Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-12
That POOR STICK.
A Pretty Love Story.

Ming nrSt began 10 doubt. She ha0
been so happy Ia her love; for ever
since childhood Major Herbert Knox
had been her hero. His ten years sem
iOrity had only served TO shield him
from the criticism OF her companion
ship. Her judgment was thus nUTtured
by inference, not by knowledge, and
the Majors gallant bearing had been an
agreeable stimulant. So, when he had
met the Deuuings in Switzerland, and
enc night when the lake was proudly
saying, "See the moon is here, where
my love should be-, within my thrOb-
bng BOSOM" and the outline Of
the MatterhOrn against the hori-
zon was like a mOnolith 70 Truth
Mary's heart had lesped a mighty Amen
10 the ives" that her tremulOus lips
had isped as the Major had pressed her
20 him, and had told in his simple, man
ly wav how futile life was 70 him with
out her. and how be had followed her
from their distant home 10 confess his
need. Joyous indeed had been Mary,
\. when the next morning, at the break
p.is -SS g. .ekogSA'9c7lco 81
his milestone jokes, had revealed the
truth 20 their party. And when Joe
Palmer after having cOughed violently
and upset his coffee, had shambled
hastily from the room, she had laughed
with the others al the Majors remark
that JOe's m-ther had shown more faith
than prudence IN at length lOOsing her
apron strings.
And ice Palmer had rushed up 70 his
quarters aud behind bOlted doors had
stamped up and down the door in rage
which found no expression until be had
paused before the pier glass and had
studied his tale angular uncoUth form,
his lOng white face, with fierce eyes,
contrasting cOmically with sensitive
lips. his shirt front bedabbed. and his
clothing so evidently intended for some
other man, and then he, too, had
laughed. Not q very pleasant laugh,
either, for 8 young man 10 utter
who possessed health and wealth
and Intelligence, and whose welfare
was the only and constant SOlicitude Of
a widowed mother. Yet 10 was this
very concern which Joe now blamed as
he now looked back over his life. lie
knew that 70 had been a perennial jest
among his neighbOrS aud friends, that
10 had deprived him OF the harsh dlScl-
gained for him the name OF mOllycOd-
die. He remembered that while Her
bert Knox had dashed by on horseback,
he had been trundled Sy his NURSE
that even while little Mary Den
ming had climbed fences and
trees and had gathered howerS
through the fields he had not dared 20
stray from the grave,ed walk. lie real
lied that while those who should have
been his comrades had grown up with
purposes aud responsibilities which
breed seli-reliance, he had been tended
even unto early manhood within the
dollhouse Of maternal anxiety. Was 10
a wonder that when shame had released
him he should seem different trOm
other Young men, he who had never run
q race. nor played ball, nor fought a
Quarrel TO a bloody end? Was 10 Won
der mat be was strange aud dithdent
and awkward, when the only ways that
he had been taught were those ways
that every one, including himself de-
spised?
Was it, indeed, any wonder that his
thrifty, energetic tOwnspeOple, finding
him so unlike themselves, should rele-
gate him 90 the limbo Of ne'er-dO-wells
under the sufficient accusation OF being
a poor stick2 They little knew that he
had darling purposes, ambitions buried,
but buried I'm his heart; that he lOnged
To be an influential, powerful man
among men, commanding respect, fore
ing compliance with Ais views. They
little knew that he dreamed Of a home
which should be the hGppiest home 10
al Aberdeen, since the queen OF its
women should there reign. They
deemed him a hunk of a boy, the spoiled
child of q dOtiug mother, who, If he de-
veloped acuteuess enough 10 take care
OF the wealth which surely would be
his. would surpa3s kindly interest.
An unhappy life, filled with reveries
that never were realized, with regrets
that ALWAYS had q cause. How could he
hope, how could he act when every
thing he said and did resulted In jeer?
And yet he had believed that Mary
Denning knew MIN, was able 20 discern
intention In awkwardnesS and beneath
uncouthneSs TO see q tender, sympathet-
ic heart. Acd SO when she had gone 90
Europe with her people he had over
come the fearful opportunities OF his
mother, finding shame I'm SD facile a vie
tory, and had Joined their party In
Switzerland, being tolerated, so he felt,
asa harmless creature, out Of respect
FOR Oldtime Intimacy.
Alas for the wild hopes OF the journey
thither. On his arrival he had found
Major Herbert Knox 10 full possession
OF the field. What was there for him TO
do except 10 accept the inevitable and
take his place as a camp follower In the
presence Of such cOnQuerOr? For the
Major had always been the beau ideal OF
imDOssibilisieS 20 poor Joe. Handsome,
athletic, graceful, his bearing merited
the title which local militia had given
him. A fine, manly-appeGriOg fellow,
truly, carrying his straight six
feet Of Drawn and sinew as dettly as q
court page; afable, yet dignihed, ap-
proacha5le, yet asking a "qu. vive?"
through his earnest gray eyes, which
the frm lines OF his mouth warned all 90
answer.
Aud so Joe had chung TO the Dennings
in miserable uncertainty, which be
knew to be oil ZOO certain, until the
blow had fallen; and then he had
coughed and sputtered coffee, and STUN
bled 10 his room 90 continue the laugh
al himself His life was ended. No one
cared for him nor believed in him, eX-
cspt his mother, and alas, il was the
image of her own credulity that she
vorshipped Poor woman. she had
meant 10 be so good 10 him. The least
he could do was 20 return 20 her, and
since she found her chiefeSt delight ia
petting, TO let her pet in defiance OF all
banter. Others who were composed and