Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-04-26

l. @O1 AOCAs
Mrs. Hart had written advising him to
delay his coming until she should give
the word, for Phyllis would prefer that
he should not join her until she should
be permanently released from dark
ened room and quite herself again.
Ii had been worded very delicately,
and the letter had been monument to
Mrs. Harris tact and diplomacy; but to
Royal it had seemed singular and had
hurt hin not a little. His wife did not
want him, that was evident; and he had
obeyed, feeling at disadvantage, but
too proud to thrust himself upon her.
He had in measure lost sight of John
Royals part in the affair, and had come
to regard it as pertaining only to Phyllis
and himself.
He took key from his pocket, entered
the house, and turned on the lights,
passing from room to room. 1t was
tastefully furnished, for his sister had
helped him, testing slyly the while
about his obvious intention. He had told
her of his love for woman in the east,
and she, knowing little, imagined much,
and considered the whole affair as set
tied She entered into the house plans
with enthuiasm, and impaired to her
| husband, in the sacredness OF con1ugal
confidence and sworn secrecy, that she
believed, she truly did, that Hart would
be married within the year.
One little room, opening out from the
chamber and intended for his wife's
special sanctum, Royal had fitted up
himself, remembering faithfully all the
things he had ever heard Phyllis say she
liked, and arranging them for her with
his own hands. He went straight TO this
room now, and for many moments stood
and looked about trying TO imagine the
change il would make when she should
be sitting in the low chair by the open
| fireplace, which he had put in TO remind
her of Virginia, or resting on the sofa,
which he was sure must stand just at
the angle to please her, with the light OF
the window shaded from her eyes and
tiny table near for books or work baS-
ket. He moved about gently, like man
in sacred place, and thought loving,
reverent, loyal thoughts, as became
true man. He would not sit down or
take liberties with the place-althOugh
she had never entered it, In his mind
ii was her sanctuary, with which he had
nothing TO do until she herself should
make him welcome.
He went out presently, shutting the
door gently, as though afraid OF dis
turbing some one. Then he turned off
the lights, locked the door, said word
To the Waterman of the square, who was
outside awaiting developments, and be-
took himself home to his sisters house.
AS he opened the door his ears were
assailed with the sound of lamentation,
and he discovered his youngest niece
prone on her face on the hall floor. He
picked her up and comforted her. The
baby put her arms around his neck and
nestled her wet cheek against his. As
she did so q letter dropped from her
apron and fell at his feet.
whats this, Daisy?" he questioned,
STOPPING for the letter and seeking TO
divert her attention.
Zoo lefty" sobbed the little one;
"baby fees it to zoo, and her fallded
down"
Poor baby There, there, don't cry
any MORE" turning the letter to look at
the address, and slipping it in his pocket.
Jack and Jill never thought OF such a
thing as crying when they tumbled
down and cracked their crowns. And
jill was a little tot no bigger than you,
which was applicable, but not accord
ing to the text. Come into the office
and let uncle patch you up and find you
something"
I, al " hrfr la inc
atmosphere.
Royal laughed, and bore her of on his
shoulder to his own particular den.
! Later he examined his letter. There
were many closely written pages from
Mrs. Hart; but these he laid aside,
bouncing on a little note inclosed the
first he had ever had from Phyllis. 1t
was a tiny sheet covered with dozen
lines or so In pencil and commenced
with quaint formality:
/ DEAR DR. RoYAL.-This is my first at
tempt at writing for-I am afraid 10 say
how many years, and ! am as proud as
peacock TO be allowed to write at all. Have
been promoted to goggling blue glasses
very enjoyable, but hideously unbecoming,
which At the present luncture is OF no
earthly importance. Write me- long let
ter all to myself / no longer need TO bor-
row other peoples eyes. And-come home
soon 10 Phi Ills.
1t bore no faintest resemblance to a
love letter, being precisely such note
as one cousin might write to another
cousin; but Royal could see no fault in
it. Even the formality of the opening
which he sat down to coyness-
pleased him, as investing him with his
own identity, as it were. II had always
grated on him TO have her give him the
dead mans name.
He touched the note with his lips, as
boy lover might have done, and slipped
it into his breast pocket. 1t crystalized
the purpose which had been held in So
! luton for hours in his mind.
Before he slept that night he wrote
long and loving letter to his wife, con
tanning a clear aud manly statement of
the whole affair, and ending with an
earnest entreaty for her forgiveness and
to be allowed an opportunity to win her
love in return for the love with which
/ his own heart was filled.