Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-07-26

ish foolish women or mercenary men, |
but you must take the consequences. |
What you have in that box he con-
tinued, nodding toward me, els all you |
will ever receive at my hands. II am |
not mistaken, this young gentleman
would play ducks-and-drakes with that /
In a very short time. have said my |
say, and now you can suit yourselves"
II had listened 10 his words with q /
constantly increasing indignation that |
over Swallowed the remorse l felt AZ |
having disappointed his hopes. So In |
censed was / at his aspersions OF Roger |
that almost laughed when he spoke OF |
disinheriting me. But the taunt that |
Roger was counting me for my money |
was most CALLING all by very force of |
reiteratlon. / started 10 my feet once !
more with defiant air.
at is not true. You misjudge Mr.. |
Dale cruelty. To show you, father, how |
free our love is from the base and paltry |
motives you impute, and that We do not |
need your help, see there"
Irushed through the open window
which led TO the piazza, and before |
either my father or Roger OWNED my
a
box Of securities over the railing into |
the sea beneath. 1t opened just before
reaching the water, and the contents
were submerged by the seething surf.
l re-entered the parlor with tri-
umphant air. Rogers face wore half |
scared look as he began TO realize what |
had done.
MAD girlw cried my father with a
sneer. "Mr. Dale will not thank you
for that, l fancy. You have. however,
done me an infinite service" He turned
and left the room.
When he was gone, exhausted and
unnerved, buried my face on Rogers
shoulder and sobbed bitterly. He tried
to soothe me, and finally induced me to
sit down. He sat beside me, holding
my hand and urging me to calm myself.
at last turned TO him and said with a
sudden transport OF new happiness, and
smiling through my tears:
~ promised to remain true TO you,
Roger, and have"
Eyes, dear, know. When you are a
little more composed we will talk the
matter over seriously"
There was something in his tone that
chilled me; he was so calm, and l so
carried away by excitement.
''Do not think OF my fathers words"
| said. Forget them. l shall be per-
fectly happy so long as you love me-"
Gle will never relent," he answered
gloomily. ale is known down town as
man who makes up his mind once for
all time"
81 would rather disobey my father
than be false to you" l responded firmly.
eyes. But how are we TO liveP" he
asked, rising from the sofa and prone
nading the room nervously with his
hands in his pockets.
"Live?" | echoed.
unfortunately we should have to eat
and drink, like everybody else. 1t was
q pity" he continued renectively," that
you flung that money overheard; we
might have been very comfortable with
that"
EYES," I replied, in dazed sort OF
way.
"Was it the whole?" He stood look
ing at me with his head on one side.
"The whole of what?"
"Was all the property your father
gave you IN JndJ DOH!
Certainly. l wonder why you ask,
Roger"
He walked up and down few times
and then took seat beside me.
"Let uslook at this matter in a COM
mon sense way, Virginia. Heaven
knows love you, and that | am rs ro-
mantle In my feelings as any one could
desire. But suppose we were TO marry
without your fathers consent, what
would be the result? We should starve.
To speak frankly, | find IL difficult
enough TO make both ends meet as
single man. You are used to every lux
ury and comfort, and have not been ac-
customed to economic. Do not
misunderstood me Virginia." he
continued, speaking quickly,
struck perhrps by my express
sion, which, if my emotions were ade-
ouately reflected therein. must have
made him uneasy. ~ know that you
are capable Of any sacrifice; IL is | who
am unwilling to permit you TO give up
your fortune and your family for my
sake. II there were any chance OF your
father relenting. If thought there was
a possibility that time would make
difference I'm his views, / would not
speak so. But as IL is / see no alterna-
tive for us but an unsuccessful struggle
with poverty, that would end in unhap-
piness. 1t breaks my heart TO como 10
this conclusion, but justice TO you, as
we'll as common sense, will not let me
suffer you to commit folly which after
the glamour OF the moment was over you
would regret"
1t was the manner even more than the
matter of his speech that stabbed me TO
the heart. Had he spoken less calmly
and deliberately might have believed
that he shrank from accepting my self
sacrifice, and have regarded his dampen-
ing words as a mere cloak for his own
generosity. But his unconcerned and
dispassionate air left no doubt In my
mind that 1t was he who was unwilling
to face the romantic but desperate cir
cumstances in which my fathers decree
had placed us. Instinct told me that he
in whose constancy and in whose devo-
ton 20 ideality had believed with all
the ardor and trust of which / was
capable, was false, and ready 10 subor-
dinate love like ours TO temporal con-
sideratlons.
Yet, with the persistence OF one who
clutches at any semblance Of hope, how
ever slender, refused TO believe the
truth without further evidence.
81 should not be burden 70 you,
Roger. People can live on much lees
than they suppose. Wecould both work,
as well as you"
He shrugged his shoulders, and TAX
ing both my hands into his looked into
my face with trivial smile, so little In
...lAk a.. L. alt.- a. fGal=