Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-10-07


pretend 10 be so fond Of our poor Mr..
George, and what do you think she's
been and gone and done now2 Got her-
self engaged to that lanky Mr.. Tom
Willmott, him with the brown face and
black head! That's what's she's done.
What won't people do for money;
though, to be sure" added Sarah, with
charming touch Of candOr, I'D do
deal for a little BIT now. But when
poor Mr.. George is gone so short
time-it's downright scaudalous.
The news did not affect hr. Vane
verv deeply. His feelings were blunted
by what he had undergone, and his ln-
terests were now confined TO small
compass. His son was gone, SO what
dld il matter TO him whether Hattie
Duke married somebody else or not?
But his wife was speechless vito IN
dlgnatlou. She believed the statement at
once. She was ready TO believe any evil
of Hattie.
Rachel, however, had more faith 10
her friend. -. ,.,.
1T is not true. Sarah" she said. y ut
can't be true. Why do you come mere
frightening US with such dreadful raise
hoOdS?'
"Oh, but it Is true, begging your par
don, Miss Rachel" declared Saran,
WITH another twist OF the apron round
her left hand. ITS no falsehood J.
frikening you with; it's the raIe truth
Wasn't Johnnie CrookneC6 telling It to
me as he was going past in the road?
And he'd only just been hearing IL MINI
self. It's town talk, he said"
Town TALK said Rachel, with quiet
scorn. "Surely you don't call that
reason for its being true"
"Oh, but wait, though" exclaimed
Sarah. ''You 20 too fast, Miss Rachel.
Johnnie was telling me that Game. the
confectioner, is making his window
smart already on the chance OF getting
the order for the cake. Ii you 90 into
the town, you'll see that with your own
eyes. And they do say" added the old
servant, lowering her voice, for her en-
thusissm as a retailer of news had tenn
porarily got the better OF her on behalf
OF George, "they do say, Miss Rachel,
as there's 10 be q deputation TO ask
Mr.. WillmOtt TO have the wedding In
the town, for there's some talk OF them
going away for 10. So there now.
And she nodded as II that clinched the
argument. What do you say to that,
Miss Rachel?"
~ still say that I don't believe it,"
replied Rachel.
Mrs. Vane rose with a sudden effort.
She did not utter word, and she trem-
bled so much that she had TO steady
herself by resting her hands on the
table. But her face was haCi, so hard
that Rachel was thoroughly alarmed at
the look which she saw In IL.
"Weere are you going mother?' she
asked.
II am going TO tell that girl what l
think Of her.
"Oh, no-please. no" entreated
Rachel, standing before the old lady.
"Oh. mother, what good will that do?'
1T may not do her any good, but 1t
will me-" was the Incorporating an
swer. Don't stop me, Rachel. mean
to 60"
But, mother darling, how can you?
You have not walked so far for years.
You will De sure to break down on the
wav."
81 shall not break down" said her
mother, with grim determination. 81
mean to 90 if it kills me. II l were to
let a single day go 0Y without telling
that girl what l think Of her, L should
be as false 10 my poor boy as she is.
Your father sits there without word,
He doesn't care what sights are cast
uDon the memory Of MS dead son. He
cares Tor nothing except TO sit there and
Nope. while we toll at gettag some
thing 10 eat. Now let me pass, Rachael.
You may come with me If von wish, but
you must hold your tongue
In about an hours time the old lady
came downstairs, arrayed in her best
black silk dress and her best bonnet,
the ribbons carefully smoothed, and the
white curls as tidy as II she were going
In some afternoon reception. She car
ried q big umbrella for support, aud OY
its aid. although she suffered much
from rheumatism, she trudged along
brayelv, with a sort of defiant air which
was a piteOuS contrast 10 her iee0Ieness
of bodv. Rachel, walking by her side,
presented q very different appearance,
her face now which, now red.
When the shopkeepers saw them
coming they hastily withdrew from
sight. but as soon as the pair had gone
by they ran to their doors and stared
after them. Other persons vanished 10
the same way; not one was actually met
during the whole walk. As Rachel
and her mother passed through the
town it had the appearance OF having
been entirely deserted.
Mrs. Vane showed no sign OF fatigue
on the way. She walked with wonder
full determination, not stopping once
until she reached the quay, and then
only for a few moments 70 prepare for
the task which she had set herself. But
when she knocked al Mr. Dukes door
and was told that Hattie was not In,
the disappointment nearly Overcame
her. She accepted the offer Of her
daughters arm, and leaned upon IL
heavily. Not that she had by any
means abandoned her Intention; she
still chung 90 that, and angriiy refused
TO 20 away from the quay; but she had
not anticipated the delay, and it Sc
verely taxed her strength
Hattie, looking more miserable surely
than ever engaged girl had done before,
came ia sight presently, and with her
wss Tom WllimOtt, Though Mrs.
Vane's ewes were not usually very keen,
she saw and recognized them at once.
She shook herself free from her daugh-
/ ter's grasp which had frightened convul-
siyely, aud drew herself erect. Then
she went forward alone, Rachel follow
ing Ia the deepest distress.
81 suppose you know why | have
come here" began Mrs. Nane, looking
Hattie straight in the face, and taking
r, rotica NJ her Communion. "PerhapS