready. We have grown up together, and
our affection for each other has been nc
secret, yet now l wish TO tell you that II
Is not merely as a friend that l love you,
but l want you for my wife. VIII you
marry me?"
lnzl was startleu,
denny" cried she, "you surprise
me l have not dreamed Of hearing such
words from you, and yet IL have" she
confessed, falteringly-"I have not al.
lowed myself 10 think Of such things
for 1t seemed that when you spoke suCh
words you would tear US asunder for
evef."
"Why,n he asked hoarscly. "Why
tear US asunder9 Ifyou BECOME my wife
that will simply bind US closer together
denny" she spoke softly, "can you
support q wiie2 We have been together
from childhood and l acknowledge thai
love you, vet would l not be a burden
on your hands2 You have nothing with
which to begin life, and you say luck hal
always been against you. Would moi
your situation be still worse were you
married7"
For a few moments his head fell upon
his breast. They sat there in silence
From the pasture far away came the
mellow sound Of a COW bell and the crow
that was still circllng over the woods
uttered a few harsh cries,
Suddenly Denny started TO his fec
and stretched his hand toward the sun.
painted west.
0There is gold therel" he cried,
"Gold In the western land You car
see 1t reflect against the Bkyl Inza, | am
going there to make my fortune. From
this hour / am going 10 be a man, and
Dennis Lowry's luck shall change,
will come back rich TO claim you, InEa
You will wait for me, darling.
Words were not needed Tor his an
sweri one look into her dark eyes waG
enough. He .Clasped her In his arms
and for the first time their lips met In {
kiss Of true love.
A week later Denny started on hil
journey.
Soon she received letters from Denny
-hopelul, encouraging letters. She an,
swered them all, trying to cheer him who
was working for i%ortune-and her. Blu
slowly o year dragged by and still Denny
was as far from fortune as ever. Hi
luck hung by him like q spectre.
Finally he ceased 10 write. INA wa
tortured by hope and fear. Had b
made a fortunate strike and was coming
homo, or was he sick, perhapa dead
She could not tell.
Another year wore away and ther
InSa was married. II was q match o
her parents making, and she consented
10 please them.
One evening Just at sunset, eightyearl
after InEa's marriage TO Joel Gray, a he
%whiskefed, footeore, weary.appearinI
tramp turned into Mr., Gray's dooryard
His clothes were ragged and his entirl
appearance was that Of q mai who haC
seen hard times, indeed. He came alonl
the path with aslow, tired step. Nea
the door n little dark.eyed girl was play
Ing, and the tramp paused 10 gaze stead
lily at her for several minutes, InSa
who was standing by a window With
baby IN her arms, regarding tho strange
With some alarm, saw him dash q tea
from his eye. Then bhe knew tina
there was nothing 10 fear from him.
Just then Joel came from the barr
yard with q trimming milk pail In elthe
hand. The stranger turned toward hin
~ he approached and asked II he ooult
haye Sotnethiug q eat and a night
lodging,
III 10 asking much, I know, said th,
tramp, III an unsteady voice, Nhut d
not lind shelter, ! must sleep beneatl
the open Bky with only Gods greet
grass for q bed. have. seen Bette
days Sit, but luck always was agains
me-"
Joel Gray had no particular love 10
tranps, yet there was something Abou
this man that won bis sympathy, AZ
result, the stranger was given some sun
per aud permission " stop u de tatt
hplye that night,
Tie tramp ale hls bread and milk A
silence, but 1nEa was cOnsclous that
pair oil sad blue eyes were watching he
every movement,
The man did not eat much for one VIII
pfoiessBd 10 DO 90 hungry, and wheI
lnA spoke 10 him he replied In q Low
mumbllng manner. When he. had 90
lshed eating and noyed away from th
table, little Lucy, fSnA's ollebt chile
came 10 him and deliberately clltnbe