Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-20


ture and partly The atmosphere Of her
own sweet soul. In her hand she car
ried little basket OF spring flowers TO
lay In loving remembrance on the gray
slab OF granite that covered the grave of
the tall, fair haired soldier who had
wooed and won her twelve long years
before, and whose blue eyes still gazed
into hers from under little Rams brown
curls.
Her mind was full of thoughts of him
and her mood was soft and tender as
she opened the gate gently and entered
the sacred spot. She did not glance
about, but passed straight along the lit
tie center walk to the granite slab which
was close to the trunk of one Of the
cedars. She shook out all her flowers
and formed with them wreath around
the short inscription: Hector Beverley.
Obiit April IS, atat, 35." 1t was
only when her task was done that she
became aware Of the presence OF man
in the corner by the cedar hedge kneel-
ing beside the grave of a little child.
His back was toward her, and he had
trowel in his hand and large basket
on the ground beside him, from which
he took clumps of green and planted
them on the grave. The breath of yio-
lets filled the air with perfume, and
Mary, attracted in spite OF herself, and
slightly curious, went softly over the
short green grass and stood close behind
him, looking down. She had known at
once that it was Anthony, and seeing
him there beside the grave Of her hus-
bands little sister brought TO her mind
the thought Of the lonely boy, with his
hard, unlovely childhood, and she knew,
with one Of those swift intuitions women
have, that that boy was kneeling there
at her feet.
Anthony had cleared away the sod
from the center of the mound in the
shape of cross, and was planting it
thick and close with great tufts of hot
house violets, purple and white, whose
fragrance rose purely and seemed to
breathe of love that was deathless.
After silently watching the strong
brown hands at their work for a mo-
ment, Mary uniasteneh bunch Of white
and lilac crocuses from her bosom, and
STOPPING laid them on the foot OF the
grave. Anthony glanced up at her with
q brief Thank your and went on with
his work. He was not surprised or star
tied; his trained senses had made him
aware Of her approach from the moment
her hand touched the latch OF the gate,
and as she stood behind him he had
taken sudden resolution. He would
tell her about himself, his connection
with her husbands family, his love for
the child whose little form rested be-
meath the cross OF violets.
In that sacred place and presence he
forgot TO wonder how IL would affect
her, or what change il any IL might
make in their relative positions. He for
got to think of himself at all.
Rising to his feet, he turned his face,
which was not noble in line or express
sion, and yet was honest and manly and
straightforward, full upon her, and
pointing to the grave az his feet, said
simply: 81 was poor and uncouth and
ignorant, but she never grudged TO put
her little hand in mine, nor felt soiled
when took her in my arms to help her
over rough and rocky places. She was
all the poetry and beauty and sweetness
/ ever knew or had. ! loved her."
Mary impulsively put out her fair,
ungloved hands, and took between them
the brown, earth stained hand Of the
man beside her, pressing it with quick
sympathy. 81 know" she said gently
81 know 1t all, and understand"
TO BE CONTINUED.