Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-08-11

jumping up. He's everlastin'ly whist
lin, no matter how tired he IS. | must
run out and tell him that you're here
and make him give your horse some
fodder
She suited the action TO the word, and
ran away unceremoniously, leaving
Wexford to reflect upon the pity it was
that such pretty girl should have
been allowed TO run to seed in that
wooden" country.
Shortly she reappeared, leading in a
lrge and portly man, who might have
appeared Ike a person of some conse-
quence, had he been well dressed. But
as he was clothed in butternut Jeans
and acoarse cotton shirt, with his griz-
zled locks uncombed, his face brown
with sunburn, and marks of toll on his
hands and brow, he could be entitled to
no rank beyond the nobility of nature.
Tilda introduced this old man to Mr..
Wexford as pap" and Mr.. Burrell
welcomed the stranger heartily. but
with the same coarSeness of tone and
language that was SO obnoxious in his
daughter.
Supper was soon on the table and
Wexford ate heartily, as it was abund-
ant and we'll cooked although Tilda
had not combed her hair, and the old
man was in his shirt-sleeves.
After supper, however, he quickly
tired of these people and their back
woods talk and manners. and insisted
upon it that his horse should be brought
out. and that he should be furnished
with a guide to show him the way to
Judge Burrells mansion.
Thar ant no use in talkin' about
that. mister" said the old man. The
days too nigh gone fur to be trapesin'
about in this neck of woods, and you'll
have to stay hyar tonight. In the
mornin, I'll turn out and show you how
to find the judge, as l ant above max
in an honest dollar"
The remark about dollar sufficed to
finish the young gentleman, who asked
TO be shown TO his room, and went to
bed very much Disguised.
He was not noted for early rising,
and did not wake until a servant
knocked at his door and called him TO
breakfast. He dressed himself and
went down stairs, anxious to ge.
through with his breakfast and be Off
Stepping into the sitting-room, he
stopped in amaZement as he heard the
unexpected sounds Of a piano. 1t was
well played, too, and the fingers that
travelled over the keys were evidently
those Of an artist. Then a womans
voice rose amid the tones of the instru-
ment-a voice of wonderful melody and
compass, and of perfect cultivation. She
sang a difficult and beautiful air from
Martha" and sang it as he had never
heard it sung except by queens Of the
opera.
He was dumb with amazement. Who
could this unknown singer be? Where
had she come from? Was he awake or
dreaming? Had some enchanter trans
ported him during the night from that
rude backwoods home to an abode OF
taste and refinement?
He looked through an open door into
the room from which the sounds pro-
ceeded and saw that it was a parlor,
neatly and elegantly furnished. Before
him wasI 4 piano. and al the piano sat !
young lady, fsh!onably dressed and of
rare beauty. Near her stood an old
gentleman in broadcloth and snowy
linen, looking like one of the magnates
OF the land.
Who could these people be, and where
had they come from?
Wexford veDtured into the room, and
they turned and greeted him. Could it
be possible that that stylish young lady
was the Tilda of the previous night,
and that that magnificent old gentle
man was ''pap?"
Good morning Mr.. Wexford" said
the latter, with courtly bow. Have
you forgotten us, or are your eyes not
fairly opened? | understand that you
have letter to Judge Burrell. Have
the kindness to allow me to look at it. D"
Wexford who had not recovered from
his surprise, handed him the letter.
But that is for Judge Burrell." sug-
gested the young gentleman, as the
other opened and read It.
Certainly. You have delivered it,
and I am glad to meet the son of my
old friend"
Il don't understand this at all, pro-
tested Wexford.
The truth is" replied Judge Burrell,
that you surprised us in our working
clothes yesterday. Not that we are
ashamed Of them, by any means; but
we still retain some of our city splen-
dor, and have brought it out this morn
ing to do you honor Matilda tells me
that you addressed her in such a pecul-
lar style when you meet her, that she
thought proper to help you carry out
the joke which you had so well begun"
Wexford was content to remain. 1t
was not many days before he found
himself in his shirt-sleeves, too, work
ing with AK and hoe as cheerfullv as
any backwoodsman of them all. and his
visit terminated in an engagement to
Matilda Burrell.-Exchange.