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

Alas that he had ever ventured to love
so unwiselyI The scarlet anemones
stared boldly st him. BE could not bear
their Haunting ckeerfulness; they were
like little flags Of triumph, 3 cousins
triumph. Gently be tosk them from
the water, gently because her hand had
touched them. and laid them on the
fire. He watched them shrivel, curl up,
and die, all but one, which fell uneb-
served in the ashes. Melinda found 1t
there next morning, and she shook her
head over it. "'E couldn't bear the
sight Of 'em a course, after | told of that
lie. But 1t amt no use him thinkin' o.
'er. 'Er mind is set On the other. But
bless me, he's worth two o. the cousin,
kerridge or no kerridge."
And because Melinda believed In her
curate and was hall sorry for the lie
which had hurt him, she took the with
cred flower away and placed it in pri-
vate drawer with pocket handkerchieis
and lavender.
The cousin with the carriage contin-
usd to call regularly, and the curate
coula hear the young lady singing
blithely,: 70 herself as he crept silently
I'D the stairs. She gave him her CHEEKY
good morning" 9. good evening"
when She encountered him, and called
him { . her sitting room one day to
show him the progress OF her picture.
She questioned him kindly, to kindly,
about his health and the way &c nsd
passed his holiday, but her eyes did MOI
read anything unusual behind the spec
tacles. The glamor Of q new happiness
was upon her, and she seemed intent on
radiatiDg the blessings or brightness on
others. But the curate held aloof In .
measure from any further klndnesses,
and she did not understand his cold
ness.
In due course Of time the young lady
announced to Melinda that she was en-
gagged and that In the summer she would
remove her lodgings. The General re-
ceived the announcement In stony ST.
lence. Haven't you anything nice TO
say to me, Melinda?"
"You should ave took up with some
thing better than a creature that wears
kid gloves and shiny boots. La, Miss,
| never thought you'd make any account
O. a mans outside"
The coaxing eyes flashed ~ominously.
"Melinda, you forget yourself"
mot ne! Why, it's yer as forgets O.
yerself with e~ncouragin' OF 'em great
and small. Any n would think as yer
meant TO behave as pretty as you look"
Melinda'S expressive nose took a more
pronounced upward curve than ever be-
fore as she went out.
And so the young lady. thus rudely
awakened, was left TO realize thai she
had done something wrong, something
that could not be put right. Why had
she not mprenended sooner? A grave,
sad look came into her sweet eyes and
she sighed. She might not even say she
was sorry; the only thing to do was TO
pass out Of his life silently.
Many years went by, and in the course
OF them Mr.. Tilley was gathered to his
fathers. Then began q removed time OF
prosperity for No. II under Melinda's
absolute rule. The children grew up
satisfactorily, and were, one by one,
carefully launched on the world under
the Generals auspices. Many dodgers
came again, and some went, but the Gu
rate still remained ia the attic.
A little legacy had fallen unto him,
and Melinda occasionally ordered
butchers meat for his evening meal,
much to her satisfaction. Preferment
to peaceful country rectories had more
than once been offered him, but he al
ways declined 10 make any change In
his ways Of life. He knew his work,
and some, at least, of the people would