Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-04
A RIVALS LOVE.
From Household Words.

From Household Words.
People said 1 was the luckiest fellow liv-
ing and I quite indorsed their opinion, for
had not only entered into possession OF
a decent little legacy left me by my uncle
but I had also won the hand and heart of
Ada Miller, the prettiest and most charm
ing lady in the whole country.
People said her father was immensely
rich and that she would come in for for
tune at his death, but what cared I about
that? For had I not sufficient for US
both, even if she were penniless? And
did not love her with the whole strength
of a pure and disinterested love?. I can
not begin to describe her to you, for that
task is quite beyond me. Suffice il to say
that she was admired by all who knew her
and loved by not a few.
The latter circumstances ceased TO dis
turb me when once I became her accepted
lover. though before that time. it occa-
stoned me a great deal Of anxiety and
caused me to spend many a restless night.
OF one lover in particular l had been
jealous. for to my excited and fear-laden
imagination he seemed to possess every
thing that a young lady could desire.
He was tall, broad-shouldered handsome,
with a pleasing manner and faultless
dress. and in addition to all this he was
endowed with more than an average
share Of this worlds goods.
He was madly in love with Ada but
conducted his wooing in a way with which
not even his closest rival could find fault.
Kind considerate and gentlemanly, never
obrruding his presence unnecessarily. he
yet managed to pay her considerable at
tention, and many an anxious time did
I spend. fearing that his superior attrac-
lions would put me I'm the shade.
Fate. however. decided otherwise, for
when l summoned up courage TO put my
fortunes to the test Ada shyly accepted
me, informing me in a most engaging
manner that she had never loved anyone
else You may be sure that l was in &C.
stacies. and scarcely knew for the next
few months whether l walked upon air or
upon solid ground.
Our engagement was to last year, at
the end Of which time our marriage was
to take place
The time had almost elapsed, and moth
ing had occurred TO mar the harmony of
the scene. when, quite unexpectedly.
something happened which filled me with
the deer L horror and which causes me
to shudder even now when l think Of it.
1t ha4 partly TO do with my rival, Hor-
ace Rishton. whose existence for the time
! had almost forgotten.
TJa had received he nous 81 orr en-
gegement in an apparently calm and quiet
manner, and his subsequent behavior had
not led us to regard him as being more
than ordinarily affected by it. but in the
event I am now about to describe / was
enabled to see how deep and tragic the eff
feet upon him really was.
The revelation came in this wise:
1t wanted but two days OF our wedding,
and I had occasion to go on a little bust
ness connected with it to neighboring
town. a place some four miles distant
from my home. Having accomplished my
errand, and finding that l had some con-
siderable time to wait for a train, I re
solved to walk back. so. striking out, 1
soon left the town behind me.
1t was a fine moonlight night and as it
promised to continue so l decided to take
a short cut across the country, which,
reckoned, would save a quarter Of an hour
AT least The road would be very lonely.
for it was path that was seldom used,
but that troubled me little for my
thoughts were company enough that
night.
had gone somewhere about two miles
when the moon suddenly clouded over and
/ was left in comparative darkness.
As I knew the way. however, ] thought
nothing of It. but trudged cheerfully
along. thinking only of Ada and our APP
preaching union. Suddenly and without
a moments warning the ground gave
way under my feet. and l felt myself fall
ing headlong down, down into the depths
OF the earth. How far I fell I knew not
at the time-I learned afterward that II
was about thirty feet-but I expected in
slant death when I reached the bottom
and without doubt that would have been
my fate had not the bottom of the hole
been filed with water to a considerable
depth. This broke my fall and also by its
GOODNESS restored me 10 my senses.
struck out on coming to the surface
and swan around to find something to
which could hold on. After consider
able time spent in searching, during which
the full horror of the situation began to
dawn upon me, 1 at last discovered a
piece Of woodwork fixed in the side Of the
pit.
This I eagerly grasped and resting par
tiallv on II with half my body In the wa
ter. I began to consider my position.
I knew at once the place into which
had fallen. and as the knowledge flashed
acros nv smind I cursed myself for hay
ing been so careless as TO stumble into
It. II was an old disused shaft which
had been there for generations. Not
many people were aware Of its existence
for it was in a wild and solitary spot
across my mind cursed myself for hav'
ever had seen it several times IN my
moorland wanderings. and had always re-
garded IL as a dangerous place. IL was
fenced round. but I must have wandered
in through one OF the gaps.
There was no footpath anywhere near
II. so I must. in the darkness, have Ios
nv way. However. here I was. and the
question confronted me. how was to ge
out?
I tried to discover n it were possible Il
climb out. but the sides Of the pit offered
no hold of any kind, so I had to abandon
the idea.
next shouted. in the hope that some
solitary wanderer might hear my cries
but no answering voice was heard. until