The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-12
ON WHEELS ON FIRE.
BY FITZGERALD MOLLOY,
Author of "HOw Came He Dead9"
"An Excellent Kaaye," "sweet is
Revenge" "a Modern Magician"
"That Villain Romeo" Sc,
Copyright 1893, by the AuthOr,l
CHAPTER ky,
MRS. DYsCHREE.

NAh AASAf %AS NNy
bright and warm, the sky clear save for
some islet clouds, white and aeecy and
motionless as if there was no air in
heaven. The murmur Of insect life
sounded in the calm atmosphere, made
musical now and then by the song OF
thrush or blackbird, made sweet by the
scent Of jasmine aud arbutus clinging
ing round tho lattice work, The suR
falling across the flower beds made q
blaze OF the crimson geranlums, ana
turned the yellow roses to specks oil
cleaning gold,
As Stella worked she thought Of Mrs.
ByschEee, wondering what griei II was
in the Woman's life which had left its
mark so plain behind. Was 1t love or
death that had wounded herr Had
she been wronged by man, or stricken
by some visitation Of Providencep No
murmur,no complaint, no word OF hope
or desire ever crossed her lips; no rel
erence Of her former lie ever escaped
her; the past was sealed book, nor did
tho future hold aught for which she
cared. So far as might be judged, ex-
islence was for her purposeless blank,
TO be lived through and endured rather
than enjoyed and cherished, The dark
shadow which had fallen ON her path
had blotted out all Joyous light and
her way to tho grave must DO walked
in sombreness and solitude.
While Stella dwelt on such consldera'
tons the door OF Mrs. Byschree's sit.
ting.room opened, and the widow glided
noiselessly into the porch and sat on
the bench facing her lodger For some
time she remained silent, and seeing
the look Of abstraction on her face,
Stella RETAINED from interrupting her
thoughts. Once or twice her lips
moved and her eyes looked searChingIy
into space. The long white hands laid
upon her black gown twibched ner-
vouslY, and now and again sigh broke
from her pale. thin lips.
Stella was by this tlme too much
accustomed to her manner TO feel
alarmed or surprised, and without
seeming to notice her peculiarities
waited until Mrs. BysGhree spoke.
When che addressed stellait seemed as
Il size were continuing conversation
ulreuuy ueSuH'
although we sympa!hise with Nature,
feeling depressed in her dark moods
and exhilerated in her bright. she
doesn't sympathise with US, remarked
Mrs. Byschree, looking straight before
her. "No matter what happens TO us
the world goes on the same; your
heart may be frozen, but when spring
comes tho sky is clear; the darkness Of
tragedy may overshadow you, but out
side the earth is glad"
"Clear skies and bright suns cheer
u.s." responded Stella.
HAS 1t never occurred TO you that
they mock usP"
"Never. Surely you don't think So
you who love the things which spring
and summer bring"
"They would come all the same If
were in living grave; il I were under
ground and part OF the ground"
Even If you were, there something
within you, that which is truly your.
self, which would yet be conspicuous Of
all that was beautiful"
"The mind" the pale-faced woman
said in q whisper.
(Which is tho spirit" answered
Stella.
'tBut see how 1t can be affected by
the body; it is that which hampers II,
Injuries Il; and then think how terrible
it Is that thing so ingenious, 80 sub
tic. so powerful as the mind should be
subjected to and influenced by the
grossness OF the body A pain In your
finger distracts you, q stroke upon the
head leaves you senseless. But the
mind will escape one day aud assert its
supremacy. Of that / feel sure, Of that
feel sure" she murmured."
"You are not impatient for that time
Ihope," said Stella, noticing the dreary
expression on her companions face.
"No; life is dear to us all, oven to
me-" Mrs, Byschree replied.
"Why not to you as well as to
others?" remarked Stella.
Because it has been weary and
dark"
"But not now, not now l trust, dear
Mrs. Byschree."
"No, child, not at present, but who
can tell what yet may happen?" said
the widow, in low melancholy voice.
zone can never tell: we are not mus.
ters OF our fate, dear child" she answer.
cd, touched by Stella's solicitude Then
after pause, during which she looked
round her suspiciously, she added, az,
too, hope nothing wifi happen until |
have performed my mission"
"You?" exclaimed Stella, In surprise
Eyes; weak as look and irial, | can
control the strong"
"Your mission will not, hope, tako
you from usP"
"Itw will; but not for long. / will 70.
turn, and then shall DO more at peace"
said Mrs. Byschree, still looking before
her into space as II she beheld some
picture painted in tho air. "Sin brings
with II wrong" she continued, "and
that is true; 1t brings wrong to tho IN.
nocent But must right wrong an.
other has done; 1t Is my duty" sho
murmured, as II speaking to herself.
Prompted bya sudden impulse, Stella
leaned forward and asked:
wrong2"
eyes, child, ] have; one which no
man can right"
"And SO have l." exclaimed Stella,
coming and sitting beside this lonely
and sorrowful woman and taking tho
palo, thin hands in her own.
Mrs, Byschroe hooked at hor, and
then bent down and ktssod her.
Il might have known" che muir.
INJURED, II might have known; for
something In you drow me towards you
from the frat, and / could fool that you
had suffered. So young, too, but sor.
row spares neither young nor old 4;
mine has been 8 heavy blow and / will
toll you Of II some day, for know that