Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-05-28

other eyes. Alas, sMG eyono
! tears, approaching the 6cfSS"nere
all earthly considerations appear misty
and of little consequence. Her fears
were at rest, human passions were
stilled, and the everlasting cloud slowly
descended upon her senses.
'Tye made of it m~yself-prime
gravy beef-real strong and tasty,
said Melinda, stirring the nour-
ishment vigorously as she
annroached. This practical task
checked the emotion which she feared
might master her. you'll ave a drop
Mrs. Tilley." She lifted her yellow
eyes with more entreaty than she knew,
Melinda had set up all night ana
there were red rims around her strange
orbs. The curate gave way at her ap-
roach, and the dying woman swallow
led a spoonful Of food put to her lips.
''Where's the baby, M'linda?' she
said family, as II recalling some distant
trouble. '0hl don't you worrit now.
know how TO manage Of babies"
"And him?"
Melinda missed the customary burst
Of tears. Him" was the familiar title
of Mr.. Tilley between mistress and maid
"OhI i'm. He's slep' it off," Melinda
lifted her nose, not daring to give vent
to more specific abuse.
Mrs. Tiley wishes to see her nus
band, interposed the curate gently.
The woman turned her glance upon
him with speeches. thanks.
THAT she shan't' said the General.
"'Eaint aver done FER no good as I've
seen and now"
"And now" said the curate with a
new assumption Of authority, "she
wants TO forgive him" :.
81 don't believe in no forgiveness,
| came from M~elinda's lips. Amt she
been forgivin' Of i'm all 'er life, and
amt e been the end of it now?"
Once more the curate lifted up his
voice. and there was a tone In II thai
was not to be- resisted. Fetch him"
She flashed defiance from her red
trimmed eyes, and then her glance fell
upon the woman, looking at them both,
She was going out of life, peaceful,
happy, because he, the little half-starVed
curate, had whispered he secret OF
eternal rest. Hitherto religious prac-
tees had appeared unavailing and with
out sincerity Oh meaning, but now the
! advantages did not appear so doubtful,
inasmuch as they were able TO bring
comfort at the last TO a frenzied soul.
In that one short glance Melinda real
lied it all. Something In 1t there
| might be-yes something in it after all,
my friends.
With lowered head the girl passed
ont of the room on her mission. She
found Mr.Tilley in an underground
apartment, in a state Of tremulous antic-
iDation. He was dimly conscious that
| be had committed himself in some I'M
| pardonable way on the previous night,
but he had fortified his nerves against
the revelation of his misdeedS with the
customary solace. He now remember
ed more clearly stumbling up to his
wife's bed-chamber, and being hustled
out by Melinda with a savage burst or
speech. Then came the vision OF a doc
tor hurrying up the stairs, and the
scared aDparition Of Louisa, his eldest
born. peering over the landing. His
hand was cut and plastered up, but he
had no recollection Of any accident TO
himself. The phaRtasmagoria OF real
and unreal troubled him severely, and
he was about to have recourse a second
time TO his familiar friend when Melin-
da's entry arrested him.
you're TO come" she said briefly.
''Whatever do you mean now?" he
said, with a maudlin assumption Of dig
nifty.
'sShe wants to forgive OF yer"
This benevolent promise appeared to
have no great attraction for Mr.. Tile
He drew back with evident reluctance.
But Melinda's eyes held him fast with a
compelling power.
"Oh-ah, he writhed uneasly. "She's
I done Of that before
The General restrained the torrent OF
| reproach which rose to her lips, and,
backing slowly to the cupboard, locked
IL and placed the key in her pocket.
This maneuvre awakened a more
lively sense OF interest in the mans
mind. What is it?" he said in a vain
endeaver to clear away the mental fog.
Tn girls action had set vague tremors
in mouion. The locking Of that cup
board was a ~prerogative only attached
to a wife.
"She's agoin' to die" Melinda's voice
was husky. you're TO go up STAIRS
aud say good bye" Still he tarried.
Then she caught the coward by the
shoulders, and with all her young
might pushed him toward the open door
"Gol go!' she said more vehemently.
And at last he went.
II
Time passed; weeks, months had
come and gone since Mr.. Tilley was Il
rally forgiven. But this absolution
had no binding effect on his misdeeds.
He sinned again and again, after the
old fashion, and the last state Of the
man was worse than the first. One by
one respectable dodgers dropped off, re-
moving themselves and their possessions
to more peaceful quarters.
The frequent offender found no guild
ing hand stretched out upon the stairs
now, no oft-forgiving partner ready to
screen or excuse mis- misdemeanors.
He might stumble over dodgers boots
and coal-scuttles on every landing, and
fling cut wild curses in the small hours
" - 1F...l g.. - wronAfHr