The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-07

ed, land II o would only marry me,
dear Salome, we should be happy for
ever in ono another's love-
His love had made him eloquent, and
the hot affection poured itself out IN q
stream oi words she had no chance OF
stemming back. When he was silent
she said coldly:
This is useless. We cannot alter
what has happened. Ihaye chosen my
way and shall go it now. II you g
worth millions, Hugh, l couldn't change
my mind"
But think of the future" be ex-
claimed, with tho courage OF the do
spairing lover who loves vRinly. "Ais
love may prove a delusion and a snare
may prove TO be only a fancy which
will disappear in a few months and
leave you unhappy. You are so tar be-
meath him that it seems a condescen'
ton for him to notice you, while you
are SO far above me that ! shall always
look up to you and worship you as an
angel"
"stup, Hughi Twill not hear another
word" she cried. "Paul Meredith has
asked me to be his wife and / have
promised, No matter whether he proves
false or true, / shall remain faithful,
Good night"
"Good night" he said, huskily..
She turned hastily away to so home
| ward when his voice arrested her feet
"SalomeW
"W hat is it?"
"Wtll you take this as a keepsake2 1t
will remind you Of me when / am far
away over the sea. Goodnight, and
may God bless you, dear sslomeW
He dropped something into her open
palm and walked rapidly away. When
she examined his parting riit she
found it to be q heavy gold ring,
gemmed with many jewels, which
| flashed in the light OF the lamp close by
like points OF white and red and green
flame,
She thrust the ring onto her fingers
idly, and finding il fitted u permitted
it to remain thereon. Then with a
little sigh she went her way homeward.
After leaving SaIome's side the miner
did not go into the White Grow, as he
had intended before meeting her. In
stead Of turning into the old.fashioned
tavern he strobe past the wide, gaping
doorway, with its red lamp, and plunged
into the darkness Of the lampless lane
! beyond.
Chewing the bitter cud OF his reflec-
tons, Hugh Eastwood went along, ours
ing the day that he and Satome had
met. and the chance which had brought
the handsome and wealthy ward Of the
baronet to that corne OF old England.
The miner had made up his mind on
one point. He would quit the village
at once, and hide his agony in some
other land. Across the seas he might
hear his sorrow more calmly and in
time learn to forget the handsome pit
brow girl.
As that thought passed through the
Young fellows mind he cannonaded
against q man whom he had not no
ticed, so deep were his reflections, and
he muttered,
Excuse me, sir, l didn't see you7"
"0h, it's all right" the other cried,
with a light laugh. "1t's so confound-
eddy dark that one is not to blanc. But
aren't you the man I met that other
night in the wood-Hugh Eastwood, l
thinkp
az am" was the sullen answer, land
you are Paul Meredith"
"Yes. Well, l suppose you are still
in the mines, here, Eastwood?"
~ am, but l shan't be there very
long," Hugh Growled.
Flows that?
81 am going to Australia in a day OF
two. Good night" and the miner
turned to 90.
Why are you leaving this placer
should like to do something for you,
and I think you ought to do we'll here"
"You could do nothing; but would
you really care to hear why I'm going
awayT"
"0t course 1 would" Paul answered,
scarcely knowing whether to be amused
or serious.
"Then l will tell you frankly, Mr..
Meredith. l IN leaving this coun.
try becauce the girl love is going to
marry-so it ia said-another man, and
you are that mani"
"WhatP
~ have told you. Before you ever
set eyes on Salome Birmingham l loved
her with oil my soul; but you came,
and-well, you may guess the rest. But
l trust, sir, that you love her and will
never attempt to betray her under this
promise OF marrying her. II any mar
we're TO harm salome, / would murder
him as sure as God is above usl"
The low intense way in which the
pitmau delivered those words impressed
his companion; had they not done SC
he might have felt inclined to resent
them. AS it was he saw how matters
stood with his unsuccessful rival and he
cried,
Eastwood, God knows that / love
and honor Salome above all women. ]
would marry her tomorrow II she would
have me. l am sorry for you, old tel
low, will you shake hands?"
lie held out his hand frankly, and ere
he was aware OF what no was doing
Hugh had wrung 1t and was fleeing
away in the darkness.
no NE %coSrrSuED)
---o-
.. - OI..,,..,. a., rnNo,.h, Tt,nI