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

scene which occurred about two weeks
after Anthony's Introduction to Mrs
Beverley. He had called several times
and had established quite an intimacy
with the boys, having some fondness for
children and a decided partiality for
those OF his own sex. Miss COrnelia had
been absent or otherwise engaged at the
time Of his visits; so that the pair had
never met since the tulip episode, so
fresh in the memory OF one, so COM
pletely obliterated from that Of the
other.
They had all come out for a walk
Mary, the boys and Miss Cornelia. A
splendid dam Of sticks and stones and
mud had been constructed across the
creek in the rSvine which separated the
two portions Of the estate, aud the little
engineers, wild over their first success,
had scampered 10 the house TO entreat
their mother to come out and inspect it.
In the hall they were Joined by Miss
COrnelia, whom the children in their
glee invited TO accompany them. 1t
was Hector that prOffered the invita-
ton, and as he was the old lady's favor
tie she readily consented.
The party proceeded on their way
pleasantly, little Hector helping his
aunt over all the rough places, as his
mother had taught him. AT the pond
made By the damned up stream they
were joined by Anthony, who had seen
them from his window as they left the
yard.
Mary introduced him to her aunt,
who had heard of his wealth and was
progressed by his appearance and
therefore disposed to be gracious TO
him. She even gave him her delicate
old baud TO shake, although the nod
and the slight motion Of the hand to-
ward the hat with which he had acknow-
lodged the introduction was not the
mode OF salutatiOn to which she mao
been accustomed. She talked TO him
also and made herself pleasant, in spite
Of his careless replies and the fact that
he addressed most Of his remarks TO
Mary and the boys.
THE old girls broken all to pieces, "
was AnthOny's inward comment. 'She
used TO be- a good looking woman, l re-
member, but I'll be damned il she's
good looking now; her nose is a regular
parrots beak l wonder IL she thinks
I'm fool enough TO bother myself doing
the civil to an old SQuaw like her where
there is metal more attractive at my ell
bow. don't pan sorry grit when can
get paying rock"
He made himself agreeable to the
children, however, showed them how TO
strengthen their structure, promised to
bring a Ratchet and some bits Of plank
the next day, and help them to secure
it against all possibility OF the waters
washing IL away, and finally suggested
getting a bucket Of carp for them to
stock the little pond.
They assembled the side Of the ravine
by a path good deal higher up the
creek than the one they had used in
coming down, Mrs. Beverley walking
first, with Anthony close beside her, and
feeling a trite annoyed because Of his
neglect of the proper observanees and
the knowledge she had that Miss Cor
nelia was being sighted and most prob
ably growing resentful. Had she been
sure OF the man beside her she would
have hidden him remain behind and
help her aunt; but she was not sure OF
him.
As likely as not be would have de-
clared that the old lady was as well able
TO mount the slope unassisted as any Of
them-which would have been the
truth. since Miss Cornelia was hale
and singularly healthy woman for her
age, in spite Of the complaints she con-
tinually made of untold suffering from
mysterious maladies, and her assump-
tion, upon occasion, of the airs OF in
validism. Or, If he should do her be-
hest, it might be in fashion that
would complicate matters further.
Mary was afraid to take the risk, and
walked on gravely, scarcely answering
him by more than mOnosyllables, which,
however, proved in no way disconcert-
ing. for Anthony was full of the new
house he was about to build, and quite
willing to do the talking.
Half way up the side Of the slope a
branch from one of the trees had fallen
across the path, obstructing ii little.
Most men would have kicked 1t aside,
or else have rendered some assistance.
Anthony did neither, from the simple
fact that neither occurred to him. He
stepped over the branch and went on
talking, letting Mary step over it as he
did. A few steps further on Mary
turned instinctively to see that her little
bows performed their devOir, and An
thony turned with her. Ran had laid
hold OF the branch to drag il aside, and
Hector stood ready with his hand. All
would have gone we'll il Miss Cor
pelia would have waited, but she was
nettled and impatient, 50 she told Ran
testify 20 let it aiCne, and stepped for
ward lust as the little fellow gave il a
final Jerk; her heel caught, she STUN
bled, and would have fallen heavily
II Hector's shoulder had not been in the
right place at exactly the right mo-
ment and saved her. Mary gave quick
little cry, and Anthony-laughed aloud.
It was funny. Miss Cornelia was
stout. aud her face, from exertion and
anger, had become the color of peony.
She had an old Tapping straw hat on
her head that was lined with faded blue
musiin and had ends of ribbon stream
ing down behind; her dress was hooked
mn Enthusiastically by the twigs of the
branch, the end of which Ran still held,
and her two fat hands on Hector's bend
ING shoulders gave her the appearance
OF being about TO take flying leap over
the bows back. Surely, il it is ever ex-
cusable TO laugh at snother'S misfor-
tunes, Anthony was excusable then.
But Mary did not think so. She was
so angry with him that she could hard
" speak, and would not look at him at
ali. Retracing her steps she drew her
aunt's hand firmly through her arm,
with a few quick words of sympathy,
and calling TO the boys to follow led the
mortified and now trembling old lady