Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-05-01

taken aback rather than sharing my own
establishment. There was q pause of a
few moments; then she said, in a low,
hurried tone:
"You know, papa, got word that
from some misunderstanding you had
taken the steamer instead Of the train. F"
"Ah, TO be sure" he reioined, with a
short laugh, II see the difficulty. You
must look upon me, suppose, as a sort
Of magician, able to transport myself
about the country on some new tele-
/ graphic principle. Well, Pm afraid l
can't lay claim to any such supernatural
power. shall lose credit by the expla-
nation, but you shall have IL neverthe-
/ less"
''No, no; give us room for the exer-
else OF our imagination, cried l, laugh
ing. The fact is felt as IL my query
had been in some way unfortunate.
There was certain effort in Mr.. Birch
more's manner and 3 want Of sponta-
neity in his laugh, and the awkwardness
seemed shared TO some extent by his
| daughter. In my ignorance OF the true
lay Of the land was continually max
ing some irritating blunder, and the
L 4
the worse was my success.
Mr.. Birchmore, Notwithstanding that
I DEPRECATED 1t, chose to make his eX-
PLANTATION. "Kate was right" said he.
"My first intention was to go by train.
Afterward decided on the boat, and
left the hotel with the purpose Of get
ting our passage that way and sending
Kate word TO meet me at the landing.
But the boat turned out to be so crowded
that I changed my mind again. 1t was
then so late that l hadn't time TO reach
the Central railway station. Ny only
chance of catching the train was TO
Jump into a drosky at the steamboat
landing and drive as the butcher never
drove before for the lower station,
which was half mile nearer. l got
there barely in time, and Kate, it seems,
was waiting at the Central all the
while."
And Of course" added Miss Birch
more eagerly, 1.-THE people at the hotel
fancied that he had gone by the boat
and sent me word. Oh, yes, l under
stand IL all now-Don't you, Mr.. Gains
borough"
II don't take it kindly of your father
TO strip away the illusions from life so
pitilessly," returned l in a humorous
tone: I should have been much happier
in believing that he had flown through
the air on the Arabian kings wishing
carpet" This sally suficed to raise the
smile OF which we all seemed so greatly
in want, aud so we got into the ferry
boat in comparatively easy frame OF
mind.
The valet to whom have already al
luded sat on a thwart near the bows in
such a position that had full view of
him. A more unconcilating object l
have seldom beheld. His body and arms
were long, but his legs were short and
bowed outward. His features were
harsh, forbidding and strongly marked,
but there was an expression of power
stamped upon them which fascinated
my gaze in spite of the ugliness which
would otherwise have made me glad TO
look away. 1t was not the power OF In
tellect, for, although there was plenty
of a saturnine kind of intelligence in the
countenance, il was not to be supposed
that a fellow In his position OF life
would be remarkable for brains. No;
this power was OF another kind. / do
not know how TO describe It, but l be-
lieve some people would get out OF the
difficulty by calling 10 magnetic.
Whatever IL was IL produced very
disagreeable impression on me, and
could not but wonder that Mr.. Birch
more should have chosen to take such
creature into his employ. l had the
sense, however, on this occasion to keep
my Speculations to myself; l was re-
solved not TO make fool OF myself
again il l could help it-at least not
with this partic Ilar family. | noticed
that whenever Mr.. Birchmere had occa-
sion to address this man he did so in
peculiarly severe and peremptory tone,
very different from his usual low voiced
style. There was seemingly no great
affection for him on his masters part,
therefore, and certainly the valet looked
incapable of a tender feeling toward any
human creature.
Possibly, however, he was invaluable
as a servant and his unpropitatng ex-
terror might cover an honest and faith
full heart. Only, should such turn out
10 be the case, l would never again put
faith either in physiognomy or my own
instinct OF aversion, l disliked TO think
OF this in favored mortal being in daily
association with my lovely Kate Birch
more-fOr already, in my secret, soul l
called her mine-and l made up my
mind that IL ever fortune granted me
the privilege of making her what
called her, / would see to it that mon
sieur the valet formed a part of any
ones household rather than ours.
Meanwhile the ferryman had poled
and padded us across the river, on the
shores OF which swarm OF hotel port
erS stood ready TO rend us limb from
limb. But Mr.. Birchmore put them all
aside save one. to whom be pointed out
my trunk and gave out some directions
which did not hear.
Il take the liberty" he then said,
turning 70 me, Ito so far do the honors
OF this place as TO recommend you to the
most agreeable hotel in il, the Babe
haus, at the farther end OF the village
and about half mile up the valley.
These hotels that front the river would
give you better fare perhaps and less un-
pretending accommodations, but II quiet
and GOODNESS are what you are after, not
to mention the medicinal spring water
and a private brass band, the Badehaus
is the thing"
THE Badhaus be it, by all means"
This attention surprised me, not because
I misdoubted my friends courtesy, but
because had imagined that his courtesy
would not stand in the way OF an unoo-
truSive attempt TO withdraw himself and
his daughter from my immediate COM
partnership. Yet so far was this from
boi,.,, tho casa that ba ha1 taken Soma