The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-07-15
HIS MISTAKE.

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brother, who was lounging in an
easy attitude with a cigar and a
paper, "Did you deliver my mess
age to Agnes, last night?"
"Not see herl And the evening
before you We're at the club supper.
That makes two days in which you
have failed to visit her, what will
she think of it?n
"Oh, | can make it up with her
this evening. But what's the use
in going every day to see girl
when you're engaged to her? Real
ly, considering how fellow is com
PEELED to give up his friends and his
amusements, and devote himself en-
tirely to a woman when he's court
ing her, he may be allowed some re-
taxation when they're engaged
The games nettcd, you know" he
added ,-as he languidly feckcd of
the ashes of his cigar.
"But not landed, replied his sis
ter, shrewdly. "And let me remind
you. Fred, that many fish escapes
from the hook of the net: You've
had some trouble in securing Agnes,
and l did all 1 could to help you;
but when a man has been all devot-
ed for six weeks, and then upon be-
ing accepted, begins to relax his at
tentions, he is playing a dangerous
game"
"It's great bore, this courting
business" said Fred, as he tossed
aside his paper. .'I'll be duced glad
when the whole thing is over, and
as married man l can go and come
as please"
"Another thing" resumed his sis
ter. "Do you know that DIR. Ham
mond is in town."
"Too late. / have secured the
prize"
"But remember, Fred, it is a wo-
mans privilege to change her mind
when she chooses. Agnes, 1 have
heard, was always inclined to like
DR.. Hammond; and if he really low
ed her, as some people thought, he
really made great mistake IN GO
ing on that western trip without ad-
dressing her. He is probably not
aware of her engagement. And
suppose they should come to an ex-
PLANTATION now and she should throw
you over"
He laughed carelessly.
at isn't likely that she would go
back on me for the sake of clod-
hopping country doctor"
"He isn't a clodhopper, retorted
his sister, in vexed tone. "Dr.
Hammond is good looking, clever
and dignified gentleman, though he
was brought up in the country. 1
warn you Fred, not to be too care
less or confident"
Yet, looking at her handsome and
elegant brother as he stood before
the mirror daintily twisting the
ends of his silky mustache, she
thought in her sisterly heart, that
it would be strange thing for any
girl to refuse him.
To be sure, Fred had but little to
depend upon but his salary; that
was why she had been SO anxious
for him TO secure the hand of the
only child of rich parents. And as
Agnes, besides being a prospective
heiress, was both pretty and attract
i've, Frederick Ross had, as he ex-
pressed it, grown "deuced fond of
her." and was very well satisfied
with his prospects.
That evening he called on his be-
trothed who received him, some
what coldly.
DIR, Hammond made his appear
ance, ana, as Mr.. Ross observed,
with supreme contempt, carried a
plain white pocket handkerchief
and wore tie, not of the latest
style.
Agnes, however, did not appear
to notice this, but listened to the
doctors conversation with evident
pleasure; while Fred became con-
scious of an odd and uneasy feeling,
as though he were somehow grow
ing physically smaller. 1t was a
relief to get away at length.
81 fancy she's a little piqued," he
said to mis- sister at breakfast next
day, "but I'll make it all right this
evening"
But that day Fred found himself
in dilemma. He met with friend
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