Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-09-11


world worth striving for was his? Rob
stopped abruptly in the street with the
sudden thought, was it possible that she
did not care for Simms? Could that
scene have had any other meaning? He
had once heard Simms himself say that
you never knew what a woman meant
By anything until she told you. and
probably not even then. But he saw
again the love in her face as she looked
UP into Simms's face. All through his
life he would carry that look with him.
They took no distinct shape, but wild
ways Of ending his misery coursed
through his brain, and he looked on
calmly at his own funeral. A terrible
stoldity seized him, and he conceived
himself monster from whom the ca
pacity to sympathize had gone. Chill
dren saw his face and fed from him.
He had left England far behind, and
dwelt now among wild tribes who had
not before looked upon white face.
Their sick came TO him for miracles,
and he either cured them or told them
TO begone. He was not sure whether
he was fend or missionary.
Then something remarkable hap
pened, which showed that Rob had not
mistaken his profession. He saw him
self in the editorial chair that he had
so often coveted, and Mary Abinger.
too, was In the room. Always previous
| " when she had come between him and
the paper he had been forced to lay
down his pen, but now he wrote on, and
on, and she seemed to help him. He
was describing the scene which he had
| witnessed in Simms's chambers, describ
ing it so wildly that he heard the great
| public discussing his article as il il were
an academy picture. His passion has
subsidized, and the best words formed
| slowly in his brain. He was hesitatng
about the most fitting title, when some
one struck against him, and as he drew
his arm over his eyes he knew with
horror that he had been turning Mary
Abinger into copy.
For the last time that night Rob
dreamed again, and now it was such n
/ fine picture he drew that he looked
upon 1t with sad complacency. Many
years had passed. He was now rich
and famous. He passed through the
wynds of Thrums, and the Aud LIGHTS
| turned out to gaze at him. He saw him
! self signing checks for all kinds OF
charitable objects and appearing in the
| subscription lists, with a grand disre-
| gard for glory that is not common to
philanthropists, as y. Y. Il. or ga Well
! Wisher." His walls were lined with
books written by himself, and Mary
| Abinger (who had not changed in the
least with the years. read them proud
| ly, knowing that they were all written
| for her. (Slms somehow had not fulfill
ed his promise.) The papers were full
of his speech in the House of Commons
the night before, and he had declined a
seat In the Cabinet from conscientious
motives. His Imagination might have
! landed him master in the Mansion
! House had il not deserted him when he
had most need OF it. He fell from his
| balloon like a stone. Before him he
saw the blank years that had to be
trayersed without any Mary Abinger,
and despair filled his soul. All the hOr
rible meaning Of the scene he had fled
| from came to him like rush Of blood to
| the head, and he stood with it. glaring at
| IL, in the middle of a roaring street.
Three handSoms shaved him by an
inch, and the fourth knocked him
! senseless.
An hour later Simms was lolling in
! his chambers smoking, his chair tilted
back until another inch would have sent
| him over. His gas had been blazing all
| day because he had nc plotting paper,
and the blinds were nicely pulled down
because Mary Abinger aud Nell were
there to do it. They were sitting on
each side of him, and Nell had on red
| cap, about which subsequently Simms
| wrote an article. Mary'S hat was larger
aud turned up at one side; the fashion
/ which arose through carriage wheel
! happening to pass over the nat Of q
| leader of fashion and make it perfectly
! lovely. Beyond the hats one does not
| care TO venture, but out OF fairness to
| Mary and Nell it should be said that
there were no tiny little beads on their
| dresses.
They had put on their hats to go, and
| then they had sat down again to tell
| their most great many things that
| they had told him already. Even Mary,
who was perfect in a general sort Of
way, took a considerable time 10 tell
story, and expected it TO have more
point when il ended than was sometimes
| the case. Simms, with his eyes half
closed, let the laughter ripple over his
| head, and drowsily heard the details OF
! their Journey from Silchester afresh.
! Mary had come up with the Merediths
on the previous day, and they were
now staying at the Langham Hotel.
| They would only be in town for a few
weeks; "iuSt to obiige the season, Nell
| said, for she had inveiged her father
! into taking boat house on the Thames
I and was certain it would prove delight
| full. Mary was to accompany them
there, too, having first done her duty to
society, aud Col AOinger was setting
/ off shortly for the Continent. In the
middle OF her prattle Neil distinctly
saw Simms'S head nod, as if ii was loose
IN It's socket. She made a mournfui
grimace.
Simms sat up.
"Your voices did it," he explained,
unabashed. "They are as soothing TO
! the faded Journalist as the streams that
murmur through the fields in June"
"Cigars are making you stupid, Dick, "
said Mary: ~ do wonder why men
smoke"
II have often asked myself that queS-
ton" thoughtfuIly answered Simms,
whom it is time TO call By his real name
of Dick Abinger. II know some men
who smoke because they might get sick
otherwise when in the company OF smok-
ers. Others smoke because they begin
TO do so at school, and are now afraid to
leave it off. A great many smoke for
philanthropic motives, smoking enaol-
| inr than 10 work harder. and so being