Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-29

secret more than forty years. but it is
time. at least, that you should know
about It."
do Don mean to tell me that the dead
was untrue" said the host, furiously.
s'Shame on you, Franz" said the
friend, with his mild melancholy
smile.
The old soldier muttered something
TO himself and then lighted his pipe.
mo, she was as pure as one OF Goa's
angels" continued the other. "Ihe
guilty ones are you and I. Listen to
me: IL happened forty-three years ago.
You were then raised to the rank OF
Captain and 1 was studying at the unl-
versity. You know at that time you
were a gay fellow"
"H'ml" said the host, and raised his
trembling old hand to twirl his u
tache.
There was a beautiful little actress,
with great black eyes and small white
teeth--do you remember"
"Oh, I know. Banda they called
her." replied the host, while a withered
smile flew over his weather-beaten
Spencerian face. "She could bite, bite,
1 tell you, with those little white
teeth!"
'You left -FOUR wife and she surmised
the reason. But she was silent and bore
all patiently alone. You noticed moth
ing. but I did. She was the first wo-
men since my mothers death whom l
had learned to know. Like a bright
star she came into my life, n as one
looks at a bright star l looked up TO
her. She laughed and said she had not
recovered her physical strength, Tor,
you know, your Paul was here a short
time before. So New Years Eve came
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS years z to-day.
1 came In about s o'clock, as usual. She
sat and embroidered, and l read TO her
while we waited for you. Hour after
hour passed. You did not come. l saw
how restless she became and that she
began TO tremble, and l trembled with
her. I knew where you were, aud
feared you might forget in the presence
Of that woman the midnight hour, which
drew nearer and nearer. She emb1oid-
cred and Tread, while a fearful silence
weighed upon US. Then l saw a tear
gather slowly under her eyelid and fell on
her embroidery. I sprang up and would
have rushed out to bring you. l felt
myself in the mood TO drag you by force
from the side Of that woman AT the
same moment she arose from her place,
The same place where l am sitting
now"
'ssWhere are you going?' said she.
UDspoken anguish was portrayed on her
features. To bring Franz here said
l."
"FGod forbid she cried wildly. Stay
with me a little while; do not leave
me-"
"And she threw herself into my arms,
laid her hands on my shoulders and
buried her tear-wet face on my heart.
1 trembled, but controlled myself aud
spoke ~consolingly to her--and she was
In need of consolation. Soon afterwards
you came In. You saw nothing OF my
confusion, for you were absorbed in
your own thoughts.
after that New Year I felt a trans
formation IN myself which terrified me.
Since I had felt her soft arms around
my neck, since / had breathed the per-
fume of her hair, the star had fallen
from heaven and in It's place there stood
before my absorbing gaze, beautiful aud
human-the woman. l called myself a
scoundrel, a deceiver, and in order to
half conciliate my conscience l went TO
work TO separate you from your IMAM
orata. She was satisfied TO give up all
claims with the money l offered her
and"
$50 you are the guilty cause?" inter
rupted the old host, angrily, "of BIZ
anica's writing me that touching letter
OF farewell in which she declared she
must my love, but with a
breaking hearth"
Eyes, 1 an guilty Of that" said his
friend, "but listen further
81 had fancted 1 could buy my WI
peace by doing this deed, but it was not
so. The evil thought remained rooted
in my mind. 1 busted myself with my
work-it was at that time l formulated
the foundation principals Of my I'm
mortality of the IDEAL but l did not
help me to find content, and a whole
wear passed and New Years came
around again. Once more 1 sat with
her in this place. You were at home
this time, but you were asleep on the
sofa in the next room. A merry dinner
at our club had overcome you. AS l sat
so neal. her, and my eyes rested on her
white face, recOllectiOns overcame me
with irresistible strength. Once more l
would feel her head on my breast, once
more would 1 kiss her and then perish.
Our eyes met for an instant; it seemed
to nae hers lighted with a heavenly I'M
Outstanding. Then 1 restrained my
self no longer, l threw myself at her
feet and buried my burning face in her
dress.
"Well, I might have remained there
m~otionless two seconds perhaps when l
felt her cool hand on my head and heard
her soft and gentle voice speak the
words, BE strong, dear friend!'
Eyes, be strong! and do not betray
the man who so trustingly sleeps in the
next room. / sprang up and glanced
around anxiouSly. Then 1 reached a
book on the table and drew it towards
me. understood her will, opened a
page at random and read TO her. knew
not what l read, the letters danced be-
fore my eyes, but gradually the storm
In my soul was Quieted, and as IL struck
twelve and you came in with sleepy eyes
for congratulations there we were as il
that sinful moment laid far away in a
time long past.
AFTER that day l became more quiet.
I knew that she did not love me, and
that I had nothing like sympathy to
hope for from her. Years passed, your
children grew up and married, we three
became old, You r%enounced your gay