Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-07-12

Wilmays health had seemed TO i'm
prove with marvellous rapidity at SIN
den. Bertha was very hopeful and IN
high spirits. She wrote TO me TO say
that Wilmay had heard from her uncle,
and that she took II quietly, asked few
questions about him, and then seemed
not to think about it any more. WI
may wanted me to come down 10 SIN
den, and Bertha pressed me most warm
ly to come too. i had been thinking
over things. and | had decided what |
would do.
Firstly, went down to Sinden. wal
may looked very delicate and sweet; she
was less weak than | had expected, and
loved to sit out in the sun.in the garden
on warm days. | talked to her little
and then | had a longer talk with the
doctors, and | think they tod me mere
than they had told Bertha. Then, when
Wilmay was sleep upstairs, and Ber-
tina and | were alone together, | said
to Bertha:
90 you know that | love Wilmay-
that / have been in love with her ever
since she grew out of childhood?'
Bertha paused before she answered.
Once, years ago. feared 1t Then |
did not think so any longer
Il believe" l said, that l shall tell
her now"
Yes" said Bertha, quietly. Tel
her"
On the next day when was sitting in
the garden with Wl.may, she spoke OF
her uncle.
Il know what you did for me-" she
said. You wanted to spare me pain
and humiliation, and you were going
to have paid a thousand pounds just
. for that little thing. | can't speak
| about it, but / must thank you"
Bat, Wimay, as il happens. did not
pay penny. Let's forget about the
man. It's nothing"
Edward why have you always been
so good to me? I'm not worth il, and
/ give ever so much trouble"
DO you remember Wilmay,' | said,
chat shortly after you came out.
went away for years and did not see
you? Do you know why l went?'
Why"
Because I was growing old, because
I was not the man who should marry
you, and because | loved you"
Edward! Edward" she cried,
breathless.
Don't mind about it, dear, it can't
matter now"
Matter? 1t matters all the world.
Oh, haven't you seen? didn't want
you to see, but in spite Of that"
"Wilmay, darling, l have always
loved you. l love you now"
She sighed, and held out her hands
to me. l drew her close to me, and
looked down into her eyes.
-
Wilmay said that she was going to be
quite well again now That was terri
BILE for me to hear, who had been made
almost sure that she would not be
long with us. But for time it went
on-that delusion Of growing health
and strength. And with all their sad
ness, these were the happiest months
| of my life, and Wilmay said that they
were the happiest of her Own-happy,
| though there was in them the solimnity
of the approaching end. Once only did
she speak of Vincent at this time and
once again shortly before her death
when she said that she wanted to know
that he had forgiven her. She did not
| know that, before she died.
Of those months l cannot write.
They need not words but music.
Before the winter the change came,
very suddenly and very rapidly. a
sea-voyage was spoken of and aban-
donedL She knew that she was going
to die And let me die quietly" she
pleaded. with Edward near me. We
have been away from each other so
long"
As the end drew near. and she grew
weaker and weaker, change seemed
TO come over all in the house too, for
they all loved her. Customary formal
tiles and restraints gave way, and
there were CHASTITY mixtures of TRACE
dy and farce. | remember that old
Carter broke down once, and apologized
for It, Bertha tried TO answer him
kindly, but without losing her digni-
ty. and then she began TO cry too.
She found herself taking his hand, for
the first time in her life.
Wilmay died in her sleep. We had
the first snow of the winter that night.
It fell heavily, and in the morning all
the fields were glistening white as il
Wilmay.
II you have ever loved, you will i'm
agine. and you will know that can
not write any more.
(The Enid