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


quicker because they are on the out
look. 1t took Rob two days. and when
it came upon him checked his breath
ing. After that he bore 1t like u man.
Another discovery nc had to make was
that after all be was nobody In partlc-
lar. This took him longer.
Although the manner of his going 10
London was unexpected, Rob had
thought out solldly the inducements 10
20. Ten minutes Or so after he knew
that he wanted to marry Mary Abinger
no made up his mind he would try TO
DO II. The only obstacles that be saw In
his way were that she was not In love
with him, and lack Of income. Feeling
that he was an uncommon type of man
Qf people would only see it), he re-
solved 10 remove this second difficulty
first. The saw-mill and the castle side
by side did not rise up and brighten him
and for the time he succeeded IN not
thinking about Col. Abinger. Nothing
is hopeless II we want IL very much.
Rob calculated that II he remained on
the Mirror for another dozen years or
so, and Mr.. LicquoriSh continued TO
think that II would not be cheaper to do
without him, he might reach salary OF
200 pounds per annum. As that was
not sufficient, he made up his mind 10
leave SilcheSter.
There was only one place to go TO.
Rob thought of London until he 1eit
that It was the guardian from whom he
would have 10 ask Mary Abinger; he
pictured her there during the season,
until London, which be had never seen,
began to assume a homely aspect. IL
was the place in which he was TO VIII
or lose his battle. To whom is London
much more? 1t is the Clergyman's name
for his church, the lawyers for his OF
fee, the politicians for st. Stephens,
the claimants for his stand.
There was not man on the press in
S..chester who did not hunger for Fleet
street, but they were all afraid TO beard
IL. They knew il as a rabbit-warren; as
the closest street In city where the
boo.black has his SYcOphants, and you
have 10 battle for exclusive right to
sweep q crossing. The fight forward
had been grimmer 10 Rob. however,
than 20 his fellows, and he had never
been quite beaten. He was alone In
the world, and poverty was like an OLD
friend. There was only one Journalist
In London whom he knew even
by name, and he wrote 10 him for sd-
vice. This was Mr.. John RO?rison,
a son of the minister whose assistance
had brought Rob TO SilcheSJer. ROrri-
son was understood TO be practically
editing a great London newspaper,
which is what is understood OF a great
many journalists until you make in
0uiries, but he wrote back TO Rob ask
ing him why he wanted TO die before
his time. You collectors who want an
editors autograph may rely upon
having it by return of post If you write
threatening to come to London with the
hope that he will do something for you.
ROrrfs0u'S answer discounted Rob for
five minutes, and then, going out, he
caught a glimpse of Mary A6inger in
the Meredith'S carriage. He tore up
the letter, and saw that London was
worth riSking.
One afternoon Rob set out for the Of
fee 70 tell Mr.. LicQuOrish OF his deter
minaton. He knew that the entire
staff would think him demented, but
be could not see that he was acting
rashly. He had worked 1t all out in
his mind, and even TRANQUILITY faced
possible starvation. Rob was cOngrat-
ulating himself on not having given way
to impulse when he reached the railway
station.
His way from his lodgings to the office
led past the station, and as he had done
scores Of times before, be went inside.
To Rob al the romance OF Silchester
was concentrated there nothing stirred
him as much as a painting engine; the
shunting OF carriages, the hustle OF pas
sengers, the pOrterS rafting two and
fro with luggage, the trains twisted ser
peut-like into the station and stealing
out in glory TO be gone, sent the blood
10 his head. On Saturday nights, when
ne was free, any one calling at the sta
tion would have been sure to find him
on the platform from which the train
starts for London. His heart had sunk
every time il went of without him.
Rob woke up from a dream OF Fleet
street to see the porters slamming the
doors OF the London train. He saw the
guards hand appraised and heard the
carriages rattle as the FESTIVE engine
took them unawares. Then came the
warning whistle and the train moved
on. For a second of time Rob felt that
he had lost London, and he started for
ward. Some one near him shouted aud
then he came upon the train all ct once;
a door opened and he shot
I'm. When he came to himself, Sill
chester was cloud climbing to the sky
behind him and he was on his way to
London.
Rob's first feeling was that the other
people in the carriage must know what
he had done. lie was relieved TO find
that his companions were only an old
gentleman, who spoke ferCely to his
newspaper because it was reluctant TO
turn inside out; q girl, who had got in
at Silchester and consumed thirteen
ha'f-penny buns before she was five
miles distant from it, and q young wo-
mau, evidently nurse, with baby in
her arms. The baby was noisy for a
time, but Rob gave il look that kept
10 silent for the rest OF the journey. He
told himself that he would get out a. the
first station, but when the traiO stopped
40 il he sat on. He twisted himso' into
a corner to count his money cOyertly, aud
found that il came TO four pounds odd.
He also took the Christmas card
from his pocket, but replaced It hastily,
feeling that the old gentleman aud little
girl were looking at him. a feeling Of
elation grew upon him and he saw that
whatever might happen afterwards he
must be in London shortly, and his mind
ran on the letters he would write 10 Mr..
Licquorish and to his landlaGy. In lieu
of his ticket he handled over II shiil-
iDgs TO the guard, under whose eyes he
die not feel comfortable, and calculated