Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-28

"But how could he have known any
thing about me?" asked Rob, surprised
in turn.
This is so strange" Mary answered.
"Why papa takes credit for having got
YOU your appointment on the press"
at was a minister, a Mr.. Rorrison,
who did that for me-" said Rob; indeed,
he was so good that could have Joined
the press year ago by his help, had
not circumstances compelled me- to re-
main at home."a
81 did not know the clergyman's
name," Mary said, "but it was papa
who spoke of you to him first. Don't
you remember writing out this clergy
mans sermon in shorthand, and q mes
senger coming to you for your report
on horseback next day?"
Certainly l do" said Rob, land he
asked me 20 write IL out in long mana
as quickly as possible. That was how
Icame to know Mr.. Rorrison; and, as
I understood, he had sent for the re-
port OF the sermon, on hearing acclden-
tally that had taken it down, because
he had some reason for wanting copy
of IT,"
perhaps that was how 1t was told to
you afterwards" Mary said, "but 1t was
really papa who wanted the sermon"
At should like TO know all s0out it,
Rob said, seeing that she hesitated.
Col. Abinger had not seemed to him
that kind OF man who would send a
messenger on horseback about the
country in quest of sermons. n
Il am afraid" Mary explained, What
il arose out of wager. The clergy
man was staying at the Lodge, but
papa was the only other person there
who would go as fer as Thrums to hear
him preach. / was not there that year,
80 l don't know why papa went, out
when he returned he told the others
that the sermon had been excellent.
/ There is surely an English church In
Thrums, for l was sure papa would not
think sermon excellent that was not
preached in q chapel?"
There is" said Rob; "but IN Thrums
ii is called the chapel"
"Well, some badinage arose out OF
papa's eulogy, and il ended in bet that
| he could not tell the others what this
fine sermon was about. He was TO get
night TO think it over. Papa took the
bet little raShly, for when he put 1t TO
himself he found that he could not even
remember the text. AS he told me
afterwards (here Mary smiled little)
he had q general idea OF the sermon, but
could not quite put it into words, and
he was fearing that he would lose the
wager land be laughed at, which al
ways vexes papa when he heard OF
your report So q messenger was sent
to Thrums for it, and papa won his
bet"
But how did Mr.. Rorrison hear OF
my report, them
oh, forgot; papa told him after
wards, and was so pleased with his
victory that when he heard Mr.. Ror-
rison had influence with some press
people he suggested to him that some
/ thing might be done for you"
This is strange" said Rob, land
perhaps the strangest thing about 1t is
that if Col. AOinger could Identify mo
with the saw-miler be would be sorry
that he had interfered."
Mary saw the force OF this so clearly
that she could not contradict him.
surely" she said, 81 heard when l
was at the Lodge of your having niece
aud that you and the little child lived
In the saw mill?"
eyes" Bob answered hoarsely, "buu
she is dead. She wandered from home
and was found dead on a mountain
side"
"Was it long ago9" asked Mary, very
softly.
"Only a few months ago." Rob said,
making his answer as short as possible,
for the death Of Davy moved him still
"She was only four years old.
Mary's hand went half way towards
! his involuntarily. His mouth was
twitching. He knew how good she was
! THAT card?" he began, and hesitated.
ooh, would you care to have it?" said
Mary.
But just then Col. Abinger walked
into them, somewhat amazed TO see his
daughter talking TO one of the lower or
ders. Neither Rob nor Mary had any
inclination TO tell him that this was the
! Scotsman he had befriended.
This is Mr.. Angus, papa" said
Mary, S"who-who was with us last
night"
"Mr Angus and have met before, l
think" replied her father, recalling the
! fishing episode. His brow darkened,
and Rob was ready for anything, but
! Col. Abrger was gentleman.
Il always wanted TO see you again,
/ Mr.. Angus, no said, with an effort, Ito
ask you-what flies you were using that
| day."
Rob muttered something in answer,
which the Colonel did not try to catch.
Mary smiled and bowed, aud the next
moment she had disappeared with her
| father down the avenue.
What followed cannot be explained.
/ When Rob reused himself from his
| amazement at Mary Abinger's having
been in Thrums without his feeling her
presence, something made him go few
Yards inside the castle grounds, ana
/ living lightly on the snow, he saw the
/ Christmas card. He lifted 1t up as II
il we're a rare piece of china, and held
il in his two hands as though it were a
! bird that might escape. lie did not
know whether it had dropped there OF
its own accord, and doubt and trans
port fought for victory on his face. Al
last he put the card exultingly into his
pocket, his chest heaved, and he went
! towards Silchester whistliug.
CHAPTER VII.
THE GRAND PASSION.
One OF the disappointmentS OF life Is
that the persons we think we have rea-
son to dislike are seldom altogether
i Nesafa y