Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-10-06

Esther worked hard, but very happily,
to make and keep the home charming
md cOmfor abb We old folks, wise
fools that we are, hoped great things Of
Robert, by reason OF his new relation,
and his new spirit Of manlinesS and
good Ser.e-io as a bachelor he had
been given q little to luxury and glitter
Esther seemed full of peace and salts
faction. All spoke in Roberts praise,
and your uncle and l asked ourselves
if we had not been unjust and preju-
diced. and we were actually penitent
before Robert S ragnanimity and cOur-
tesy. when trouble came all at once.
alice, 1 dread to tell you the rest OF
the story. 1 doubt if you know that
such things be. They had been mar
ried Just a year when Effie Ellsworth
came home from Leipsic, where she had
studied for several years"
"Why, yes. ! remember that beaud-
full Efie Ellsworth. Has she still her
wonderful color?'
yes; she is considered very hand
some, but I confess that never admir-
ed her. She was always a wilful, unru-
ly girl, and years ago was sent away
from home because she would insist
upon an engagement to Robert Prince
at the ripe age Of fifteen years. But
that escapade and all others were char
itably ignored when she came back
among us, until she began a violent fir
tatiOn,' as you young folks would call
it, with Robert soon after her return.
Bal How I detest the hateful word
'iirtationr You cannot fancy what
such affairs come to In a town like this;
they grow apace upon the comment
they excite. So that soon the idle in
fatuation of two silly pates set going
train of consequences hideQusly out of
proportion TO It's probable actual wrong,
and at length the affair became a con-
| firmed town scandal.
"Esthers position was pitiable. She
grew thin and pale and plain. Her ap-
pearance must have been an annoying
, reproach to Robert. But, through it
all, she never lost a certain brave,
hopeful, uplfted look that was more pa
| thetic than tears. 1t had been her habit
TO meet Robert every afternoon in town
and walk home with him after office
| hours She would walk along by his
side, keeping step with her sweeping,
graceful motion, and looking into his
| face with almost every word, and quite
Oblivious of all the rest Of the world,
your uncle used to cOmplain-for he
liked to see her bright nod and lovely
smile, and somehow we drove home that
way almost every afternoon. For
long time she would go into town just
as usual even after Effle Ellsworth be-
gan her daily visits to the Office which
Robert shared with two other young
lawyers"
why, Aaunt Ruth, you can't mean
it! How dreadfully improper"
eyes, I do mean it. Your Uncle Oil
yer came home one afternoon so angry
that I really feared for him, he is usu-
ally so placid. He had been in Robert 5
office and had seen Fife there, looking
/ flushed and nervous, but completely abb
sOrbed in Robert Foolish grill If
her father had lived all this would have
never been. The clerks in the Office
We're enjoying the situation to the full
| when in came Esther. She turned per-
| fectly white, but with perfect, ladyhke
| calmness. bowed to Fife, as she would
have to any supposed client, then chaff-
ed Oliver a little in the old time way
| and asked James Seaver kindly about
his sick baby. Then, turning gently to
Robert, inquired if he were ready for
the walk home.
''Your uncle said the silence in that
| crowded Office the strain of the situa-
/ ton. was terrible. The clerks had
| stopped smiling and every face was an
/ cry or full OF pity. For Robert was cru
ell enough, contemplate, low enough to
tell her no and that she had better not
walt for him. Our Esther went out
I without the flutter of an eyelid, though
she looked like one stricken by death.
We afterWard leaned that an almost
siMilar scene had taken place nearly
/ every afternoon for three weeks, but af-
/ ter that day Esther never entered the
/ door again. l know that she was pa
| thence, love, goodness itself through all
that trial, and she was never heard to
breathe a word of complaint; no one
ever saw her finch. Do honor, in your
heart, my dear, to such a brave woman.
though You may not count the cost Of
such herOism.
well, Alice, all these miserable do
| ings went on for months, and one June
day Esther ran in here 10 bid me good
| by. she said, as she was leaving next
/ day for Vermont. hadn't the heart to
ask questions, and force her confidence.
but my heart ached 10 comfort her.
You know I am a famous nurse. and I
| could not resist her wretched face. so I
said: Esther Prince I shall not be held
| off any longer. You must let me help
YOU; You must talk it ont with me and
let me comfort you. I knew your mo-
Their. Esther dear and loved her, and I
Want to stand in her place to-day.
Now, come right here and cry it all out.
/ No. no. YOU shall not put me Off
ST got my arms around her and her
| head fell heavily upon my shoulder. and
/ God grant, Alice, that you may never
weep as she did ] would almost rather
lay YOU down over there on the hillside
than see You come TO such grief as hers.
At length she lifted her head. drew
away from me and rose to her feet, say
ing
Mrs Norris, do not ask me speak
OF my trouble. I cannot, cannot.
But do not be sorry for me. I can bear
it, 1t is different with me. 1t has al
wavs been so with me. you know. I
could bear even more. II only I can al
ways feel as I do now; if only. only I
can! All viii come right in time: if I
can but always feel as I do n0wi But
do not want to talk about it simply
cannot bear it if 7 do. Oh, let me go;
DO let me; some one Is coming
For just then a shadow passed the
long window. and the doOrbell sounded