The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-06-24
AwoMAN's REASON.

MOMAN'S REASON.
Lit was white and golden cham
ber, all cool and clean and cheerful.
Its occupant was deliciously cool
and clean, but not positively cheer
ful.
This occupant was a tall, slim
woman in white China silk gown,
embroidered in gold and made in a
Grecian fashion, in perfect harmony
with her face and figure. Her fea-
lures were classical, her wavy hair
that pale, fiaxen color seldom seen
save on the heads of German wo-
men. Her almond-shaped, sapphire
eyes were shaded by long, dark
lashes, and the dark, straight brows
gave her face decidedly oriental
caste, not in harmony with her hair
and the brilliant fairness of her skin.
1t was face half warm and hall
cold. Just now the eyes were resit-
ing with slightly puzzled express
ion upon "a bowl of daffodils in the
window whore the April wind was
making them human. The woman's
face told of some troublous inward
communion as she twirlcd abstract
edly the glittering rings on her
long, thin fingers. She started up
slightly from her great lounging
chair as a man entered, then sank
down again indifferently and hand
ed him white, cool hand, as he
came up with impulsive impatience
to greet her.
"sit down." she said, motioning
him to chair beside her. "Rather
warm, isn't it?"
al don't know. WASN'T thinking
of temperature; I was thinking of
YOU"
ga poor subject"
''Its been the only one worth
thinking offor me the last ten years. y
"Poor fellowl''
"Why poor?"
because you have wasted your
life on a dream"
"What do you mean2' he said,
quickly, his fine, deep voice full of
pain. He was a strong man, but he
seemed weak as child in her pres.
ence.
al mean I'm not worth thinking
of ten minutes, and q man who has
thought of me ten years has wasted
ten years of his lifc."
"Not when he is to have the re-
ward you have given me every
reason TO hope for"
"The reward, as you call it, would
in reality be punishment. Now
will you listen to me calmly until /
have said all 1 wishP"
al cannot, if you are to wound
and disappoint me at the end"
ueh WIN you listen silently?"
He bowed his head. 1t was q
fine head, magnificently nodded and
covered with short crop OF dark
curls. The face was dark, with fine
dark eyes, and a splendid firm
mouth. His face, figure and dress
bespoke the westerner, and it all
looked out of harmony with the
graceful eonventionality of his sur
roundings. He leaned his chin on
his great brown hand, as he listened
for her to speak.
sit seems strange that / sbonld
break up all there was between ms.
after my bringing you here with
every hope of success lover could
ask" she said.
But You must be mad or testing:
You cannot mean
"Yes, do mean that I'm not eo.
ing to>marry you; that I don't want
10 marry you. Don't stop me; ]
know what you will say-that
gave you the first love of young
girls life; that did not conceal the
TACT that cared for you during the
eight years of my married life; that
TWO years after my husbands death
nave brought you back to me
from the rough life you went tc
whom we parted. All this is true
! acknowledge it, and now that
nave You 1 don't want you. ]
wanted you desperately at eighteen
s Su1 II a woman can give up her love
for man at that age don't believe
she can love him as woman should
afterward."
The mo- % I.,,.. l.. n.