The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-06-18
a REpENTED mERorsM.

1t was not poor Ethel's fault in
the least. She could not prevent
Tom Kendall loving her any more
than she could help being the dim
pied, merry little body that she was.
Tom could not have told you when
he began to care for her, because as
far back as he could remember
Ethel had been the prettiest girl in
the world to him.
Only low garden wall separated
the two houses, and it was quite nat
ural that Tom should come over it
every day. Il was a little shorter
way than around through the gate,
he would say, and Ethel gazed adj
miringly at him as he cleared the
wall at a bound. 1t was lonesome
at home for him with only the old
housekeeper and his father, and they
did not take the lively interest
which Ethel did IN kites and dead
insects. Tom s mother had died in
giving birth to him; so he had never
known the tender words and loving
touches for which in his childish
way he had unconsciously hunger
ed. His father, a sombre, studious
man, lost all his interest in the
world in losing the one woman who
him and frightened his
home like sunbeam. Though he
was very fond of Tom and kind to
him, in his own quiet way, yet the
child stood a little in awe of him,
and gave his father none of the
childish condolences or merry chat
ter which might have reused the ST.
lent man.
They were not rich; but Mr.. Ken
dali had a small income from GER
tain properties he owned and on
that they lived; the father among
his books and studies, and the son
growing up, as children will. 1t is
a way they have.
Etbel's mother was widow and
wealthy. Besides being the only
Ethel was an hciress in
her own right, and would be mis-,
tress of a large fortune as soon as
she reached the age of twenty-five.
Mrs. VanZandt was fully alive to
the Importance of her daughters
prospects, but the thought of money
never troubled either Tom or Ethel.
As they both grew older, how
ever, and Ethel was almost eigh-
teen, the unpleasant fact became
evident to Tom that Mrs. Van Zandt
disliked him. He had not noticed
it as child; perhaps the dislike was
only passive then perhaps not
there at all, but it certainly seemed
to be there now. Her bow was
frigid, her manner icy; the dear lit
Tie drawing-room had lost its coziness
for him.
And now, unknown to Tom, the
worst had happened. Mrs. Van
Zandt had forbidden Ethel to have
anything further to do with him,
and Ethel had heard the edict in ST.
Ience. Accustomed to obey, her ST.
ence was taken for assent, and Mrs.
Van Zandt congratulated herself on
the management with which she
had settled this little affair.
And poor Toni He could not un-
ierstand, at first, why all his invita-
lions were refused by Ethel, why
she was no longer cat home" to him,
no more delightful little strolls, no
more rides. What was the matter?
There was only one solution of the
and that was one which
ne did not like to discuss even with
Ono moonlit evening Ethel had
gone down to the garden, and there,
Gaming on the little wall, was Tom.
She started back, but he called her
20 imploringly that she half hesita-
led, and then was lost, for in anoth-
'r moment she too was leaning on
the garden fence.
"oh, Tom, Tom," she whispered,
Il must go back-I mustl'
"Now see here, Ethel" he said,
half in command, half entreatingly,
what is the matter with you any
how2 Lately you refuse to see me,
you run away if 1 come in sight,
and now you are unwilling even to
talk to me. No-I shall not let you
go till you tell me. Out with itl''
And as the dismal story was told
Tom gnawed the ends of his NOUS
tache diligently, and then the
laughed, actually laughed.
She looked at him in surprise.
"Do not be angry, Ethel" he said.