Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-01

dow.
In the corner Of the roma thrObbing
spark Of the fire burned behind the
globe. The shadows caused by the,
suffering of the electric light on the
street few like great moths over the
dew drenched garden, where the leaf
was transformed into-a white diamond.
In the semi-gloom and midnight silence
he could hear the beating OF his heart
Every detail of the evening returned
t him. He was again facing the rows
Of desolate women, the hackneyed cho-
rus of a hymn beating like waves upon
his consciousness and his eyes mixing
with Marian's across the crowd.
That last look Of hers had scared his
heart. 1t was as If she had touched
him with her hand. That look! What
had II meant.
Hugh, why on earth are you moping
there IN the dark? It's almost morn
ing. Close the shutters and come up
called Jenny from the top Of the stairs
In a high tone of evaporation, and ne
started as she had touched a sensitive
nerve
i
ingly from his lips.
Petulant fragments about neglecnng
his health by going to New York and
preaching to a lot Of drunken women
reached him through the half open
doors, but he paid no attention.
He sat alone, cOnfounded by a reveal
ton.
my God! I love her." broke from
him in anguish, and his whole body
shuddeTed.
Now ne knew why the old freedom,
the sweet, frank cOmradeship OF the
earlier weeks had died. Passion had
laid It's burning hand on the sweet
brow Of friendship. and the |ell-knG"h
face had assumed a guilty look: NOW
he knew why her highest word could
pain him, why her face followed MIN:
A sound like the distant closing OF a
door made him lift his head. what was
that shadow, larger than the others,
grooming across the garden?
He was the victim OF a fancy, surely,
for II seemed TO him that Marion STOOD
before him. He called her by name,
and she m,rtsly answered by a gesture
mat was childish and appealing. me
astounding thing was true. she nau
come to him alone after midnight her
beautiful face cOnvulsed with pain. She
had come to him. Why?
From an upper window Jenny hdu
seen the shadow too.
"He is waiting for her she mutler-
Ell between her chattering teenth.
She clutched at her throat as II she
were choking, her eyes starting from
her head. A shawl lay on the caalr
beside her. and, quickly twisting 1t
about her shoulders, she crept down me
stairs into the dark hall, her bare feet
making no sound. The door was aJar.
She could see without being seen.
Hugh was standing inside the long
window. one hand thrust backward and
grasDing his chair. The woman whom
She had always feared and whom she
now hated crouched on the Wlndo"
seat.
"Wbv have you Gomez" Hugh asked
in a voice that sounded unnatural
do not be angry"
II was q passionate, signing whisper
and Narlans hands were crossed hard
upon her heart.
ct seemed that my heart must
burst if another night passed-Wlthout
your knowing"
Hugh looked apprehensively toward
the door. hesitated. and then leaned to-
ward her. speaking in the caressing
tone that was so irresistible from his
lips.
Speak very softly. You are in some
trouble Tell me quickly. If can help
YOU Oh. the desire to take her in
his arms. 1t turned his blood to flame.
He battled with himself and faced
her. rigid. self-cOntained and deadly
pale under an armOr of silence.
The lovely. stricken face was lifted
nearer. and the wOman's hands reached
out and clasped his. Help me? Yes
yes. YOU can-you have. Your words
tonight have saved me. I know now
have a soul Tonight it spoke to me.
Oh. that voice, so long silencedi'
A sob sad as a dirge dTifted from her
lips, though her eyes were wide and
dry.
CHOSE lost women 7 sat among to-
night" she said in a clear, slow whis-
per. forcing herself to say what hurt
her cruelty, 81 have sinned like them.
Jenny crept nearer. Hugh had not
stirred
did you hear me?"
"Yes."
you don't believe me. Your face
tells me So"
Something hard and reckless rang in
the words as she started up, lonely,
black robed figure the mysticism Of the
night Unfolding her.
"I tell you It Is true. The rags are
missing and the visible degradation,
but until tonight l was like that wO-
man-that woman who sat near me,
who had sinned without remorse and
wondered why. Oh, listen, and know
me for what I am. was married when
q very young girl. Five years ago my
husband died He was a scoundrel.
How I loathed him! The three years
spent with him were one long degrade
ton"
She wrung her hands and threw them
out from her, as if casting away some
loathsome thing.
Since that time my life has been q
reckless one. l had an Independent
fortune. l gave the Teins to extrava-
gance Of every sort, though always liv-
ing within the pale Of responsibility.
All, there IS the last thing women Ike
me are disposed to renounce. But l
cannot tell you all"
The choked words came thicker, fast
eT now.
Perhaps you can guess how callous
I became. BY a love that proved after
ward but moth-like sensuality l was
swayed for years. 1t faded at last leav-
ing a weary disgust, and knew very