Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-02-10

TIRE LITTLE MOUNTAIN MAID.
Elsie declares that her grandmother
does not have any scruples about the
Uory's mailed ction on the discoverer OF
mis- hidden treasure. That was only q
ruse Co get rid OF me. The old woman
is m0uOmaniac on the subject her
self, and spends long hours every day
searching every nook aud Granny oil
the cave.
"Bu, you shall have your chance,
too" promised sweet X Isle. III you
VIII come some night when she /;
asleep. / will let you pass through the
narrow passage outside our bedroom
iuto the caye, and she need never
know"
thanked her, eagerly, and PROMISE
90 divide tho treasure with her should
fad &c, since she was also q Went
worth.
To my surprise the lovely girl burst
into tears and declared she would never
accept single penny.
4 faucjed she was Superstiti0us and
afraid 0s the curse, so / did not pres:
tue subject.
/ That very night I crept softly to the
cabin door with my tools and lantern.
i sic admitted me, and went with me a
Jlt.e way inside The cave, whispering
"I dare not 5e your guide, for granny
might wake aud miss me. But there
are MARKS all along TIE sides of the cave
/ by which you can ind your way through
and back
f She left me hurrjsdly, and all az once
T the cave see med very dull aud gloomy.
. 10 was her presence that shed bright
ness around me a moment before.
Since I have met sweet Elsie / have
NOT thought so much OF stately Miss
Van Lew, and 1 begin 10 regret that iu
the first week Of our acquaintance
paid her almost marked attention.
TO is true she invited me herself to &C
company Der party on those excursions,
OF I should never have presumed Oh her
irieud..uess jheday we Travelled together
from Washington. l always felt that a
social gulf yaWned between the poor
editor and the proud heiress, but she
bridged TO jn very sweet, womaniy
way, and felt grateful and happy IN
tI 1 saw am not vain, but could
not help seeIng-tbat it was not coGuet-
~, but dead earnest with the dark
eyed heiress. ] mad the chance before
me 90 be- rich. even If 1 never found the
Tu-y's treasure.
Miss Van Lew is handsome and
stately. admired her very much, and
2 believe [ was on the very point OF
loving her when q face came between-
q rIrrs face, arch aud dimpied, with
violet ewes and hair like gold.
I ought not 90 think OF her, TINS
lovely Elsie. for she is almost poorer
than T am. and 10 is imperative that /
should get money some how. My
bealth will never stand the strain OF
continued editorial work. la
few years shall break down
over that wearisOme edltorla
desk. aud then - 10 will oe
terrible to frht the battle with poverty
with falling health and shattered
nerves. on, how 1 wish had moiety
OF Uncle Br0m ey's money. wouiG Try
10 WIN fairy Elsie for my own. Ho"
happy we should be.
Meanwhile am sure Miss Van Lew
expects me % propose 20 her, aud i am
very unhappy over this strange enIaA-
clement
When Elsie left me alone in the cave
I moved forward cautiously, feeling
very thankful TO my predecessors Tor
tbs marks that had teen placed al
along the turns of the place. else
might have been lost In the cavern
whose extent I could nOtgue trav-
cleo almost g mile, it seemed 20 me, aud
r,und many abrupt turns In 10 aod many
beautiful crystalline formations that
would compare favoraby with the IA
nous Grottoes and Luray cayerns oil
Vi~riuia. spent long, weary
hours in my eager search for the
treasure, aud the long vigil presently
began 90 tell on my nerves. Ine o'u
woman had sworn 10 me that the Tor
-.'s ghost walked in the gloom OF the
cave pv day and night, sud although
had Isughed at her then, tue state
mont haunted me weirdiY now, ana
almost faucied a grewsoma presence al
my side. breathing anataemaS on NY
temerity.
.psbawi am as nervous "a girl,
r,n-tered, Impatient az my t2ncieS-
sI-,os. wished had taken someone o
80 ave With me. out had thought II
nest pot Co contde ia anyone.
Ent I had promised Elsie TO 90 out
before DAYLIGHT and found it nov
,Ire 10 leave. Weary, nervous, 0atiisd
. I, r.,frsd. vowing 10 resume my search
-rerext night. and prosecute it to 4
successful issue
,leanwhile my embarrassment ovei