Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-29


His manner was so fierce that Grove
hastily dropped the subject IL was
said that since his sons death captain
Willmott's brain had been affected ana
certainly he did not always behave IIAe
q sans being.
For the Vanes, the result OF the SAFE
was terrible blow. They had moVeo
to a small house on the Gorragh Koao'
nearly half mile beyond CronkvaSn,
and not very far from the mouth OIL
Gorragh Glen. 1t was q bleak SPOT
swept by the winds from all quarters
and sometimes, during very high tldes'
drenched with salt spray from the sea
close by, few stunted trees croncnlnB
for shelter beneath the low wall OF tue
little garden where nothing seemed 10
thrive except fuchias, though these
grew luxuriantlv, two OF them oehino
tho porch being eight or nine Ieet h'sI,
Inside, the rooms were excessively smaii
and inconvenient, and Sarah, the tath,
full old servant who had accompanied
the family in their exile, grumoIea
loudly. She was always comparing the
house with Cushlabeg.
But such as il was, the Nanes were
determined 10 make the best OF IL, ana
commencing their struggle they relleu
upon the funds which they expected TO
derive from the sale. Naturally, they
set high value upon things which had
been In the family for generations, ana
apprsising them thus paved the way FOR
disappointment. When the various
items came 10 be reckoned up IL was
found that, after all debts had
been paid, scarcely anything re-
NAMED. So Mr.. Vane's grand plans
for making 3 fortune out or poultry ana
bees had 10 be abandoned, for he had no
cspital to start with and George ana
Rachel, pressed by time, were appalled,
by the hopelessness OF the task before
them.
Under the circumstances 1t Is no
wonder that Mrs. Vane should grow
little querulous. When the weight OF
trouble is added 10 the weight OF years
human nature is apt to break down be-
meath the double burden. Age has no
future to strive for; it must sit Still ana
look back or close itsdim eyes altogether.
II failure is behind, repining Is oound
to follow. So there were times wnen
Mrs. Vane's strength gave way, and
she found fault with her poor old nus
band, who had lost all but honor, an
admirable thing in Its way, but INSULT
Gent for the needs of the body. No,
the new home was not happy one.
Life had degenerated into hard strug-
gle for existence, aud the thought OF
to-day was whether there would be
enough 10 eat on the morrow. Their
hopes seldom rose above that.
For George, who was to have been
their malnstay, could get nothing TO DO
in Scadden, and he did not like to leaVe
his family and try elsewhere. Yet SO
long as suspicion rested upon him en-
ployment in the town was impossible,
and besides the difficulty OF proving
negative, he was fearfully handicapped
by the reward offered by Captain Will
mott. As II was not to be paid until
the murderer had been convicted ana
hanged, it diverted attention from the
dead-from me, the real murderer-and
kept 10 fixed upon the living. The po-
lice had the money in view while they
hunted for fresh evidence, and IL bad
manifestly become the one object which
prompted the movements OF Joe huley,
the drunken cow-dOctOr. In conse-
ouence George found himself dogged
whenever be ventured out Of doors.
At first the knowledge made MIN
spend the greater part OF his time In
the house, but afterwards unable to en-
dure the sight Of the misery which ne
could rot relieve, he grew more reck-
less, taxing a sort Of pride In showing
hlmself ia public, often with the fish,
ermen, with wnom he had always been
q great favOrite, sometimes with COM
panions who had anything but good
reputation. The deterioration OF the
home life was having the inevitable ef-
feet upon the lads character. He al
ready stood upon the downward path;
only very slight push was needed TO
set him going.
The push was given oy Alistair
Grove. Although am quite ready 10
believe the worst OF the fellow, l do
not think that in this case he meant
actual harm.
There being no club in the town he
was accustomed TO spend his evenings
at the Dragon, the little old-fashioned
inn 10 the market place. The most
comfortable armchair in the bar par
Tor was reserved for him, and here,
In solemn state and often in solitude,
he smoked his cigar, drank his toddy and
read the paper. There were some old
peoUle who used 10 shake their heads
over his regular attendance at the inn,
but a more orderly man, one more free
from extravagance of any sort could not
be than Alistair Grove. He had not
even the saving virtue Of an ardent
vice.
One evening, as be was on his way to
the Dragon, be met George Vane, and,
more for something TO say than for any
other reason, invited hun TO come toe.
The lad took the invitation seriously. It
was dark and cheer. eSs out in the mar
ket place; through the open door OF the
inn ne could see the comfortable hall and
hear the pleasant chink OF glasses and
sounds OF laughter. After some hest
tatiOn be consented, though he did not
care much about his companion. So
they entered the bar-parlor together,
where Grove, after providing his guest
with a glass of whiskeY aud water, set
tied down TO bis newspaper and for a
time took no further notice Of him.
George had second glass presently.
His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes
glistened: be talked necessarily, boast
ing OF all he meant 20 do sad the money
he meant TO make. Grove listened with
amusement, INVITING him now and
again. until at last the excited lad
pulled off his coat and wanted to fight
Then be was suddenly snubbed. Al
though he still continued to buster, he
evidently began TO feel that he had
been making himself ridiculous, and
when he thought he could 40 so uDob-
served he slipped out
Ia the open air be was dismayed at
the unsteadiuesS Of his legs. Pulling
hfrnsaIf fnrafhar ha set of To walk