Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-04-12

silence.
80" he answered, surprised.
II seemed odd Co him, no the mOmeat'
that the woman should put that QueS-
t.on 90 the man.
"You were so quiet that l had to
laugh. To seemed So funny 10 sit up
like two owls. never saying word TO
one another" she proceeded we are
cousins. you know, John, just the same
as we used % be. But perhaps you are
I'm pain2"-with a quick change OF voice.
+ Are YOU? Tell me 40 once. Ought
YOU 90 come? know 10 was the money
aud that foolish clause in the will about
to-day. But for that we might easily
have waited until you were strong
again. Isn't travelling bad for YOU
"Not al all bad Royal hastily re-
snonded. ION the contrary, it Is the
very best thing iu the world for me
indeed. for MS both. I'm much stronger
than YOU suppose" He could hardly re-
strain q smile as he made the assertion.
The plans must not be changed. We
must leave by that 2:2O train. IL is i'm
perative that we should. You are ready,
suppose
he intended 10 take her whether she
should be or not, bur put the question
for sheer nervousness. Anything was
better than sitting beside her In state
of absolute pasSivity.
sob. YES My trunks were packed
some DAYS ago. and all the arrange
ments made. Nou were 50 eXphcit-So
$50 maStrrful" another ripping
laugh. You have not changed ln that,
John. You love Your own way still
Is DC noe SOP But the arrangements
need make no difference. We can stay
over o. day or two JO rest il 10 Will be-
better for YOU. Nou will like GO SEQ the
old place aud to visit Aunt Anne
grave. She was SD fond of you. We
CON g stop over Cor that.
B.t Rova. would not hear OF stopping
over for anything. His private feeling
toward the deceased was one of distinct
luminosity. Tie hoped orthodoxy aud
veurefu.ly that she might be DONG
spiritual peuance for the trouble
and distress likely TO oe en-
tailed by the acts Of her mate
rial life, and would gladly have
known chat she was aware OF the mis-
carriage of her plans and greatly tor
mented thereby He geueraiZed for q
moment I'M regard Co the old home and
the desire 90 see 10 which he was eX-
uected 90 feel; but he made IL evident
that he intended 90 leave by the urSt
down train.
Tnlike brides in general, this young
lady aypeared docile and amenable TO am
exc .ptionable degree, Roya. IN the
midst of his anxiety, wondered over her
and felt the soul within him moved TO
gratitude Then his professional eXpe-
rience reminded him that women are
usualIv submissive 20 the power con
ferred bv suffering. In the eyes Of this
woman he. perhaps, appeared wounded
hero.
Her next words made evident that
such was indeed the case.
..That horrible accident she muir
+ n1red. and quick Shudder ran through
her frame. Il can't help feeling that
half has not been told me-that you
have AN conSpired 10 keep the worst
back aud make light Of it, in order 10
spare me pain. You poor fellow. no"
YOU must have Suffered 1t was terrible
IA home coming ike that, after SIX
wears exile. When l think OF 10 all
.of what YOU have done for me-ot what
Won are doing for me and enduring Tor
Inv sake-aud then think of the anX-
.i.rvin store for you-for us BOTH fee
.thnta lifetime of love and devotion Will
hardly paw interest ON the debt l owe
v0-. Am ] worth il 10 you, John.
ttr..r .....- t... ,r-..-tf IN vDul
Her voice trembled a little, and Roya.
had am intuition that she was holding
back tears He felt sudden Strlc-
ture of the heart, as though the blood
had been drained away. This was not
tho happy chatter of girl bride, low
ing and beloved. Through this woman
voice pulsed an uudercurrent of pathoS'
thrilling It's sweetness ike minor chords
I'm music. He felt, somehow that m
,Dfte of his best endeavor he was TAX
inr unfair advantage of she man who
had trusted him, was getting glimpse
into arcaua which no stranger unau-
thorized should penetrate. HIS pity
crew apace. and beside 10 developed a
deyourfng curiosity, until his very
breast seemed strained by stress and
.comDlexitv of emotion He yearned TO
,naa, 10 her. but burst not for lack oil
DroDer words and an assured position,
and SD dumbly waited, feeling that II
She should continue 20 talk In that
strain during the rest of the drive nc
could not be- held accountable Tor ms
action.
She did not appear 20 notice ms
frr-
was in some subtle way conscious OF the
tension OF his mood, or she may nave
been preoccupied by her own thoughts
For little space there was silence.
That old time is so long ago thai
YOU can't love me in the old way, John
IL isn't possible. There has been sc
much I'm your life-chauge, adventure
and Quantities Of new and interesting
people Not quite in the old way, Out
enough still 90 enable me % develop
now and stronger love. They say a
love increases with the strain put on 't
and I'm that case yours will grow as com
ra.t and firm as the heart of an OAK.
That's pretty 90 think OF, isn't ~
Then with 81 sudden change OF tone: III
is six years since we have seen eacl
other. John. Just think of IT, They
.av chat I have changed very little, anc
4 suppose you would have known mt
anywhere. Have You changed, won
der2 Let me see.
ROYAL involuutarily turned his face
away and drew his breath hard I'M,
was tine moment he had dreaded; for II
She should detect the imposture there
would be the end of his scheme for spar
inc her still a little while. And how
would il be impossible for her to detect
fa She must have had q series of pho
rorraphs Of the other John Royal dur
Inc those years. pictures that would have
rbronicled each graduation Of change
There was no help for il. however, so he
b~sc,d his nerves and faced round hall
deiantly toward her.