Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-01
CHAPTER my SIN.


the garden Of Cushlabeg, that this ter
riole business began.
) We were gathered there for tennis,
but the sultry heat made our play a
labor, and the blackness OF the thunder
clouds, which hung down in heavy fes-
ICONS, had added 70 our depression. So,
while the gnatS bnZzed about US venom
ously, we stood hStlessly beneath the
trees, the others Ia group around
Rachel, but l by myself some distance
away. At the drawing-roOm window
sat Mrs. Vane, Rachel'S mother, her
white cap nodding over her knitting.
Sometimes the old lady glanced at US
across the lawn, and then, never dream
las OF the evil passions which were
seething in the breast OF at least one OF
tna5 little party, she smiled aud went on
with her work.
Rachael was the most fascinating lit
lie creature that ever alighted on this
earth. She had hair so fair that In some
aspects 10 seemed almost white, and
eyes so blue that the sky itself could
not excel them; her delicate features
were Singuia-,Y beautiful, but their
charm was ia their expression; when sue
laughed, shaking her pretty head 10
that merry, miSchieviOuS way OF hers,
she was irresistible. 10 IS no wonder
that Alistair Grove and Harry Wiimott
loved her. but their love had begOtten
In one a hatred which burned like = con
sumiug fire.
Rachel and had QUarre,led as usual,
-, h, "a fr.fF
~ happy, she had been venting her ill-
humOur upon her TWO other lovers. I'm
able 20 hold her attention, they had
taken 90 teasing George Naue, a bright
tair-haired lad not unlike his sister.
Although Wilmott took the more active
part, it was Grove who urged him on.
George was In furious temper. His
face was flushed, his eyes glittered, he
gupped tightly the stick be carried, q
stout aSh-stick with a big knob.
II be had broken Nilmott's head then
and there, as he threatened 70 do, the
act would have Afforded me personally
the utmost qualification. But he was
RachepS brother, aud 1 could not see
that she was vexed, so ] went up 20 him,
drew him aside, and tried TO soOthe
him. IL was, however, difficult task.
the cowardly Oullym cried George
Quivering with rage. II asked him TO
fight ms-a fair fight with fsts-but he
wouldn't. Because be is older than me,
he thinks be can insult me and get OF
scot free. II Rachel hadn't been there,
Ia have broken the stick across his
back, BY Jove, would, said the lad,
turning back 70 shake his big stick at
the group beneath the trees.
what good would that have done
you?" I asked, taking the stick from
him on the preJext that l wished TO
COX az to.
nj should have had satisfaction, "
I'D be. Don't you want satisfaction
when a fellow insults you2 I'll be
bound you do. And so DO !.
Most ATTRACTIONS sentiments, my dear
George" said !. feeling myself to be
such b conf51ndcl Sypocri.s that 4
could not speak quite seriously. 1T
Ass only a jOke--a very poor joke, OF
Slrse-but II anything Of the sort is
attempted again, you should treat II
with contempt"
Il thought you had more spirit" said
George, and he marched Of, angry with
me now.
After he had gone I loitered about,
hoping that Rachel would come after
me, and beg me to return. But, in-
stead OF doing that, she seemed bent
upon showing me how little she cared
about my company. She threw more
energy into her gaiety and laughed
more loudly, so that the sound OF her
voice might reach the spot where
stood aiar of. At the moment 1 hated
her almost as much as the TWO men
who were with her. l vowed between
nv clenched teeth that would never
sneak TO her, never even see her again,
and striking savagely at the buttercups
with Georges stick, l strobe hastily
away.
Al the gate I hesitated, stopped, and
looked back, Rachel was still laughing.
"This is the end Of it then" l mutter-
ed. and passed out into the road. Yet,
although 1 would not have admitted
this at the time, I meant her brother 5
stick 20 serve as an excuse for calling
again.
Cushlabeg being situated on a short
cross road just outside the lit
lie seaport of Scadden, two ways
home lay open 10 me. / could have
tprned into the GOrragh Road on ia g
left and in quarter OF mile have
reached the lodge gates Of CrOnkvaSh,
my fathers property; or l could have
turned into the DbOOn Road on the
right, then INFO a path along two sides
of q cornield, and after passing the d.
lapidated little turret-the Watch
tower We called tat the northern ex-
tremity OF the garden have entered the
grounds by means of door in the wall.
The latter was the route / chose, because
il was she more secluded, aud / was In
no humOr for meeting anybody | knew.
Once again, within the space OF a few
hours, my feet were 20 tread that grassy
path worn into deep rutS by the cast
wheels, aud then never, never more. In
the lives Of men there are certain land
marks, not always very slightly, at which
they look back and wonder how things
would have gone with them had they
turned aside there. I often look back
az that tempestuous walk when 1 felt at
war with all mankind. The awful
events which happened afterwards / at
tribute in part to it.
For il was merely the force OF aSsO-
citation that led me between nine and
ten o'clock 20 take the loager route, in
stead Of the shorter way 70 Cushlabeg
by the Gorragh road. l had George
Vane'S stick in my hand. I was In a
caimer mood and meant to call upon
Rache! and make friends with her
uerhaps, even If she showed signs Of BE-
ing sorry, 20 say that / was sorry also
On the way through tue garden I had
10 pass the watch-tOwer, tavorite
haunt Of mine, and without any def
mite purpose l assembled the broken
stone steps aud gazed across the sur
rounding country.
The storm seemed to be passing away.