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

Now, Aunt Ruth, you are to remem-
Der that it is several long years since
my last visit to Ironton, and that when
/ was abroad you used never to write
TO me, and so now you are to make
amends by telling me everything that
has happened to everybody in all this
time. You are the mother confessOr
OF half the population, so you should be
able to tell me whole volumes Of inter-
esting stories, and I wish to hear them
before the girls begin to pour in, for
then they viii seem so much more in
teresting. And first Of all, please, Aunt
Ruth. tell me about Esther. She was
always the dearest and best, and
haven't heard q word from her in
years"
Il could almost wish, my dear, thso
you had not asked me about Esther
Bennett. I dread the very thought Of
her in these days. But I viii tell you
what know. You have heard that her
father died four years ago, leaving her
almost penniless, and with not q rela-
ton of whom she knew in the world,
save an old uncle and aunt Of her
mothers who live away up in the Dor
ders of Vermont We viii speak no i'll
of the dead but we all felt sense of
relief for Esther when her father died.
poor girl. IL was wonderful to see
how bravely she took up the burden of
her life and cheerily set out to work at
once 10 earn her own support, refusing
positively all offers of pecuniary as
sistance Several homes We're gladly
offered her, but she would be indebted
to nobody for anything that her own
effort could procure her. She started
q little school and made q charming
and substantial success She became
quite the fashion, and fine, capable
young woman as well, when she must
needs spoil it all and make the mistake
of her life"
"Why. Aunt Ruth! What do you
mean?"
yes. she made the mistake of her
life. We all warned her; tried to prove
to- her his true character; even your ret
iCent Uncle Oliver advised her to the
contrary. and still she would marry
Robert Prince
But I thought Bob Prince was the
rising young man Of the place. We
used to consider him by far the most
desirable partner in Ironton."
Perhaps a desirable partner for the
dance. my child, but not for life. God
help poor Estheri 1t is true that Rob-
ert was regarded as an eligible young
man. and never heard a breath of re-
preach concerning his moral charac-
ter. He gives great promise in his pro-
fessiOn. and is said to have no bad hab-
fits. as the phrase is. But, Alice. more
than these should q young woman
prove I'm her future husband. From
that Young mans baby days he has
been a source Of suffering and disap,
pOintment to those who have loved
him. Often in past years have 1 seen
his poor mother. now gone t0 her rest
weep out her heart over his faults. Sell
fish. tickle. unstable as water in friend-
ships: unreliable, even dishOnOra5le,
i'm what we call the little things, which
after an make mp the most Of life. men
like him are to my thinking more hope
less than wicked ones, and require q far
greater moral shock to effect a change
I'm them. How such a high-minded, eX-
acting Girl as Esther Bennett, whose
ideas are so exalted that she tried a
commonplace old body like me to death
sometimes. ever came to love Robert
Prince belongs to the mystery of love,
and am too old or too young to solve
f.
And still I knw that Robert has a
graudlv noble strain in him, too. or so
his mother used TO say, and she prayed
and waited for years to see its develops
ment Well. they We're married, and 1
feel sure that Esther loved him, for her
face was full Of peace. They set up
housekeeping out on the Beechwood
road An true love in a cottage fashion.
Their house was pretty, but unpreten-
tious; they kept but one servant, and