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


n cannot accept such q reSpon sfbtlth
ttn,eSS you giUe Il to me forever"
Before I had an opportunity to breach
HE question of investments 70 Mr.. Dale,
AUNT Agnes added her quota 10 my
sense OF wrong. One evening when she
eame TO dinner l OWNED, from the in
ienSe rigidity of her posture at table, that
she was offended with me. To tell the
truth, felt triie guilty. Myvisits TO
her during the winter had been spas
nodic and hurried. What was worse,
DO greatly was l carried away eY my So
cial success that whenever we did meet
Drattled on about fashionable frivOlitieS
Regardless Of her frOwn. But though l
MAS conscious of not standing in her
hood graces, / felt tOlerably secure from
Comments on the score OF Mr.. Dale, for
the reason that as she never went any
where she would know nothing Of my
Intimacy with him unless Aunt Helen
or my father were TO make her conf
liant; and this l did not think likely.
therefore, when she introduced the
subiect while we were alone together in
fhe drawing-rOOm after dinner, was
ittle disconnected.
"Who is this Mr.. Gale whose name I
bee connected with yourSP" she asked
severely.
with mine?"
Eyes, with yours. Don't beat about
the bush! You know perfectly well
whom 1 mean"
Excuse me, Aunt Agnes, there is no
NE. Gale among my acquaintances. l
know Mr.. Dale"
She frOwned, and began TO tumble IN
her pocket. THE principle is the same
whether il is Gale or Dale or TOmpkinS.
Il never expected TO learn OF my niece'S
Engagement from the public press. 1 am
conhdent the notice said Gale All
thought so. Plain as the nose on your
Ace" she added, producing from her
portemOnnaie a newspaper cutting and
readlng aloud: at is rumOred that the
ENGAGEMENT OF the beautiful and accom-
rlished daughter OF Augustus Harlan,
The railway magnate, to Mr.. Roger
Gale, Of this city, will soon be an
nounced"
ut is not true, Aunt Agnes" cried
Indignantly. Needless 70 say 1 was
startled at this BIT of information, com
be-, too, as it did from such an unex-
pected source. Ny aunt's knowledge OF
III seemed fully as remarkable to me as
the fact Of the publication.
81 trust not" she replied with en-
DhasiS. 81 did not seriously suppose
nm own niece so far lost 10 all sense OF
Dropriety as TO take such a step unbe-
knOwn to me. But it seems to me,
Virginia, you must have been behaving
Al a, 20 say the least, very peculiar
manner TO get your name in the news
papers. Where there is so much
smoke there is apt to be little fire.
WHO is this Mr.. CALEB"
''His name is Dale, Aunt Agnes"
''Wen, Dale then. You won't put me
0f by clubbing. II you want your
iather TO know Of it you are taking Just
10 course to make me tell him"
my father knows all there is to
now. Mr.. Dale Is a friend Of mine
and comes TO the house by permission.
There is no possibility OF an engage
.ment between Us.
''An engagement I should hope
not. DOyOu consider yourself qualified
- enter upon the cares and respon-
sibilities OF married life?"
Il have already said that have no
Intention of getting married"
"Get'in married! Why, the child is
nay. You talk of matrimOuy asif it
were as simple proceeding as changing
Your dress or going to party
Some people would appear to find it
IA. |" answered, gOaded to impertinece.
But Aunt Agnes apparently did not
perceive my innuendo. Il dare say,
SD she with asperity. That is be-
canSe there are so many fools In the
Nord."
I've sat in silence for some minutes.
An aunt was so much excited that 1
cobld see her hands tremble as she put
~ obnoxious cutting back into her
nortenonnaie. All of a sudden she
looked az me over her glasses and said;
I am willing to give you one more
chDnce, Virginia"
| waited for her TO continue.
If YOU choose to take advantage or
we'll and good. II not, you must go
qblr own ways. am not going 10 make
al life n burden over you any longer.
ffkou prefer TO be giddy and foolish,
4E those take the responsibility VINO
k4Se encouraged you to become so. No
one shall blame me.
You know, Aunt Agnes, wish 10
oe nothing of the sort.
Very well, then l propose 10 pass
the summer in Europe, ana IL strikes
na as an excellent opportunity
iof you to cut adrift from the
| Iiectionable associations you have
Iolmed during the past lew
|. nonths. With a fresh start
i a surroundings calculated to Inspire
fou desire for self Improvement, IL
not be too late TO hope for better
hhgs. I have every sOnfdence IN the
/ Iural stability OF your character II
/ are once puc upon tho right track,
l. 6ame your advisers more thah
/ N1Ine you"
/ listeped TO her words with some dis
lnhtude. l had never crossed the Az
stic, aud at any ordinary time wou'o
4e jumped at the chance. But hSd
sadv other plans in store for the sum
I that did not feel prepared TO re-
h ia1uish, even for the pleasure OF "Trip
l. Europe.
7 L is very kind Of you to think Of
l said.
No, it isn't. It's only natural" she
Fored shortly. ''You are my broth
- child, ard let alone any affection ]
4 have for you, it is my duty TO save
IL from harm II can.
H. Rho else IS goins?" I asked out Of
ID cOWar1ice, fol had already made
~ NJ mind to clir9 the invitation,
r. no elsef Nobody. II . womaa OF