Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-28
WHEELING REGISTER, SATURDAY, DECEMBER %, 1895.


she had made no effort Perhaps it did
not matter after all. She was alone in
the world, and one failure could not
count for much in the whole universe,
she thought
The tears trickeled down her cheeks,
bus She he'd ceased 10 START when he
boy cracked his pecans or when the
door opened. The man with the tama-
les 90. up and Went cut 4 train had
come in, and passengers We're crOwding
OFF and on. The stools around the
lunch counter were filled with people,
and the two boys were busy filing
plates and rafting cups. Anna opened
her lunch box listlessly, and was not
surprised TO find Mrs. Gaddy had put
up only enough for one meal.
'She owed me so much and no more, ."
said the girl to herself, with a little hard
smile. She set the box down on top Of
her telescope and went over to the coun-
ter for a cup of coffee. When she held
out her hand TO receive it q man on the
sloci just beside her gave an order. An
NJ turned sharply, facing him and let
ting the cup fall heavily upon the coun-
ter. whence it rolled noislessly TO the
floor
Look what you're about. wo't you?"
said the boy, sharply.
Look what you are about. Young
ster,' said the man springing to his
feet and leaning over the counter. The
BOY WINGED and picked up the cup sui
kily
Can assist you, madame" the man
continued, turning to Anna and lifting
his hat
Don't YOU know me. Robert Deering?"
/ she asked.
Why, it's Anna-Anna Kinloch
still he said pleasantly, holding out
I his hand
she felt with a sudden thrill what a
big strong hand she put hers into and
/ Was nor surprlseda moment later TO find
I herself following Deering to q neat little
/ cloth covered table by window in a
corner He had the same masterful
I way, that she knew so we'll in the old
/ DAYS and f. pleased her now as mach as
/ 1t had displeased her then, so she sat
/ down at his bidding and waited for
/ him to serve her.
Its nicer here" he said, pouring
her Gun Of coffee from the steaming
| pot which the boy brought at his direc-
ton.
+ But YOU don't know how glad am to
/ see YOU, Miss Anna" he went on. fill
/ ing his own cup and and cutting a
wedge from his sandwich; 1T seems
quite like old times, doesn't it? And |
don't be!iye you've changed one bit"
Neither have you" she said, look
ing at him steadily for a moment before
she spoke
"Oh, never mind me, please he said
hastily. almost nervous under her
steady gaze. I'VE shall not mention
my gray hairs. for instance, and [ shall
/ promise not to reproach you for the
part YOU played in their production.
I I'm glad TO see YOU for all that and |
only wish he began. looking
through the window toward the sleeper
/ that stood on the track without
"Oh, don't, Robert, please" she inter-
ruped him eagerly. The people at the
lunch counter had began to disperse,
and the TWO had the waiting room al
most TO themselves. Don't reproach
know how I have suffered; you do not
/ know how glad / am to see You. 1 love
yOu-her words were coming rapidly,
and though he looked up sharply she
did not stop. Il love you, Robert Deer
ing. l love you. I loved you long ago,
and l strove against it. l thought it
was strength that made me. I know
/ now it was weakness. I am stronger
+ now. strong enough TO tell you that |
was not honest with you in those old
days, tina, / was untrue to myself, and
F the falsehOod has darkened all my life.
l have been walking in the shadow"
/ She would have kept on, her gray eyes
/ k.ndlel and her cheeks flushed, but
+ DeerelDg had risen % his feet He
/ thought as he looked down in,O her up
/ TUNED face that she had never been so
/ beautiful as she was then, He he'd his
watch open in ms palm, and without
/ upon the platform The conductor nal
/ lo0ed. "All aboardw
Anna heard he watch ticks like the
humping Of great heartbeaJs From be
tween her tense lids she saw the gray
. hairs rise and f3}l on behring's temples;
She heard his quick breath stirring his
mustache From the window of the
/ Pullman. which was beginning slowly
F to- move. a woman in a gray su-t looked
out her Shape,y head crowned with It's
+ smooth. far braids Deering lifted his
hat and smiled back at her.
This IS my WIFE Anna" ne said
. gently.
For a moment he held the girls hand
IN his. and IN another ne had stepped
uD3n the rear end of the reced.ng train
and was gone cut Of her life forever.
Anna saw him Ike one N q dream. but
the hoarse shrek Of the departing
whistle aroused her
In one moment she had broken down
. the reserve OF years. and the overflow
Of Dant-up passion left her stunned as
bv bow. She stood dazed and help
less. leaning against the table where
Daeer;ng Mad left her. staring out
through the open doorway. A man who
+ had been walking back and forth on
the platform came in by and by and
stood quite c'ose to her, his cap in
hand. before she seemed aware Of his
presence.
can I get your baggage checked. or
ANYTHING NI:ss?" he said politely.
"B'Eeve YOU SAID you's going North, an
vorr train viii pass in a few minutes
now.
Anna WINGED as she looked at him.
He was the brakeman on The local train
wb.c1 had brought her in that morn
mo She remembered him by a pleasant