Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-11-01

eithr grievances in indolent restfulness
around the great cracking fire. The
whole of fallen tree had been dragged
from the woods as back log, and the
! dry pine needles were curling and twist
ing as they kindled into delicate en-
broidery of living flame against the
black background Of the night. One
young fellow luxuriously stretched upon
the ground, was sklilfully thumming q
soft accompaniment to the dreamy
thoughtfulness that had fallen upon the
party, who were all tired ard little dis
posed to talk.
"Now, this is comfort, / say" re-
marked young Bardill, at length. laying
down the banjo and waiting as II for
somebody to argue the point with him
q challenge which nobody seemed dis
posed to accept. "r can tell you, folks,
it is little different from that night on
the mountain last year when l was
| lost"
"Lost! were you really lost?" some
body drawled with perfunctory interest.
"Great Scott, man! did you never
hear of ito" sitting bolt upright in his
dismay that anybody should have re-
mained in ignorance Of the one occasion
OF his life when it had been permitted
him to distinguish himself. 81 should
say we did get lost-Mrs. Rogers and l
when was In the park last summer;
l got separated from our party as we
were coming down Ute peak, and"--
ooh, yes," lazily interrupting. 81
heard Of that, but thought Bartels was
| the hero OF that adventure"
"Bartes? well, should say not" in
unqualified disgust at this filching Of his
laurels. "Why, Bartels was hunting
somewhere, forty miles away, at the
time; were you not?" appealing to him.
81 was, thank heaven" with indolent
fervor, as he leisurely clipped the green
tassels from a great pine bough in which
he sat enveloped. "You are welcome to
all the glory Of that exploit, 3ardill."
why, Bartels, / heard 1t was you"
remarked another, turning to him in
some surprise. q
"Wen, 1 repeat that it Ias not" with
an Indifferent laugh. Little did he guess
what this mistake had cost him. 1.-TWO
or three people spoke to me about 1t at
the time. 1t was the similarity Of name
that misled them. Your name Is Dan, !
believer" turning to Bardill.
"Yes; but I thought nv name was
Dennis then. And Mrs. Rogers made
her husband take such pains to keep II
out Of the papersl" modify complained
the one thus defrauded of fame. There
was no reason on earth that could see
for being so confoundedly sly about it, "
Anita leaned back IN her chair, sick
and faint. She was not surprised;
vaguely she had known herself wrong
long ago, but with stubborn pride she
had been shutting her eyes TO the truth,
wilfully keeping her jealous anger
alive. But she could no longer refuse TO
see. She knew now that in giving her
self up to the demon OF jealousy she
had sold herself body and soul. or her
own will she had put her happiness be-
yond her reach, had thrust her husband
as far from her, had made him as little
TO her as any one Of those other men In
differently laughing around the fire.
With q dozen words he could have
brushed all her mistakes away, and she
had never given him chance. In her
narrow scheme ofArevenge she had
wished him to think her possessed OF q
passion for Gray; and now she knew
what was meant by the curse OF an I'M
answered prayer. She started up, walk
ing swiftly back into the darkness, long
ing to be alone in her pain; but Donald
was quick TO sea the movement.
what is it, Nita? Do you want any
thing? Can't go and get it?"
81 am going for a drink OF water, "
she returned, lamely lying, as she walked
eimlessly toward the leafy dining bower.
"Wait; let me get some for you that is
fresh" be said kindly, hurrying to over
take her. "Stay here. I'll be back in a
minute" hastily emptying the pail and
plunging into the darkness.
- Anita obediently sat down on the
rough bench that had been built along
the side of the table, staring into the
shadows with wide open, unseeng eyes,
lost in brooding thought. Or a sudden
her attention was arrested by crack
ling among the neighboring trees and
the sound of heavy, plodding feet on the
grass padded turf. Her heart seemed TO
| stop its beating as, deeper shade
against the darkness Of the night, a
great form suddenly lunged before her,
while her staring eyes could see loom
ing I'D behind another and yet another.
There was q strange, defiant snort, and
Anita could feel hot breath upon her
cheek. With sound that essayed TO
be a scream, but was choked by her
oyermastering terror, she sprang 10 her
feet, and, as fast as her trembling limbs
could carry her, ran toward the creek.
"Nita, Nita, what is ito" cried Dom
aid, throwing down the pail and hastily
scramb bling up the bank.
"Bears! a whole family OF bears!'
wildly throwing herself into his arms.
There came the quick reports OF re-
yolver emptied into the air, chorus OF
cowboy yells supplemented by shrill
screams from the ladies, the recedinR
thunder Of flying hoofs, and then there
was only the soughing OF the wind In
the pines and the gurgling song OF the
stream.
"Why, Nita, child, how you tremole!
As If bears ever went about In 0unch,
like that" with soft, reassuring laugh,
while he pressed her nesting face yet
closer against his neck. at was only a
few cattle attracted by the fire; and
thew are a mile away by this time.
Come. child, the scare is all over" ca
ressingly rubbing his cheek against
hers. All, II he knew how cruelty she
had wronged him would he not spurn
her from his arms? Anita writhed from
his grasp.
"If you would kindly bring me the
water" she said family.
The disturbed party around the ire
were sleepily moving about, proposing
bed, when Donald and Anita joined
them. -,
.sRut do Won think it Is safe, Don?''