Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-16
beard, and with another OF his fawnIike


oy an effort turned to leave the room.
motioning US to precede him.
"How distinctly piteous!" repeated
Miss Kingsley, as we went down stairs
de acted shamefully, of course. and
there is no excuse for his conduct. But
though II is impossible to justify him, 1
can pity him, can't you? His nature is
so impreSsionable, and when he is inter-
ested in anything there is no half way
with him; he wants the whole or moth
Ing. II you can excuse my saying so.
several Of us have been afraid of some
thing of this sort. l wanted to warn
you; but said to myself, lit may be
Virginia really likes him, so l decided
not to speak. II had done so all this
might have been prevented, for it was
very evident to the rest of US that he
was desperately In love with you. And
by such a man OF course the very small
est marks OF favor are construed as more
significant than open encouragement
would be by less poetic temperament.
have no doubt the poor fellow wears
over his heart every rosebud you ever
gave him, and knows by rote every
word Of sympathy you ever said to him.
And then that portrait-what volumes
IL tells OF itself Fancy that ardent
soul toiling over the canvas to repro
duce from memory your image (you tell
me you did not sit to HIM. and when
the masterpiece Of his life was finished
/ inviting you 10 his studio las suppose
he did,, and then, in a moment of deep
and passionate love, casting himself at
| your feet-and-and forgetting himself!
/ Oh, Virginia, there is something ex-
Quisitely pathetic in the thought But
how fortunate, too, for you that we ar
/ rived when we did! In his sober senses
Paul Barr would rather die than injure
hair OF your head; but none Of US,
| however self reliant. are free from dread
in the presence Of man who has
been over indulging in stimulants, even
! though sure OF his affection. My poor
dear, how you must have suffered
What will your Aunt Agnes say? 1t was
/ only two days ago she said TO me she
/ hoped the affair was at an end, l told
/ her then that one can never be sure OF a
/ thoroughly Bohemian nature; is liable
to burst into fame at the moment when
/ one least expects it. The result shows
the correctness Of my prediction. Poor
Mr. Barr! What will become Of him l
wonder? 1 only hope he will not at
| tempt his own life; that would be worse
\ than anything"
Neither Mr.. Spence nor l had spoken
as she ratified on In this manner, going
/ down the long flights OF stairs to the
\ street. There was just enough OF truth
/ In her remarks TO make my frame OF
mind still more wretched, and l could
/ barely refrain from requesting her to
/ keep still. Mr.. Spence was evidently
much disturbed by what had occurred.
/ The expression of his face showed that
| he was under the influence Of violent
| emotions. Once or twice, too, saw
him glance almost impatiently at Miss
/ Kingsley, as if her prattle annoyed him.
/ But she was so trimming over with
volu1ility as TO be blind TO everything
but the fancies she saw fit to evoke in
regard to the scene she had just wit
messed.
When, however, we reached a cross
ing Of streets where her way separated
from mine, Mr.. Spence said, in tone
that for him was abrupt, 81 shall see
Miss Harlan home"
Miss Kingsley held my hand for
parting shot. "YOu must not think me
unsympathetic, dear, because l feel
sorry for poor Paul Barr. l knew him
before YOU did you know, and at one
time we were quite as intimate, though
in a different way. If you leel faint,
rs I should think you must after such u
dreadful experience, why don't you stop
ut an apothecary's and get some salts?
7 ALWAYS intend to carry salts with me;
they are so convenient on an occasion OF
this sort. l do hope you will feel better
| tomorrow, dear. shall call the hrst
thing in the morning to inquire about
you. Good night"
For some minutes Mr.. Spence and
remained silent But now that Miss
| Kingsley had gone felt an impulse to
thank him, and TO explain, as far as was
possible, my presence at the studio.
"Believe me, Mr.. Spence, l am very
grateful to you for your aid" began.
at was very inconsiderate aud impru-
dent for me to go there alone, but ne
was so anxious for me to see the picture
before any one else that l was foolish
enoupht to consider it allowable. l had
no idea that it was portrait OF me, and
none that he cared for me in the way 1t
Seams he does. l have tried to be kind
tn him. for | felt he was lonely, and
might be saved from excessess by a sym
nathetic influence. Bnt l see my mis-
/ take now. | ought to have known.
An indehnable wish that Mr.. Spence
shonld know the exact truth loosened
my tongue.
~ underestimate understand perfect
" - he said in an emotional tone. at
Is 7 that am to blame. might have
prevented IT," he added as thougn
speaking to himself.
Surprise prevented me from saying
more, for could not see how Mr.. spence
was in any way responsible. Nor ala
he. on his part, continue the converse
ton. In five minutes we were at nv
door. o,,
"No. not tonight" he paused an in
slant. "At what hour are you likely to
be at home and disengaged tomorrow?
he asked, with suddennesS.
,sTo-morrow? At almost any time.
Shall we say four?"
Mr.. Spence bowed by way OF acqules-
cence. He seemed so stiff that feared
be was offended with me. But II so,
why did he wish to come tomorrow?
Before you 90 you must let me thank
Won once more for having saved me from
= very awkward predicament, l said,
holding out my hand. What should l
have done if you had not arrivedY" L
shuddered involuntarily.
~Poor girl, how you must have suf-
,orsdir he exclaimed in a voice full or
Soalin0 Then he turned abruptly and
left me-