Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-25
DISAPPOINTMENT.


7 of the most romatic little villages IN
! America. The beautiful lawns OF the
old family homesteads stretch down to
the very waters edge, and the shore Is
| dotted with white sails and moving,
restles rowboats. The breakers come
/ in with a ceaseless, even movement,
making a fluffy foam like the lace en-
broidery on a baby's frock Huge
! steamboats,. veritable palaces ahoat,
Duff sturdily and calmly, pushing up d
| foamy spray of water and leaving De-
| hind a tumultuOus tempest OF boiling
rapids. Picturesque clam diggers, with
their enormous forks and rakes, tramp
along the beach, their queer tgures
| standing out in sharp contrast WIN
the crowds of Jolly bathers, who splash
and shrek and tumble with the agility
of mermaids playing at hide ana seek:
Down the boX-ledged walks OF one OF
| the sleepy old mansions came BeaIrlce
| Radcliffe After her came rom OAR
rows. a handsome fellow and the idol
of the petticoat portion of the village.
| Tom and Beatrice were excellent
friends. a distant link of relationship
giving them a cOusinly affection. They
rowed together, played tennis together
walked. drove and sang together-ln
|, fact. they were the most congenlal Oh
: companions. This day they mad
planned a short excursion along the
shores of the Sound. They were going
in Toms canoe, and Beatrice had taken
| her guitar with her.
The Sound looks as if 1T were sing
ing a lullaby to-day, the waves come
in with such calm regularity Beat
rice remarked.
Tom laughed softly, and, fitting back
his white yachting cap, looked smll-
ingly at his pretty companion. You
always were q sentimental little puss,
said he. Now, when l looked at the
water my first thought was whether or
not the founders would bite a day like
| this.
"Lullibies and flounders! unused
Beatrice. Il suppose if l were to men
ton that the sky looked like a blue
velvet jewel case you'd remark that
the sight of a few clouds reminded you
that you needed a new macintosh or
or that you should order a dozen pairs
| of overshOes." Then, after a pause,
she continued: 81 often wonder how
men ever write poetry or romances. l
] think that is certainly woman's work;
men are such prosaic creatures.
Theyreached the little landing place.
! Tom helped Beatrice into the canoe
and they padded away, the easy mo-
ton of the waves making rowing COM
| Portable. Beatrice began to sing some
old college song.
Il wish you'd stop that" Tom said,
impatiently. Il want to talk to you
Beatrice ceased singing and made a
meek bow of submissiveness.
4 received a telegram from father
| to-day" said Tom. He wants me to
go to Omaha at once. His confidential
clerk is i'll and he's in fix; says he
won't trust his business matters to a
new man"
Il can't tell you how sorry I am, 3"
said she, with a queer little sob, that
she considered very weak and silly.
II think think Then she took
up the guitar, and in order to hide her
unhappineSs at the dismal prospect OF
a farewell she began to twang the in
! struments strings. After few mo-
ments of that she said: Let's land
here. The beach is so sandy and they
say the shells are beautiful"
Tom drew the canoe toward shore
and helped Beatrice out. They walked
along, and both felt a loneliness al
most indescribable. They chatted
about the past, and tried to talk
Cheerfully of the future, but through
all their talk there was feeling Of
unhappiness that a coming parting al
ways sends before it. AS they return
ed to the boat Tom picked up a large
shell that was beautifully colored with
the tints of an opal, and having the
smooth face of a pearl. He gave the
shell to Beatrice.
1t was twilight when they reached
the little landing place and walked up
the boX-edged pathway. At the door
Tom took Beatrice's hand and said
Il didn't tell you before, but leave at
eight tonight My trunks are al
ready at the station, and I'll not see
you again before train time So
here he pressed her hand tenderly-
little woman, l must say gOodby,
and l do hope that next summer we'll
repeat lllo HAPPY bhO' ulCiOuShi VI
course, we'll meet before that time"
And with that he turned and left
her standing there in the doorway. AS
she heard the dying echoes of his
footsteps on t he gravel walk she
stretched her arms out into the
gloom of the falling twilight and
whispered" Tom, dear, l can't
bear to have you go away
This penholder, wrote Beatrice to
Tom just before the great day of holly
and good will was made of the great
shell that you picked up on the
beach that day you told me so sud
denly that you were going away l
trust and know that you will value it
for its pleasant associations. l am go
ing to Omaha soon to be bridesmaid
for my dearest friend, Ethel Stoddard,
and of course will expect you to call
on me. you wretched, neglectful. man.
Please don't give this penholder to
your best girl"
New Years had passed when Bea-
trice arrived in Omaha Ethel was to
be married the first week in February.
There was a deal of flurrying and
fussing when Beatrice greeted her
friend. and the house was atmospheric
,,.i+b tho General air Of unrest that in