Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-06

QulTe HIS pTeSeDCc III tAe t1Sl uelOtc
many months had passed, and in that
event he would probably visit Virginia.
The months had passed, bringing with
them the necessity which Mr.. Anthony
had forecast. He had come east and
was now in Virginia. He had arrived
In the village the evening before and es-
tablished himself for the present at the
solitary boarding house lit could not be
called hotel) of the place, which was
kept by new people, VINO had been resi-
dent in the village only matter OF ten
or twelve years, and OF course were I'M
connected with that bygone time which
to Anthony seemed to move forward and
| join hands with the present the moment
he left the train at the wayside station.
Twenty years. Had it been twenty
years since he had seen it all? 1t might
have been twenty days, be thought at
first, for the little change apparent. The
same river flowing on with gracious
curves and windings, the same willows
! on its banks, the same fields and hills,
the same soft blue mountains in the dis
lance. Could it be twenty years since
| he had seen it?
1t was fair picture for loving eyesto
rest upon, and even the chill unkind-
ness of the November evening could not
spoil IL; but the eyes that gazed from
under dropping lids were more critical
than loving. Soon to their searching
quest changes began to make themselves
apparent. In place of the sleepy old ca
nal OF his boyhood there was single
track, unprosperous looking railway,
and telegraph poles marked the line OF
what was formerly tow path.
And there were eudless quiet changes
of the kind that mark the progress OF
decay, the small inroads Of poverty and
deSolation. Twenty years had left be-
hind them traces of their fight in CALLED
and quilted fields that formerly were fer
tile, in hillsides grown thickly up with
broom sedge and sassafras, and in gen.
eral dilapidation OF fencing and build
ngs. What the devastation OF war mad
commenced poverty and unthrift were
completing, and the foot Of time but
marked the road that was leading TO
restitution.
Anthony gazed over it all and scorned
il. He was so full of energy, will and
activity of purpose that the evidences Of
unthrift filed him with Impotence.
All the tender beauty of the scene, all
its Old World calm, its repose and soft
enchantment were utterly lost upon him.
The lotos eating phases OF existence
were beyond his comprehension--would
have been beyond his endurance.
"How small it all loOks!" he unused
slightingly, as he paused in his whit
Ting to stroke his beautiful brown
beard with a strong sunburned hand,
land yet when was kid l thought
this valley was the world. Now it looks
to me as though | could straddle that
river and push the hills apart with my
two hands. Lord! how the country has
gone downtown to the very dogs, for
want of money and push. They hadn't
much practical energy to start with,
these people, but with one thing and an
other they seem to have lost the little
they had. They can't make work tell
any more than kitten can pan ore.
They run to extremes and hit the best
part Of their ticks in the wrong place.
He finished trimming his stick
thoughtfuly, handling his knife dexter
ously, cutting with firm, capable strokes,
and making every cut further his de-
sign. The grain OF the wood was close,
it's fiber tough, but he worked on per-
sistently, without hurry or waste, and
when he had completed the job to his
satisfaction he closed the knife with
sharp snap and returned it to his pocket.
The newmade cane was stout, and he
balanced it in his hand and then struck
it smartly against the rail to test its
strength.
Eve known the time when a good
Virginia hickory would have been
mighty pleasant thing to handle out
yonder," he thought. "That night in
OHara's saloon when / caught Neal
cheating at draw poker and pinned his
hand to the table with my knife, stick
like this would have been handy play
thing to amuse the roughs with. Lord!
how long ago the old time seems when
remember what's come between"
There was slight rustling among the
dead leaves and grass OF a brier patch
near. The man turned his head Instant
ly, as one accustomed to note the slight
est noise, and peered down into the
tangle. AT first he could distinguish
nothing, but soon two long brown ears
crOWlluk Il SOlb UIOml
ed from the uniform BROWNIES OF Its
surroundings, and two black eyes, Dig
and startled, regarded the intruder
specuatively, evidently trying to deter
mine whether his intentions were friend
ly or the reverse. A sharp whirring
sound as the hickory stick left the
strong hand settled all doubt in the rab-
bits mind, and with terrified bound
she left her form, as the missile came
Gathering among the bushes.
Anthony leaped from the fence and
stopped for stone, which he sent whiz-
ling after the little beast, causing It's
heart to Jump in unison with It's terrified
legs. but doing no other damage. An
thony trampled about among the briers
until he found the stick again, trlne
nettled by the futiity of both throws.
He revolted against failure OF any Klnd.
The evening was drawing in, and the
air was heavy: from the river mists rose
and mustered in thick, yaporors masses
which rolled across the low grounds and
stormed the heights: the atmosphere
was dense with chill and moisture.
AWAY in the distance cow lowed with
long drawn insistence, and from nearer
a calf answered. Along the road at the
foot of the hill the form Of woman
passed slowly, her steps so deadened by
the dampness that she appeared to DRIFT
rather than walk. Anthony leaned for
ward, scanning the road through the
gathering dusk. Only negro woman
returning to her home from an errand
to the village, but so magniied by the
shifting fog, so etherealized by the illu-
sive mists, that she seemed an appari-
ton rather than a thing OF human mold.
With hand appraised she studied the
burden on her head and passed on. sing