Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-05-06

" woods that stretched for many \
mile, broken only here and there by
patch OF clearing, q garden, orchard or
seeding grove surrounding the home OF
some enterprising settler, but these
spots OF cultivation were few and Iar
between, for this was pioneer settle
ment Of the far south where Gregory
Hume had chosen TO pitch his tent. III
was a lonely lite for woman and there
was a pathetic suggestion Of loneliness
and WEAKNESS about Edith's solitary
figure as she stood on the threshold OF
her silent home. There was step In
the distance, a stir in the shadows. Inc
rustling OF the scrub" sounded clear
and loud in the stiffness OF the evening
air. A man emerged into the clearing,
gun on shoulder and game in hand
man, but not the one for whom Edith
was watching and waiting.
Have you seen Gregory" she asked,
rs Mark RutfOrd drew near.
Gregory Isn't he at homer" was the
counter question.
NO; he has been out all the after
noon. he is late.
''Pve brought you a couple OF sQuir-
rels and crane, said Ruford, abruptly,
Indifferent to Mr.. Hume's unpunctuGl-
ity, as be deposited the spells of the
chase at her feet
Thank you; what fine ones! Greg
ory likes squirrel pie, and l think a
crane is even better than a turkey.
How little / thought in the old days at
bome," she added with half smile and
half a sigh, that l should ever make
50 uirrel pie! Do you remember Min
MES pet, BuShytail? Poor Minnie!
What would she have said TO the idea OF
squirrels belonging TO the commissariat
Department."
"Poor little Minnie" Rufford re-
peated, in an absent, mechanical way.
"a lovely evening, isn't ii, EdithP"
yes; have you been along the coast
path?"
mo, Inland, in the woods, and round
By the creek. got the crane over
there?"
Gregory has gone across Swapping
Turtle Bay to see Captain Thomas
about some gusva-cuttingS l have
never known him late for supper before.
1 wonder il it is rough on the bay?"
Rough? no! AT least" suddenly
correcting himself, II should not won
der If there was a bit or swell on; there's
a landward wind. Are you getting wor-
ried, Edith?" he added, with quick,
queer glance"
"Oh, no; only he should have been
back nearly two hours ago" Rutford
looked at her curiously, in half dis
pleasure and half solicitude, mingled
with a sort OF strangely reluctant ten
dsrness.
II dare say he's staying on having a
gossip with Thomas" he suggested.
But il you're at all uneasy, Edith,
shall go over and ask If he's there?"
"Oh, no, she said, changing color
quickly. "You must not trouble. No
doubt he will soon be back"
Rufford seemed to hesitate.
I'D better go" he then said abrupt
ly. ~ see you're anxious. No, I'm not
tired, as she began some deprecatins
word. ut will not be bit OF trouble
70 me. / shall like the row across. I'll
go over in the Firefly's boot"
Hours passed, and Edith's heart was
sinking with anxiety and vague appre'
tensions. She felt as II she could bear
the dreadful silence no longer. AT last
her heart leaped at the sound OF foot
steps; dark figure came out from the
shadows OF the forest into the moonlit
patch OF the clearing-One figure, and
then another Rulford had not return
ed alone. He had brought Gregory
back with him, But, no! More than
one was with Ruiford. There were four
figures, and one was wOmGn's, aud
Gregory was not among them. Edith
made Z step forward 10 meet them, but
she trembled so that Shs had 10 lean
against the column Of the porch. The
three men took off their hats and salut-
ed her with respectful, and, as ii seemed
to her quickened perceptions, sympa-
thetic friendiuess, as they drew near,
but each appeared anxious for the other
TO speak first.
Mark Rutford accepted the position
Of taking the initiative.
There seems 10 have been some mis-
take?" he began, cautiously. 1T APP
pears that-Hume has not been with
Captain Thomas"
Ne" the captain followed; "hs-he
perhaps he may have changed his
mind and gone somewhere else, but be
didn't CONS over to my place"
Then Mrs Bryan came forward and
took Edith's hand.
You see, my dear, Bryan and I've
thought as Mr.. RuffOrd and the captain
were coming here, we'd just come
along, too, and see you-and see i'll
there was anything We could DO"
1--WE must not take too respondent .
view" Mr.. Bryan struck in.
But il did rot appear that any OF them
were in a very sanguine mood.
HE started for Captain Thomas"
said Edith. falteringly. Where
W here-ahat can have happened? he
set out to row across the bay; be took
the boat"
ayes, the boat, Captain Thomas re-
peated slowly. "NGw, my dear Mrs.
Hume, don't be too much alarmed;
there nav be some explanation; it may
be all right-but--
"But-teI the truth, the boat"
NSWelh there's an empty boat been
found sdriIt on the bay and we are
afraid it Is Hume'S boat"
TheA neighborhood was reused to In
ouiry and investigation, but no more
than thh could be aScertained concern
Ing the hte Of Gregory Hume. From
the time Ne had SAL out 10 row across
'Snappine Turtle bay, all trace Of him