Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-02

man. But i don't want 70 marry; lt''
against all my plans and ideas.
didn't want TO fall In love
either, for that matter.
He fell dreaming nOw-he had man
aged 70 leave his sister and her friends
absorbed in the excitement Of watching
a game Of lawn tennis between the best
players Of the county, and had stolen
by himself down sOmo shady walks
away from the sparkle aud chatter OF
Athe garden party. The quiet and dim
ness sOOthed him, bub -iacreaSeO the
strange unreal heeiing Of which he had
been conscious since the morning. lie
felt as IL nothing that could happen
would surprise him-he was actually
IN point OF fact, not surprised when, al
turn in the path, he saw suddenly be-
fore him, advancing toward him, heI
cloudy black draDery-fOr she was 10
black as ever-scarcely dlStinguishable
from the dark shrubs az each side, she
VERY person around whom all hi:
thoughts were centering-Maisie-
Maisie Ford herself
He did not start, he made 40 exclama'
ton. A strange intent look came into
his eyes as he walked on toward her
Long afterward ne remembered, and Il
helped to explain things, that she too
had testified no surprise. But her face
flushed little, and the first expression
he caught sight of was one Of pleasure
-afterward, long afterward, he remem
bered this too.
They NEITHER hands touched. Blu
for moment he did not speak.
"How do you do, Mr. NOrreys?" she
said then. 1T is hot and glazing on the
lawn, is IL not? nave just been seeing
my father of. He was 200 tired 70 stay
longer and 1 was glad TO wander about
here in the shade little"
'Your father?" he repeated hall
mechanically.
"Yes-we are staying, he aud I, for
few days at Laxter's Hill. am 80 sorry
he has gOne-I would so have liked yoI
TO see him"
She spoke eagerly and with the pecu
liar, bright girlishneSs really natura
20 her, which was one Of her creates
charms.
Despard looked at her; her voice anC
manner helped him little 70 throw OF
the curious sensation Of unreality. Blu
he was, though he scarcely knew 10, be
coming inWardly more and more Wrough
up.
''T should have liked to see him ex
ceedingly." he began-'any one so deal
TO you. I may hope some other time
perhaps, TO do so? II was thinking
Of you when I first caught sight Of yoJ
lust now, Miss FfOrds-indeed, l have
done nothing-upOn my word, you ma,
believe mel have done little else thar
think Of you since we last met.
The girls face grew strangely still
and intent, yet with wiStiul look IL
the eyes telling OF feelings not 70 o'
easily read. II was as II she were list
ening, In spite of herself, for something
she still vaguely hoped she was mistak
co in expecting.
Indeed" she began ID say, but h'
interrupted her.
''No," he said, ''do not speak till yoJ
have heard me. had made up my mine
to IL before met you now. l was JUS
wondering how and when Ia could be
But now that this opportunity has come
so quickly I will not lose It. l love YOU
Il have loved you for longer than
knew myself, than 1 would own TO my
self"
.sFrom the very first, from that even
ing at Mrs. EnglewOOd' S?' she said, anC
but for his intense preOccupation h'
would have been startled by her tone.
yes" he said, simply, with StraiI
Of retrospectiOn in his eyes, as II deter
mined 10 control himself and SpeaE
nothing but the unexaggerated truth
s.yes, / almost think it began that mrs
evening, rude, brutally rude, as 1 wa
10 YOU. / would Lot own i'll strug
gled against &C., for I did not want q
marry. l had no thought OF IL. l an
selfish. very selfish, / fear, and / pre-
ferred to keep clear OF all ties and re
sponsibiities, which too often be
come terribly CALLING on small
means. / am no hero-but now
YOU will forgive my hesitation and
and reluctance, will you not? You ar
generous / know, and my franknesS vii
not injure me with you, will it? HO'
will believe that 1 loved you almOS
from the first, though i could not all a
once make mp mind to marrying OF
small means2 And nOw-nOw that
derstand-that-th that all seems differ
ent TO me-that nothing seems OF con
sequence except to hear you say yOl
love me, as-as / have thought some
times aisie-you will not be hard OF
me-"
He stopped; he could have gone OF
nuch longer, and there was nothing
now outwardly 20 interrupt him. Sh
had stood there motiOnlesS, listening
Her face he could scarcely see, il wa
half turned away, but that seemed no
unnatural. What then caused his sud
den misglvlng?
'.Maisie," he repeated more timidly
Then she turned-there was a burn
ing spot Of red on each cheek, her eye
were flaming, Yet her voice was lov
and quiet.
lizard on yOuw she repeated, II an
too sorry for myself TO think or car
much about you. / am-yeS, ma
own il, I am so horribly disappointed
had really allowed myself 70 think o
Won as sincere, as, In spite Of your 40
manly Alterations, your cOntemptiol
copceit, an honest man, POSSIBLE
friend, was beginning 20 forgive you
Nl-bred insolence to me as a stranger a
the first, thinking there was something
worthy Of respect about you after all
Butch, dear And TO try 70 hum9nl
me by this sham hOnesty-tO dare {
say You did not think you could hav
cared for me enough 20 risk curtsilini
your own self-indUlgenceS, but tina
now-it is too Ditiful. But, Oh, dear
4. is too horribly disappointing.
Aud as she looked 40 him again b
, saw that her eyes were actually full o
tears.
His brain was IN a whirl Of bewilder
.nnA hiltnrnat rnnrfi nnafinn and In q