Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-08-17

at an end unless Capt. Lane humbly
apologiZed. She had been mercitully
spared hearing il: for the fearful express
sion of his face when they discovered
him listening at the pOrtiere had caused
her TO faint away, and she only came TO,
Gordon said, in time to prevent his
pitching him out of the window, so ut
terly was he tried She was so thank
full to have in Mrs. Riggs a friend who
would not see Gordon wrOnged and who
could be counted on to deny any stories
that poor Capt. Lane in his diSappont-
ment might put in circulation"
But Lane never mentioned the sub
ject. As for the letters TO which she
referred, they all followed him east in
one bundle and were sent to her I'M
opened; and she knew when she wrote
to Mrs. Riggs that, though she might
have told him ALL" as she said, he
never knew a word of it until his eyes
and ears revealed the truth that
wretched night in the library where his
brief. sweet love dream began and
ended.
There were other matters wherein Mr..
Noel himself was consulting Mrs. Riggs.
|
accident of service might make him
captain, and then, if precedent were fol-
lowed, "he might be ordered TO join at
once. Ordinarily, as she well knew,
nothing would give him greater joy: but
now-Solely on Mabel's account-he
hcSitated. A friend at the War Depart
ment had said that if Col. Riggs would
approve, six months leave TO visit
Europe, for the purpose of prosecuting
his professional duties, might be OBJ
tanned. Would she kindly, etc.
There was no one to write or speak for
Lane: only one side of the story was be-
ing told and, though the men had had
little else than contempt for Noel, they
were of small account in molding garr-
son opinions as compared with two or
three determined women.
But no one saw the SOrrOwful, almost
heart broken. letter written by Mrs. Vim
cent to Lane. She had no words in
which to speak of MabelS conduct.
They had both been deceived; and yet
she implored him for forgiveness for
her child. The world was all changed
now. Their home remained to them,
and her own little fortune, together
with the wreck of Mr.. Vim
cents, but Regy had to go out into the
world and seek to earn what he could.
He had no idea of business. There was
no one to step in and build up the old
! farm, and the executors had advised
| that everything be- closed out. Mr..
| Clark's affairs had been left in lamenta-
bic confusion, but luckily he had moth
/ ing else TO leave-nOthing, that is, but
confusion and creditors. People were
constantly importuning her for payment
| of his liabilities, claiming that they were
contracted by the firm. Her lawyers
absolutely forbade her listening to such
demands. If she paid one-fourth of
| them she would have nothing left. Lane
| thought of his sacrificed Cheyenne prop
ertv and the little fortune he had SO
/ freely offered up to save TO the girl he
! loved the home in which she had been
reared The very roof under which the
girl had plighted her troth to him and
| then diShonorcd it for Noel-under
which, day after day, she was now re-
ceiving, welcoming, careSsing him
was practically rescued for her and her
mother by the money Of the man she
| had cast aside.
The wedding cards came in April. 1t
was to be a quiet affair, because of the
/ death Of Mr.. Vincent within the year.
| Lane read the announcement in the
| Arny and Nary JoIu1IGl, and sat for
while. the paper dropping 10 the floor and
/ his head upon his hands. Elsewhere in
its columns he found full account
I 81. I,-a
/ ly well acquainted with all the parties,
except perhaps the gallant groom.
| When Lanes servant tiptOed i'm mt re-
vcille the next morning 10 prepare the
| bath and black the boots he was sur
prsed to find that officer sitting at his
desk with his head pillowed in his arms.
| He had not been 10 bed, and did not
know that revcillc had sounded. Was
he in? Did he need the doctor? No
/ He had to sit up late over some letters
and papers, and had finally fallen asleep
there. All the same, DR.. GOwcn. hap
pening into the hospital while Lane was
visiting one of his men after sick call.
stopped and kccnly examined his face.
Il want you to 90 right To your
quarters and stay there. La ne, for YOU
We got fever, and believe. mountain
fever" were his immediate orders. IN
be with YOU in a moment 1t was only
the beginning of what proved to be a
trying illness of several weeks dura-
ton. When Lane was able to sit up
again it was the recommendation of the
post surgeon and Of his rcgimental
commander that ne be sent east on sick
leave for at least three months. And
the first week OF June found him at
West Point: ne had many old and warm
friends there, and their panionShip
and ,ordiaity chccred him greatly. One
night. Strollng back from parade To the
broad piazza of the hotel, he saw the
stage drive up from the landing and 4
number of visitors Scurry up the steps
in haste to escape the prying eyes Of the
older arrivals, who invariably thronged
the south piazza at such times and curl |
ouSly inspected the trayel-Stained and !
cinder-Spotted faces of those whose i'll /
luck it was to have to run that social !
gauntlet.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Aphorisms
LOHGmdn's NQga-ihe