Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-06-11

leave with you and at least see you
safely as far as the railway station, l
| shall consider myself as the recipient
! of a very great favor"
She bowed assent and he fastened to
get hef tfaes. Lincoln, " he said, toss
ing a half-dolfar to q young servant he
met in the lower hall. run over to the
tavern and have them send for . Two
horse carriage right away" Partner
on he encountered all the female do
mestlcs, who sssaIled hiJ with whis-
pered int~errogations, ~ older enes
with lamentations andf tears. Mass
Dick, Miss Vi'ginis Roin'?" Can't
Miss Virginia stsye" "Wha' Miss
Virginia goin', Mass DickP
Mass Dick, To- de good dsah Lo'd's
sake, Mass Dick won't you beg, won't
you pray ante the majah TO keep Miss
! Virginia an de little chile what looks so
like old Missus yere?" pleaded old Caro-
line who had been Virginia's nurse In
the other days, the tears rolling down
her ancient dusky face while her hands
were clasped implorlngly.
"Ill see that she doesn't come to any
harm, Caroline" said Torrance, gently,
touched by this appeal and knowing the
sutility Of explanations. He succeeded
In getting way from the circle OF dark
anxious faces, and went on TO get his
overcoat and valise with which he re-
turned presently to the lower hall where
he had left Mrs. Bolton waiting. II
am ready" he said. "a carriage will
be here in q few minutes"
She was crying quietly behind her
veil, and Bessie was trying vaguely to
comfort her. Torrance stood stroking
his mustache with q thoughtful count
enance; suddenly his face frightened
and he said: III will 90 and say good
by to the major, Mrs. Bolton. May
Bessie 60 with me?"
"Yes. Child, 90 with Mr.. Torrance
to see grandpapa," she said, putting
Bessie's hand in his. Bessie was not
backward, and together they trod the
length of the vast hall, he grave and
silent, she chattering blithely and irrel-
evantly as a sparrow. They entered
the study and the major saw with mani
fest CONSERVATION this new and re-
enforced attack bearing down on him.
Torrance had his overcoat on his arm
and his hat In his hand. Bessie survey
ed her grandfather In silence and CLING
closely TO Torrance's hand, for a twinge
| of the govt Just then made the old gen.
tleman's features anything but resssur-
ing.
"Major, I have come to say good
BY" said Torrance with extreme
gravity,
"Do you mean It, DickP" asked the
| major, without looking st him.
II do"
"But Dick, I have sent Tom for the
dogs"
"IIl make you a present of the dogs,
major, but"
lyon are not going to walk to the
train DlckP" interrupted the major.
"Oh, no. I have ordered a rig from
~Spooner's."
you've done what?" roared the ma
J Tor between q and the pain which
just then reached its height. Bessie
began to cry. The major, whose eyes
had not left her face since she entered,
said In a softened voice: 'Don'tcrY, iit-
tie one." He reached his hand forth to
place it on her ..gelden curls. Whose
child is this, Richard?"
''Your Rrandchild, major. Do you
see no resemblance TO any one who has
lived In your family? Kiss grandPapa
good-by, Bessie"
Bessie wiped the tears out OF her eyes
with her fist and sobbingly clamhered
onto the old mans knee TO do as she was
bid. in her effort kicking against the
equity foot, causing the Precipitation TO
start out on the majors forehead. The
face Of this veteran. who had been In
the thick Of seventeen engagements,
and bore the scars OF five battles, was a
study; the tears were coursing freely
down the massive features as he took In
his arms this living miniature OF the
loved wife whom he had called Bessie In
| the early days Of courtshIp and mar
rage. but who for twentY-three years
had peer only q memory that fingered
about the churchyard In the hollow.
His voice was not much above q Wills
per as he turned to Torrance and asked;
'Where is Virglnia?"
Torrance was not slow IN finding her
and shutting the door on the three to-
Rether; then. as q sort of compensation
for his own feelings, be wen out on
the yeranda aud smoked q cigar. LIN
coin drove up with the livery rig. and
Torrance In bis eXuberance, abused IL
and abused Lincoln, telling him to take
IL lack at once, as no lady could ride In
such q mediocre affair; be paid literally
for IL, however. by and by the majors
voice was lifted up In the distance and
Torrance heard It from afar.
Mass Dick, de msjah wants you"
said Zebe, v%enturing his head out
| through the door.
Torrance entered the library and
| found everybody t~eariully radiant ex-
cept Bessie, who was indlherently hap
py over grandfather's watch.
Orchard think we a 20 to break
fast now" said the major when he saw
him. ''Caroline, Judy, Lucy, Miranda,
| Stella, Agrippina, come hear and attend
TO Miss Virginia and Mistress Bessie"
"You nlggahs, you heah?" said Zebe
sternly, breaking In on an excited but
perfectly silent dance the younger girls
were having In the hall. "De majah's
calm, yeh. Bettah min, now" he
went on warningly; "he amt liable 10
walt long"
At length they were finally seated at
the table, and after a moments silence
the major said, with a twinkle In his
eve: "Dick, tell me, isn't this whole
business put up on me between you and
Virginia aud Bessie?"
..Can you answer him calmly. Mr..
Torrance? / could scarcely think tne
major capable of such az insinuation,"
laughed Mrs. Bolton.
ut wasn't exactly q put up job. ma
ior." replied Torrance, AT least SO far