Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-26

thought Mr.. Norreys. though he would
have been ashamed to ask for it. -
should like to know it's down. sort Q,
crossing the Rublcon. And it's gooC
while now since that last day saw her
She was never quite so sweet as tha
day. Supposing l heard she was mar
ried?"
| His heart seemed to stop beating al
the thought, and he grew white, though
there was no one TO see. But he reas
sured himself Few things were less
likely. Portionless girls. however
charming, don't marry so quickly nova
days.
Madeline's feelings were mingled.
She was honestly aud unselishly glad
OF what she believed might be a real
turning point toward good for Despard.
| Yet-''if only he had not chosen a girl
quite so denuded Of worldly advantages
as she evidently is" she reflected. "FOr,
Of course. IL she had either money or
| connection Mrs. EDglewood would not
, have kept it q secret. She is far too
outspoken. must beg her &c tell every
thing she knows, not 10 be afraid Of
my mixing her name up in the matter
IN any way. When she sees that Charles
and l do not disapprove she will feel less
responsibility.
And il was with comfortable sense
OF her own and "Charles" unworldli-
ness that Mrs. Selby prepared to In
dte the important letter.
She saw little OF her brother till the
afternoon. He did not appear at lunch
con, having left word that he had gone
for a long walk.
provided only that no is not too late
for the Densters'," thought Madeline,
with little sigh over the perversity OF
mankind.
But her fears were unfounded. At ten
minutes to four MIR. Norreys made his
appearance in the hall. faultlessly at
tired, apoogizing with his usual cour-
tesy, In which TO his sister he never
failed, for his five minutes delay, and
Mrs. Seby, feeling pleased with herself
outwardly aud inwardlY, for she was
conscious Of both looking we'll in very
pretty new bonnet and OF acting truly
high-minded part as sister, seated her
self In her place, with glance Of salts
faction at her companion.
Everybody will be envyiDg me. she
said 10 herself, with tiny sigh as she
remembered former air castles 10 Des-
pard'S behoof. 1.-The FloreS-Carter girls
and Edith and Bertha Ryder, indeed all
the neighborhood, get quite excited II
they know he's here. He might have
had his choice of the best matches In
this county, TO my own knowledge, and
there are several girls with money. All,
welw
The grounds seemed already full OF
guests when the brother add sister drove
up TO the Denster's door. Mrs. SclbY
was at once seized upon by some OF her
special cronies. and for half an hour or
so Despard kept dutiiuly beside her,
allowing himself to be introduced TO any
| extent, doing his best TO please his sis.
ter by responding graciously to the vari-
Gus attentions which were showered
upon him. But he grew very tired Of II
all in little whie--a curious dreamy
| feeling began TO come over him, born no
doubt OF the unwonted excitement OF
his conversation with Madeline that
morning. He had gone long walk In
! hopes OF recovering his usual eQuani-
| nifty, but had only succeeded In firing
himself physically. The mere fact OF
| having put In words TO another the con-
flct OF the last few months seemed TO
| have given actual existence TO that
which he had by fits and starts been try
| ing TO persuade himself was but n pass
! ing fancy. And even 10 himself he
could not have told whether he was glad
or sorry that the matter had come 10 a
point-had, as ii were, been taken out
of his own hands. For that Madeline
had already written to Mrs. Englewood
he felt little doubt.
Women are always in such a desper.
ate hurry" he said to himself, which.
all things considered, was surely most
unreasonable. Nor could he have
denied that 1t was so, for even as he
made the reflection be began TO calcu.
late in how many, or how few rather,
days they might look for an answer, and
to speculate on the chances OF Mrs.
! Englewood's being acquainted with
Maisie's present whereabouts.
"Maisie," he called her TO himself,
though he had somehow shrunk from
telling the name TO his sister II was SO
sweet-so like her. he repeated softly,
though, truth to tell, sweetness was not
the most conspicuous quality in our he
orlne. But Despard was honestly in love
after all, as many better and many
worse men have been before him, aud
will be again, And, love Of the best
kind, which on the whole his was, is
clairyoyant-he was not wrong abou,
Maisle's real sweetness.
FRO M e,oNTfNrfED