Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-30
yVHEETTNG REGISTER, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER So I094-IWE

was, in her opinion, one way by which
George could be protected from harm.
1t was a way which involved the aoan-
donment of all her hopes OF happiness
on earth, but she did not on that &C
count shrink from taking 1t. She re-
solved to secure 20 herself WilmottS
friendship-even 10 marry him II abso-
lutely necessary, though night after
night she prayed fervently that so fear
full a sacrifice might not be required OF
her.
So il came to pass that whom the peo-
pie of Scadden saw these TWO, Hattie
and Willmott, often in one another's
COMPANY, with many little marks OF
attention passing between them they
cried like the idiot in the beltry, 'Ihe
old king is dead. Hurrah for the new!'
The CONGRATULATIONS OF her friends
were as painful 10 Hattie as the spItetnl
hints at'the heartlessDess.O OF her conduct,
these hints coming freely from mothers
with manageable daughters who had
set their caps at the wealthy naval lieu
tenant, now retired from the service
and living at his ease "a private gem
tleman. But far more painful than
either was the rapidity with which he
pressed on through the various stages
of friendship to the very threshold OF
proposal. She saw that, in spite OF all
her efforts, it must come soon. She
could not help herself. And then when
he asked her TO be his wife, what could
she do? To refuse would be to make an
enemy of the very man whose friend
ship she had set herself to secure.
1t was on q warm and sunny morning
that Hatties trial came. A small party
had strolled along the quay 10 inspecta
queer old Norwegian brigantlne which
had Just arrived in the har6or with
timber, and while the others were en-
gagged in talking, Willmott managed TO
get Hattie as far as the END OF the pier.
1t was a quiet spot, with the little
lighthouse TO screen them from the oO-
servation Of anyone who happened TO
be looking that way.
Here, in impassioned tones, WiIlmott
told the miserable girl that he loved
her to distraction, and could not live
without her. Did she love him in re-
turn? he asked.
mo, Mr.. Wllmott, l DON'T" an
swered Hattie family.
lyon don'ty he said. with sort OF
gasp, and his face grew dark and his
ewes glittered ominoLsly. Then why
have you been leading me on? You
have been leading me on, Hattie, and
you know it. You don't think l will let
YOU 60 after that. l must do without
YOUR love. Mine is enough for both.
la time love will come to you, too-it
must"
"Stop!" she said. Let US speak
plainly. In time l may get to hate you.
l shall never love You--Do, never
never"
That is plain speaking, certainly"
said he, with bitter laugh.
Then an oath burst from his lips and
he turned and left her. But before she
could raise her head to look after him,
he was coming back again with long
strides.
II can't keep away from you" be
said. 81 tell you, Hattie, | must marry
you; we were made for one another; the
very first moment I saw you, l loved
you as madly as I do now: l tell you
again, Hattie, you must marry me-"
"On one condition, then" she said,
shivering.
what, you willr' he cried eXcItedly.
"You will after all! Give me fifty con-
dltlons If you like. 1t was only your
artfulness, was it? Hattie, my darling,
YOU do love me theu-JuSt little?'
But she drew farther away from him.
Listen to my condition, please" she
said. "You are TO promise to do some
thing for me. l won't tell you what it
is now. But whatever it is, you are to
do it without fail. On your honor, will
you premise me that?"
"Yes, gladly to be sure, he answered,
looking at her wonderlngly.
But, in a matter OF such fearful i'm
portance, Hattie could not trust his
word alone. She asked for some pledge
which she could show TO him when the
time came, and he took ring from his
pocket and handed it to her.
81 bought 1t on purpose to give TO
YOU" he said. "Put it on, Hattie. 1t
shall be our engagement ring"
And she put it on in token Of her
servltude.
That night, when Hattie went to her
room, she opened q drawer ia which
were contained her treasures. They
were things of no intrinsic value, merely
q little piece of dried seaweed, a bunch
OF withered bluebells, a scrap OF heath
err. some curious fossils and other
trines, but in her eyes they were very
precious, for they had been given 10
her by George. Through the long
watches OF the night her tears rained
down upon them. She recalled the oc-
cason upon which each had been given
TO her, and with that sunny time she
contrasted the dense darkness OF the
present
fro BE CONTINUED.