The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-08-23
HIS MAD LOVE.

h1S MAD LOVE-
The thunder shower was over, and
the sun, with the vigorous warmth
of early summer, had dried the
leaves and grass, and the birds,
having come out from their coverts,
were celebrating natures recovery
from the shock of the storm.
Jack Warden, in Mr.. Dotson's s
shady dooryard, was tying to a plum
tree a rope which was to support
one end of a bright hued hammock.
He was a happy looking lad was
Jack, as he tugged at the heavy
cord, and having made it secure,
took hold of the one at the other
end ofthe hanging couch and made
it fast to another tree not very far
distant.
He was strong, handsome young
fellow, not more than twenty five
years OF age, and his bright, blue
eyes and smiling lips gave token
that his present occupation Was a
labor of love. Presently he shouted,
.all right, Nettie, it's ready for you
now, and glanced up at a window
in the pretty cottage just in time to
see Simmer of white, and sud-
den disappearance of a graceful lit
tie figure, while a sweet, .girlish
voice chirped out:
"ln minute, Jack!"
She was better than her word
for it was not minute before she
tripped out at the door and down
tho steps, and was at his side, smil-
ing and blushing and looking so
fresh and sweet and shy and pretty,
that it was all Jack could do to keep
from folding her to his breast. for
awhile when he took hold of her TO
lift her in the hammock. Indeed,
he did retain his hold on her rather
longer than necessary, SO that she
had to wriggle away from him and
say, as she settled herself back il
the airy perch and tapped his fore
head lightly with the book she car
ried:
"There, that will do now, You bad
boy2"
But she was not angry, and Jack
felt the happiness a man always
feels when in the presence of one he
loves who, he knows, does not alto
gether dislike him.
But pretty and sweet as she was,
Nettie Dotson had will of her own
and quiet, coquettish way of keep
ing her own thoughts and senti
ments out of sight that had worried
more than one of her suitors almost
to destruction.
At the moment when Jack helped
her into the hammock and received
that look and smile, he would have
wagered his head that her heart was
his, but within five minutes from
that time he had heard enough of
Nettie,s light but mischievous chat
ter to make him all at once gloomy
and miserable young man, SO uncer-
tain of his position had he become.
"Why don't you marry Dick
Mays, if you love him sop he ex-
claimed at last, after the girl had
devoted several minutes to describ-
ing long buggy ride she had had
the day before with Jacks rich but
elderly rival.
"It is quite possible that 1 may, /"
returned Nettie, trifle sharply, and
then added, in a musing way: al
ought to be fond of him, 1 can never
do enough to show my appreciation
of his goodness to Pa-lifting that
mortgage and making us comfort
able here-and then he is SO kind
and gentle with me; never criticiz-
ing me about the Others with whom
I associate, and would no more think
of speaking sharply to me, as you
do, than he would of putting his
head in the fire"
"oh, he's a saint, he isIp excIaim-
ed jack bitterly. 81 wish you ioy
- :.