Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-04-20

th'lA bhAhN NdUNAlI anu Allf idlis SUI
der Subaltern; and Mrs Buxton and Mrs
Rayncr became suddenly infatuated
with each other, while their lords were
seldom seen except together.
All this time. however. Miss TraverS
was making friends throughout the gar
risou. No one had ever presumed 70
discuss the affair i'm her presence. be-
cause of her relationship To the Ray
ucrS. and vet Mrs WaldrOn had told
several people how delightfully."- she
and Mr.. Uayuc had spent an after
noon together Did not Mrs. Rayner
declare that Mrs Waldron was
woman who told everything she
knew. or words 10 that effect? 1t is
safe to say that the garrison was
greatly interested i'm the story. How
strange il was that he should have had
"a tete-a-tcte with the sister of his bitter
est foe. When did they meet? Had they
met since? Would they meet again?
All these We're questions eagerly dis
cuSScd, yet never asked of the parties
themselves. Mr.. Haynes reputation for
Snubbng people standing him in excel
lent stead. and Miss TraverS quiet dig
nifty aud reserve of manner being too
much for those who would have given
good deal To gain her confidence. But
there was Mrs. Rayuer.
She. at least. with all her high and
mighty ways, was no unapproachable
creature when il came To finding out
what She thought of other peoples con-
duct So half a dozen, at least. had
more or less contidentially asked if She
knew of Mr.. layne and Miss TraverS
meeting Indeed she did; and she had
given Nellie her opinion of her conduct
very decidedly. II was Capt. Rayncr
himself who interposcd. she said, and
forbade her upbraiding Nellie any
further. Nellie being either in am adj
Joining room or mp i'm her own ON Sev-
cral occasions when these queries were
prOpOuudcn TO her sister, il goes with
ont saying that that cSJimable woman,
after the manner of her sex, had cle-
waited her voice i'm responding, so that
there was no possibility OF the wicked
girls failing 10 get the full benefit of
the ScOurging she deserved. Rayncr
had indeed forbidden her further re-
buking Nellie; but the man does not
live who can prevent one woman'S pun
ishing another SO long as She can get
within earShot. and Miss TrayerS was
paying dearly for Independence.
Ii cannot bee estimated just how great
disappointment her visit To- the from
tier was proving To that young lady.
simply because she kept her own coun-
sci. There We're women In the garrison
who lougcd 20 take her TO their hearts
and homes. She was So fresh and pure
and sweet and winning. they said; but
how could they when her sister would
recognize them only by the coolest pos
>ibic nod? Nellie was not happy. that
was certain, though she made no COM
plant. and though the young officers
who were daily her dcvotccS declared
she was bright and attractive as She
could bee. There were still frequent
dances and parties i'm the garrison: but
March was nearly spent, and the wealth
cr had been So vile and clustering that
they could not move beyond the limits
of the post April might bring a change
for the better in the weather, but Miss
rravcrs wondered how 10 could better
her position.
materially dependent ou amy one. and
Miss Traycr> was virtually dependent
ON her brothcr-iu-law. The little share
of her fathers hard savings was spent
ou her education. Once free from
school. she was bound 20 another APP
premiership. and sister Kate. though
mdulgcut fond and proud. lost no OPP
portunity of telling her how much she
owed 90 Capt. Rayucr. 10 got % bee "a
fearful weight before the first summer
was well over. IL was the main secret
of her acceptance of Mr.. Van Antwerp.
And now. until she would consent TO
name the day that should bind her for
life 20 him, She had mo- home but such
as Kate Rayucr could offer her; and
Kate was bitterly offended at her.
There was just one chance 90 end 10
now and forever. and To relieve her sis
tcr and the Captain of the burden of her
support Could She make mp her mind
90 do IL? And Mr.. Van Antwerp offered
the opportunity.
So far from breaking with her, as She
half eXpcctcd-So far from being even
angry and reproachful on receiving the
letter She had written telling him all
about her meetings with Mr. Iaync-hc
had written again and again, rcproach-
ing himself for his doubts and fears
begging her forgiveness for having
written and telcgraphed To Kate,
humbiiug himself before her i'm the most
abicct way. and imploring her to recon-
slider her determination and to let him
write 70 Capt. and Mrs. Bayner 20 re-
turn TO their eastern home at
once. that the marriage might
take place forthwith and ne could bear
her away to Europe i'm May. Letter
after letter came, eager. imploring. full
of tcndcreSt love and devotion, full of
the >addcst apprehension, never re-
preaching, never doubling. never COM
handing or restraining. The man had
found the way % touch woman of her
generous nature: ne had left all 10 her:
me was at her mercy, and she knew well
that he loved her fervcnlly and that 10
lose her would well nigh break his
heart. Could she say the word and be
free? Surely, as this mans wife there
would be no Serfdom; and. yet. could
she wed "a man for whom she felt no
spark of love?
They went down to the creek one fine
morning early i'm April. There had been
"a sudden thaw of the SHOWS mp the
gorges of the Rockies. and the stream
had oyerlcapcd its banks, spread over
the low lands and flooded some broad de-
pressions i'm the prairie Then. capri
ciouS as woman'S moods. the wind
whiStled around from the north one night
and bound the lakcletS i'm a band of ice.
The skating was gorgeous, and all the
pretty ankles on the post were rejoicing
i'm the opportunity before the setting OF
another sun. Coming homeward at ldn-
cheon time Mrs. Rayncr, Mrs. Buxton,
Miss TraverS and one or two others,
escorted by a squad of bachelors, stroll
ed somewhat slowly along Prairie
avenue toward the gate. 10 So happened
that the married ladies were foremost
in tha little PARTY. when who should