The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-02-26


glanced up inquiringly.
"Ycs. / dc, Jimmy persisted;
SHUTS the letter Mr.. Hepburn gave
me 10 mail the day before he got
sick. Do yon rcnemher his saying
that little cross was a secret society
sign2
"Why didn't } on nfailit Jimmy2a
Mr.. Wade interrupted, sternly.
@why. sir, on my way to the Of
fee, Mr.. Weaver took it from me,
and said, he'd mail it himself
Jimmy had taken the letter from
Mr.. W:ides hand. and turning it
over, exclaimcd:
ats opened nowp'
There was no need to question
Weaver; the look of bitter hatred he
turned on Jimmy told his guilt more
cloqacn,ly th.sn any words.
s'Mr Weaver. am sorry fort :
Mr. Wade said. simply, aud left the:
. At-tAa-'
Ills heart was very, Lenders toward
the poor boy lie had seen that morn
ing tossing restlcssIy from side to
side, aud stii trying to murmur
"Bertlia.
"Tle name is the same, he COM
mentcd. eI'Il take her the note
and explain its delay There may
be connection between this aud
his brain fever Col grant there
is N
Hurriedly calling cab, he drove
TO the address on the envelope, and
was soon greeted by young lady
who responded 10 his Inquiry for
"Miss Bertha Wiley
She was very beautiful girl, but
there was none Of the gay bright
ness one wouli look for in :, crcature
so young She lad an air OF weal'i-
ness like that which comes from
long nights of sieeplessness, and
there was suspicion of tears in her
voice as she greeted her visitor.
as this sour Ictter?' he asked,
abruptly
She looked at him rather haught-
lily an instant, then her whole air
changed to one OF intense eagcrncss
aus she caHght sight of the address.
ayes" She breathcd, and in "a mo-
ment had taken the note and de-
vourrd its contents.
"whcrc ,iiI you get it?' 5: e ask
ed, looking up, the pretty color Tat
tingcd her checks as she read dying
out, and her little air of hauteur re
turning, though her eyes still dane
ed, and therc.was glad ring in her
sweet voice.
Ignoring her question, Mr.. Wade
said, sharply:
"Do you know its writer is
dying?"
"Dyingl Frank-oI, my darling!7
There was 10 need to ask if this
was the Bertha. onIy one woman
can utter mans name in that
tone. The light and color died out
of her face in AN instant, and Il hard
strained look came in their place,
moro pitiful than any tears. She
put her hand on her heart mo-
ment, and then said simply.
Take me to him, please
"Gct Your hat Mr. Wade an
swered.
But she only looked at him again
and whispered: 'Take me to him. >"
Without word more, he led her
to the still waiting cab.
On reaching the house, Mr. Wade
left her in the hall and hurried up
stairs. a few swift words explained
to the doctor below, and he hasten
ed down.
"You must be very quiet, he said,
gently, though the charge seemed
unnecessary in greeting the almost
stony figure that awaited him.
"SIeep must come within an hour,
or death or hopeless insanity will
result; brt go to him, look and
speak quietly and naturally, and if
it is you he is dying for "a shudder
ran through the girD we may save
him yet"
The girl rose and went to the
glass. "Look and speak naturally. .
Even in that hour of anguish she
wondered if the face there was hers.
He would not know those pinched
checks, those staring eyes and
bloodless lips. She stood moment
biting her lips, rubbed her checks
and then smiled at tho
glass. That wonderful thing, a
woman's love had triumphed over
/ nature- and with n smiIintp face she