Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-20
CHAPTER X.
UNCERTAINTY.

stood"
When Mrs. Jock put that question
plump and plain to We're Nugent the
girl had no loop-hole Of escape.
"I-who told you anything about it?''
she asked, almost deiantly.
she did," answered Mrs. Jock,
promptly.
''Mr. Lumley told you that refused
him?' she repeated. increduously.
HE did,"
''In plain words?"
SIN these very words: Miss Eugent
defantly refused me last night that
was exactly what he said. And, oh,
We're, nv dear, am so disappointed, y
the little woman cried, the tears rush
ing into her eyes. "And feel as II 1t
was all nv fault for having asked Mrs.
Hope down. l thought to make II
easier for you both-yes, did, and in
stead of doing that I've ruined every
thing-everything."
'sBut Mr.. Lumley never asked me to
marry him." the girl stammered. HE
said something about the sitting for the
Penelope, and then-he-he said some
thing very vague and uncertain about
his wishes, and all that, and-and-l
knew he was one of the greatest hirtS
in London, and-and cut him short,
that was all. But he never asked me
to marry him, Mrs. Jock, swear to
you"
"Oh! you silly girl" Mrs. Jock al
most screamed, "aS If any man goes
down on his knees and offers mis- hand
and his heart formally now a days.
And you've sent him away-wretched-
vretched."
sIam wretched, too" We're burst out
Indignantly.
$50 you ought to be, so you deserve
TO be-" Mrs. Jock retOrted, passionate
Nv. "And then you say he's a flirt.
Who told you that? Not He can't
help half the women in London being
in love with him; he can't help being
the most charming delightful man In
the world. But flirt he never was.
I've known him for years-years.
never saw dear old George fiirt yet,
though I've seen dozens of women try
ing hard to fiirt with him. Aud you've
broken his heart, sent him away wretch
ed and miserable, and 1 wish I'd never
asked you 10 come down here at all or
him either-yeS, 1 do"
1t was not often that Mrs. Jock work
ed herself up into regular passion.
though she could, as Jock could have
borne witness; on that particular occa-
sion, however, she was in boiling pas
sion and what the end of it all would
have been I really cannot say, had not
We're created a diversion by suddenly
flinging herself down upon the nearest
sofa in a positive agony OF reproachful
grief.
For q moment or so Mrs. Jock was
startled into silence, then her kindli-
ness reasserted itself and she sat down
and drew the Sobbing girl to her heart.
''There-there, dear. l was hOrrid
and unkind and perfect beast to you,"
she cried. Don't cry like that, darl-
ing, pray DON'T never mean half
say when Pm in rage, as Jock would
tell you. 1t was only that I'm so fond
of dear old George and 1 couldn't bear
TO think he should be made unhappy
for no real reason, for you do like him,
don't you, We're? Oh, my dear, you
don't know how dear and kind and good
he is-yOu'd never think he was a
genius II there weren't all his lovely
pictures hung on the line every year to
prove it. And he had never asked any
one else before We're, for he told me
So"
"And he will never ask me again, s"
sobbed We're, in piteouS strangled
voice.
"Well, so he said" said Mrs. Jock,
reflectively, "but then men say great
many things that they don't stick 10,
you know, dearie. And why not, dear
old George, as well as any other man,
Ell? And you do really like him,
Vere?"
We're, however, had nothing definite
to say on this subject, but she cried a
great deal and AIRS. Jock gathered that
she was just as heart-broken for love OF
George LpmleY as George Lumley was
heart broken for love OF her.
And he had positively vowed that he
would never ask her to marry him
againl
She knew Lumley very well, far more
intimately than any of the other women
who boosted more of his friendship for
them, and she had an uncomfortable
feeling down at the bottom Of her heart
that having once said he wouldn't ask
We're again, he would reSolutely keep to
his word, even IL doing It cost him the
happiness Of his whole life.
However, she SOothed and comforted
the girl as best she could, telling her
not to grieve, that it would all come
right in the end, that when the first
soreness OF his feeling had worn off,
I.umley would asSuredly be impelled tC
see her again.
"And III write to him and see If /
can't Just hint that he might have been
mistaken" she ended, when We're sat
I'D and fixed her with her wonderful
eyes.
you'll not tell him that have been
crying my eyes out for an hour past,
will You, Mrs. Jock?" she cried eagerly.
s'No-nO, dear, I'll not give you away
take my word for II" soothingly.
But, all the same, she did give the
girl away as completely as pen and ink
were capable of doing il.
''My dear old George" she wrote, Il
knew was right all the time. The
poor child hadn't the smallest idea that
YOU were serious, and simply cut you
short because she fancied you were only
amusing yourself idly with her. She
is simply heart-broken TO think that
without knowing il, she actually re
fused you, and she Is as much in love a:
even You could wish. l feel myself
very, very much to blame in having
asked Gwen Hope down here at all.
never thought she would 60 on In that
perfectly ridiculous way-at her age
TOO. or course, my dearest old George
know you vowed all sorts OF thing:
for the future on our way co the station
hnt II only for my sake do hope YOU