Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-03

Anyhow, I'm here, and I've bought the
land, ana am going to knock up de-
cent house and settle down II things 90
as | want them. There's a shanty that
we used to live In on my farm, but no
house? I'm in IL now, and there's a
room for you besides, II you will fall in
with my scheme. The old homestead
is on the other part Of the plantation,
and the Beverly's own il still. |
wanted 1t, but they wouldn't sell; so, as
say, I've got to build, and 1 want you
to come down here and put up for
year with me and do up the thing
In style. Money is no object, but taste
Is, and as l have plenty Of the one and
you OF the other, we ought to make a
success Of my house, see that stone
and mortar are in your line now. Come
down and pay me visit anyhow, and
as soon as you can, because / never was
hog after delay. I'll meet you at our
dOghOle OF a station any day you name,
and we can talk things over and arrange
about the business part. Bring a gun,
and fishing tackle, and dancing shoes,
too, II you still banker after the petit
NNGNNf 4 nN OAu SA0ND Cdu SuOM q HIGlbl
woman or two yet, and we've got some
sport left, In spite Of the niger and the
claybank mongrels." The letter was
signed his faithfully, Ned Anthony"
and across the top was scrawled hastily
an evident Observation-Disclosures what
day shall meet you"
Dan returned the letter to its enyel
ope, amused, pleased and interested.
So old Ned was back in the neighbour
hood he had left twenty years before
baretOoted boy without second shirt
TO his back, in the plumed helmet and
golden spurs OF a knight Of Plutus. He
wondered how his former chum had
been received in the stately, old fash
Ioned society Of conservative country
Neigh Observation-Disclosures they were
gracious or turned their backs on him
because OF his father having worn
shabby homespun and super
intended another mans planta
ton and slaves and gone down TO
his grave in ignorance OF written Ian
guage. He wondered also whether Ned
grated on his neighbors, or whether the
original grain of the man had COM
pacted with the growth Of years and be-
come susceptible of polish. To him Ned
seemed improved; he liked that open
reference to his father and his fathers
calling; it showed an absence Of that
meaneSt Of all qualities, false pride.
There was delicacy about his refer
ence TO his business matters also which
did not escape Dams notice-it was
so unlike the Anthony of old. Most
decidedly, he thought, his friend had
improved.
The little romance they had discussed
was doubtless in process OF completion
was rounding into the circle OF a mar
riage ring, as he had always said 1t
should. The cheerful tone OF Ned's
letter, its hopefulness, this talk OF build
ing and Of settling down 'ff things go
as l want them" all pointed the same
way. And Dan, who liked Ned, and
loved romance like a schoolgirl, loosed
the reins OF his imagination and took a
breezy canter of conjecture and ar
rangement.
The things" to be bent to the con-
ouering hero's will were, of course, pri-
marily Miss Mary Beverley's affections,
and SecOndarily the aristocratic pro-
GllNlLles OF MISS Mar 4bcNSAioy A"uA
ily. With the young lady the romance
of having lived in the solitary Senti-
ment and blossomed the solitary flower
OF strong mans nature for twenty
years of toll and roughnesS and struS-
giles and adventure would, he thought,
be better vantage ground than most
lovers possessed at starting. With the
family-ah, well, most locks turn to
keys OF gold, and il this one should
prove obdurate Ned Anthony had
strength and skill enough TO pick it. A
man who could unhOrse Fortune and
bind her captive was not likely to let
himself be endorsed by prejudice.
He would HE him down to OLD Nlr-
ginia, and shake his friends brown hand
and have a chat about old days; per-
haBs entice a few James River bass to
respond TO mis- soft advances. Then, III
things went well with Anthony, he
would remain awhile, and build little
Mary's" house for her, in his noolest
STYLE, and have a shot at the partridges
and act "best man." and all that. And
then he would come back again to the
bustling city and try TO put in some
more effective strokes on the canvas of
his own future than he had done here
tofore.