Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-24
At least, / did have enough. bnt ! spent
Il all In nv shoppInR.n

It all before" / exclaimed. NOW we
have just to get the train"
hurried her on with ma as / spoke,
bought our tickets in the twinkling OF
an eye and without waiting for the
change conveyed her rapidly across the
platform, and with the assistance OF .
guard we found ourselves safely en-
sconced in first class carriage just as
the train moved of. Ny beautiful COM
panion, breathless, smiling and yet
seemingly little frightened, sank back
on the cushions and felt for the fan at
her girdle. wished to give her plenty
OF time to recover her composure, and to
feel assured that had no intention OF
taking undue advantage Of our position;
so, having arranged the windows to suit
her convenience, betook myself to the
other end OF the carriage and diligently
stared at the prospect for fully five min
utes. Nature could endure no more,
and at the end of that time was fam to
change my posture.
/ stole a glance at my fair American.
She, too, was absorbed in the prospect
on her side, which consisted at the mo-
ment Of q perpendicular cutting about
ten feet distant from her window. Her
attitude as she sat there was the perfec-
ton of feminine grace. Her left hand,
loosely holding the fan, dropped on her
lap; her sleeve, slightly pushed up, re-
veaIed the lovely curve Of her arm and
wrist. l am particular admirer OF
beautiful wrists and hands, and here /
saw my ideal. How exquisitely the
glove fitted, and how artistically the
color harmonized with the rest Of her
costumeI The other little hand sup
ported her chin. l could see the
rounded outline OF her small cheek, and
the movement of the dark eyelash pro-
jecting beyond 1t.
Beneath her hat the black hair turned
in a careless coil and charming little
downy curls nestled in the nape OF her
neck. She was thorough brunette,
pale, and yet pervaded with warm color.
Beneath the skirt OF her crisp dress
peeped the pointed toe OF an ineffable
little boot, which occasionally lifted IT
self and tapped the floor softly. Sud-
denly in the midst OF my admiring in
speCtion, she turned around upon me
and our eyes met. There was an In
stant's constraint and then we both
laughed, and the constraint passed away
not to return.
81 was going to ask you" said l,
whether you wouldn't prefer sitting on
this side? You will find the river bet
ter worth looking at than that stone
wall"
II am under your orders, sir, for the
present; you put me here; and now II
you tell me / am to go elsewhere, shall
obey"
She rose as she spoke; the jolting OF
the carriage caused her to lose her BAL
ance; held out my hand to assist her,
and so she tottered across and seated
herself opposite me.
Now are you satisfied" she asked
demurely, folding her hands in her LAP
and sending fash into me from those
mystical eyes.
"Yes, indeed, II you are. Did you
ever travel this way before?"
If you mean alone with a gentleman
never met before-no."
"Oh, what mean was"-
~ know didn't mean to make fun.
Yes, | believe / was in this part Of the
country once when was very little
girl; that was before | went to the con-
vent, you know"
ITO the convent?"
She gave a charming impromptu
laugh.
II wasn't quite NUM- didn't want
to make you believe that! Only | was
brought up in convent near Paris; ed
ucated there, as many young ladies' are.
I was there seven years-wasn't that
long?-and l only got out little while
ago."
SIT must have been awfully dull"
"Oh, liked II in a sort OF way; they
were very kind to me there, but then l
didn'tknow how pleasant it was outside!
You would never believe how delight
full the world is II you were only told
about 1t. Ny papa used to tell me about
it sometimes, and he is great traveller
he has been everywhere. But | didn't
realize it until | saw for myself"
"Have you been to America since
leaving the convent?"
"Oh, yes. / went to New York, and
saw my cousins there. Papa went with
me, but he came back TO Paris first and
| followed later. / met him again In
Paris only q few weeks ago. he will be
surprised to see you here, Mr.. Gainsoor-
ough. What funny way you have
chosen to go from Paris to Rome
through Dresden"
eyes. but. by the way, how did you
know l was going to Rome? And why
will your papa be surprised?"
Again she laughed, and regarded me
with so delightfully."- mischievous a
glance that felt convinced / must In
some way be making q fool OF myself.
What did IL all mean? i bit my lip and
the color came into my face from pro-
vocation at my own evident thick
medicines
"If you had only waited a little
longer in Paris" she continued, still
smiling, cnigmatically, perhaps we
might have met in a more regular way,
and perhaps then you would have let me
have a look q. your diamonds!
MY diamondsl That explained the
mystery In fash.
SIS your futher Mr.. Birchmore?"
II am Miss Birchmore, IL you please,
sir. You never asked me for my card,
and didn't like to force it on you. II
was so kind of you to take me on trust,
without making sure that ! was all right
first. | thought Englishman were more
cautious and reserved"
could now join in the laugh against
myself will full appreciation OF the ex-
cellence OF the jest. Mr.. Blrchmore,
then, had been a married man after all.
or course he was. Why had / not be-
fore remarked the strong family like
ness between him and his daughter?
Take her on trust, forsooth! How !
louQed to retort that was ready to take