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

was lost. In that sparcely inhabited
district, the chances OF success in en-
deayoring to follow up a mans move
ments were slender. The bay was sur
rounded BY belt OF woods; no houses
| fronted on the shore; no road skirted 1t.
! No one could be fonnd who had seen
the missing man. The only sign to tell
| the tale OF his probable fate was the
empty boat drifting, with one oar gone,
on the bay. The general theory was
that he had let an oar slip,
and IN striving to reach it had overbal-
anced himself and fallen into the water.
A strong under current was runnlng'
and the bay was we'll known 10 De
| haunted by sharks 1t seemed unlikely
that his body would ever be found. Yet
his fate was certain. There was no
chance that he could have been picked
up by any passing vessel. No boat had
nut into harbor along the coast, no ship
had doomed in sight all that day. No
sail had broken the blank expanse or the
oiue waters that rolled above Gregory
Hume's unknown grave, and kept the
secret.
Edith Hume was widow, and the
Firehy lay still at anchor In the little
harbor for time, and when at last IL
sailed for the north IL was not Good
BY" but "Au revoir," that Mark Ruf-
ford babe to his old love.
The scene changes from the semi
tropical landscape OF the far south to
the CHEEKY Preside OF al English ceun-
| try house. 1t is pale, bright winter
day, Of white and azure, clear, frosty
| blue sky, sprinkllng OF yesterdays
snow sparkling in the cold sunlight.
| The air is crisp and chill without, but
within all is warmth and comfort. A
splendid fire is cracking merrily on the
hearth, and by the fireside sits Edith
Edith Hume still, but soon to be Edith
Rufford.
This luxurious, we'll appointed, artis-
tlcally furnished English home is that OF
Marks widowed sister, Mrs. Brentham,
and there Edith is staying until the
time fixed for the marriage, which is
now near at hand. Never was there a
more devoted and faithful lover than
Mark Rufford has proved himself.
The door opens; Mark comes in and,
finding Edith alone, he bends over her
chair and claims lovers privilege.
I've brought you something" he
| sayS-this is not an unusual way OF
opening the conversation, for Mark
Rufford is nothing if not generous.
you were admiring that brooch of
Lady Vere's the other day"
(Which one? The beryl; the one
that was the eye of the Indian idol?"
Yes. l can't guarantee that this
was ever the eye of an idol. But, any
how, it's a beryl, and, believe, a pref
ty good one" be replied, opening q
morocco case.
"Oh, what beauty" she exclaimed,
And how exQuisltely set. You spoil
me, Mark"
mo, / DON'T" he said, without a
smile at her pleasure. But l want to
make you as happy as l can" There
was curious touch of unrest and So
licitude in his tenderness. Edith
leaned her cheek caressingly against
his strong shoulder, holding the brooch
up with pleased smile for the jewel to
catch the light. ~ am so glad to have
a oeryl," she said, 81 have always fan
cied one!"
"Why didn't you tell me beioreP" he
interposed.
You know" she continued, at is
supposed to have magic qualities.
People-some people-caG see visions
| In IT, Do you remember Rosetti'S poem
Of Rose Mary? How only the pure and
slnlesS can read the truth in the beryl
stoneP"
mo, l don't know the poem. But
what would you read in the beryl, Iwon-
der?"
II should read, think, that the glver
-cares-a little bit-fer me, and p
"a little?"
"Ah! More than a lIttle-for him!"
"My darliugm Marks arm was
around her. he bent his head close to
hers. Then suddenly, strangely, his
face changed; he Almost started, his
brow contracted, his teeth pressed into
his lower lip.
MARX, dearest, what is it; are you In
paiR?" she asked.
Nothing "a tvinge. Nonsense,
Edith. Pm quite WELL" he replied, with
Il sOllb Sudl pu0oNi do Va oSItuNiOu III hAo
tone. For moment he clasped her
closer, then his arm dropped from her
waist as his sister entered.
Edith, dear," said Mrs. Brentham,
"I've Just heard from Janet Craig. She
is coming in time for tea.
Mark Rufford drew himself up with
deep breath as il shaking off some bur-
| den as the two women began TO talk,
and soon he went out OF the room and
left them to themselves. Janet Craig
had been an old schoofelow OF Edith's,
but they had not met in many years
not. indeed, since their Schooldays.
II wonder il we shall know each 9TH
err. l suppose we are both much
changed" observed Edith.
Janet Is good deal altered since I
have known her," said Mrs. Brentham.
"She has grown very pale and thin and
delicate looking. You know she has
gone in for clsirvoyance and psychom-
etry and all that sort OF thing. She Is
what they call natural seer-indeed,
Miss Janet is regarded as rather re-
markable person. l don't know what
TO make Of it myself. Janet certainly
has told me some very strange things,
but think all that kind OF business is
very bad Cor her health"
Edith WAS interested in this new de-