Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-18

half dozen more-but inst enough to
show him that could amuse myself
very we'll without him, and that WASH
taking our quarrel TO heart.
was acting q lie, and l did 1t very
creditabiy.
Yes, Jack and have quarreiled. ano
1t is all Celia's fault.
Our engagement is broken olive
| have said that it is not to be an engage
ment any more-and now
Oh, how miserable l ami
LISA dull November afternoon, and
mamma has gone out, so sit alone 10
the tire-litidining room, and think over
all that happened last night, and won
der what Jacks next move Will De-
Surely-surely, he can not mean
He has not returned my letters yet;
surely, that is a hopeful sign.
am still wearing the ring he gave
me. suppose If he returns my letters
/ shall have to
Mono, 1 can't part with 1t. DE
could not be so cruel, so unreasonable.
His letters, too. Must l give them
up? 1 turn them over in my hand
such little bundle OF them as there Is
| and so very hard to read till one learns
to know the writing, or to love the
writer, which is it?-and remember the
pleasure with which 1 first received
them, and the pride with which | have
often pored over them since. pore
over them now, straiRing my eyes to de-
cipher the well-KnOwn characters In the
| pickering freight. Dear Jack, what
vile hand he writes, and how very nice
ly he expresses
Hark! some one is crossing the hall
Surely Jane won't be so foolish as to
show any one in here now.
In another moment "Mr. Drayton" Is
announced, and Jack himself stands be-
| fore me.
'Jack! I started to my feet and all
those treasured documents fall, rust
ling, to the floor, but never think OF
them. Who thinks OF love-letters In
the presence of the writer Jack is
here. My Jack, and
But Is he indeed my Jack?
The first glance at his face recalls me
to myself, and reminds me that he is no
longer my Jack, or Jack at all to me.
I told him | wished our engagement to
end. and he remembe red it, evidently
though for one brief moment have for
gotten. Oh, Jack-Jackl
He waits till the servant has left the
room, then takes small packet from
the breast-pocket of his coat and turns
me.
This must be my apology for dis
turbing YOU" he says, very formally.
81 thought had better bring 1t myself
in case of accidents"
'For me2" l speak vaguely, and
without Offering to take 1t. l want 10
! gain time.
"Yes-your letters. I have no right
to them now!"
"How-how beautifully you have
packed themW
He turns away with an impatient
gesture and laps them on the table.
AZ need not detain you any longer,
now my errand is DONE" he says
quietly.
"But-there is something else. Oh,
you forget" as he looks at me question
ingly. "You have returned my letters
promptly enough-how can thank
you for such promDtness-but you for
get your own. AS you say, l have no
right to them now"
"Yor wish me to take themP Very
well?"
But do not 5 him to take them
anything but tu&t! | want to post
pone the moment of meeting; that is all.
"Wlu you be good enough to fetch
them2"
"They are here, on the floor. VIII
you be good enough to help me pick
them up?"
He does so without word. Together
we stoop to collect them; together we
Law them on the table. Together for
the last time!
bring paper and string, and proceed
to pack them up, while he watches me
in silence.
81 fear this will not be such neat
parcel as yours" l say, speaking as
steadily as can, and bending over the
table to hide my troubled face. "You
know I'm never good at this sort Of
thing"
Il know" shortly.
81 can't do it," and a great tear
splashes on the packet. I'm very sor-
ry. but"
Don't bother about IT," and he lays
his hand on mine suddenly. mo need
for such fuss. Give them to mo as
they are"
What are you going to do with
them?" as he takes them from my trem-
bling hands.
PUT them in the ire!" and he turns
to do so.
''No, no, no." I cry, sprinGing for
ward, and laying OBTAINING hand on
his arm. ION don't, Jackw
"Why not?" pausing. You don't
want them, and I'm sure I don't"
I'll do! Please give them back to
M"
what for?"
ITO keep To remind me-"
"Of my fouy?"
'Of my own. -
Your folly is over and done with
Our engagement is broken off, he says
moodily. Better forget 1t ever exist
ed"
II cannot do that!" with an irrepres-
sible little sob. ~ am waiting for
those letters.
Take them, them" and he threw
them down on the table. keep them
to compare with Horns's, II you like.
l don't care"
"How can you insult me so? What
right have you to treat me SO mean, so
heartless?" 1 cry Indignantly. "And
you cared for me once-or pretended
TO-"
II did care; care now, though I
know I'm only fool for my painsr"
bitterly. "Hsartless, do you say? How
can / help thinking you heartless after
vour conduct lastnight?"