Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-13

1erlng day after DAY, week AFTER week,
without a human hand 20 aid him, q
human voice TO speak word OF cheer.
The language in which the tale was
told was rough and simple, almost pro-
fame st times, but Ii did not CRATE on the
listeners, nor revolt them, as IL would
have done had the theme been different.
II seemed the natural setting OF the
story. as the mountains, the forests and
the mighty solitude had been the setting
OF the tragedy Of the outcast's life and
death.
II was so far removed from all they
knew, from all 10 which they had been
accustomed, that they crowded around
him, plying him with questions, and
making much Of him in their interest," In
the things he told them. To their old
fashioned country simplicity he seemed
a wonderful creature, man whose life
had been filled with the stir OF large
events and the interest OF strange hap
penings. and in their unworldliness they
envied him his experiences far more
than the success which was their practi-
cal result. A past so full Of adventure,
OF endurance, OF achievement, OF life,
appeared TO the bucolic mind richer
treasure than mere gold.
Then, before Anthony could grow In
hated with his victory. and self as
sertive and arrogant, and so spoil 1t all,
the tea bell rang and changed the cur
rent OF thought and conversation.
What do you think OF him, my
dear?" Mrs. Wilmer found occasion to
whisper to Mary Beverley as they seated
themselves around the table.
"He is interesting and original, Mary
replied at once. HE is very strong
man; and he doesn't crate upon me
as much as thought he would at first.
He grated on her horribly before the
evening was over. When the company
reassembled in the parlor after tea, he
sought her side once more, attracted In
spite OF himself and of his already wan
ing resentment. A pretty young woman
with very sweet voice had gone TO the
piano, and was playing softly. The rest
were gathered near, urging her 10 sing,
and mbatting her objections, which
were couched in graceful language, but
rested ona solid foundation, since her
supper was still almost in her throat.
Mary leaned back In the corner OF the
sofa, watching the flames curl around
the great oak logs, and wondering Idly
whether her little boys were In bed, and
whether Miss Cornelia had remembered
10 make them wash their hands and
faces and say their prayers properly be-
fore going. She usually attended 10
these things herself, for Ran was still
too young 10 cope with either religion
or soap unaided. and she was careful
mother.
Anthony watched her from under his
eyelids: he had a trick OF dropping
them until pupil and iris were indistln-
guishable In color or expression.
Suddenly he bent forward and said
the thing he should not:
II hope you don't bear me any
grudge for buying the old place, Mrs.
Beverley. | know the old families hold
on to their land like death, even when
II isn't doing them cents worth OF
good and is bringing them dollars In
debt every year. | know, too, that
when you can't hold out any longer
and the land comes to the hammer
you think it's devilish hard
case, and curse the fellow that buys II
for an interloping BLACKBOARD, and
would cruelty him IL you could. You
ought not to feel that way, you know; 1t
isn't common sense, or the way TO push
things and help your section
Mary, thus accused by implication OF
narrowmindness and small, contempt
bic meanness, was naturally indignant.
They had extended sufficient courtesy
10 him, she thought, to have exempted
them from this indictment. Turning
her dark eyes full upon him, she re-
piled, quietly and coldly
You do not understand US at all,
Mr.. Anthony, If you imagine us so con-
temptibly small as that. We love our
lands, Of course, and il is a keen dis
tress to have to part with them; but we
are not so petty as TO resent on an out
slider what Is, after all, the result OF ac-
tions or faults OF our own. II our lands
come into the market, they are open TO
any and every purchaser, and your
opinion OF us must be poor indeed II
you think a grudge against those be-
coming possessed Of them rankles In
our breasts ever afterward."
Anthony felt snubbed, without know
ing exactly wherefore. In his con
sciousness OF their relative positions he
had seemed 10 himself 10 be putting In
a plea against all possible hard judg-
ment. and had rather despIsed himself
FOR caring how she felt about the mat
ter. 1t seemed natural that she should
feel sore about the land, and he had
simply deprecated the soreness and
suggested that any such feeling was I'M
reasonable. For the life Of him he could
see nothing offensive In his remark, aud
vet she clearly was offended. lie
thought that for a woman OF her age
and intelligence she was lacking In
common sense.
on Mary the impression made was
deeper. She was annoyed by the tact
less bluntness Of the speech and by the
low estimate Of human nature IL showed,
and In addition IL revealed cOarseuess
OF fiber that repealed her. Women
usually form their estimates OF human
ity from instinct or subtle divlnation,
and Mary's instincts were all hntagonls-
tic 70 the man beside her. he might
rough hew great actions, but there was
in MIN none Of that delicacy OF touch,
that fneness Of perception which make
small actions great.
With instant rebound from what dis
pleased her, her mind returned 10 the
Impressions formed at the opening OF
their intercourse, and the modification
Of the time between was blotted out
which was really an injustice TO An
thony.
TO BIZ CONTINUED.
$1WoFTH a GUINrA a Box,v.