Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-17

follow me this time. I will write to
After d fortnight OF it he waylaid Mary
. Ann ON the stairs one day and relieved
/ her. despite her protestauons, of a tremen-
Jous bucket of coal which she was carry
ius Co The third floor. And when he had
| finished that little business he began to
/ plead again. o1ly to receive the same an
swer.
You say YOU love me. and vet YOU cam
not put up with this much for my sake?"
Ell can put up with anything cried the
/ faithful Crossbie. "but I must consider
+ YOU. How can / be happy when I have to
/ see YOU shaving day after day in place
/ like this2"
/ Her lovely eyes softened and her voice
/ was even tender when she spoke again
/ els that it really. Dick? How soft
/ hearted YOU are, But it VIII only last an
/ other week. I've found another situation.
and have already given notice.
ooh, And what is the new address,
/ asked Crossbie. slight sentiment OF hope
/ miugling with his resignation.
eft is a good place this time. said Mary
I Ann with smile "Ninety-uine Belgrave
/ square. They don't take dodgers there, of
/ course but You can call TO Sue me-if
you're not ashamed to visit the house
maid"
+ Crossbie flushed slightly. He saw a Wis
/ ION of himself sitting i'm the kitchen among
tine fo0tmen. with Sinking maid-servants
+ making eyes behind his back. But in q
moment his love triumphed over his dig
nifty.
eel would follow YOU to the end OF the
/ earth" he said earnestly. cor even to- the
sruuery Bvt this is 10 be the last
/ p'ease2'
1Iary Ann nodded and was happy. A
week later She had gone 90 her new place,
and no had found rooms i'm q quarter not
f1r distant from Balerave Square.
Crossh.oss conduct throughout surely
proved chat Dee was finally and thoroughly
I'm love- There was no lUkew8rmuess
abo., him. but still me- had "a large share of
. .o.r-resnect and the prospect of court
! .rr" Mary Ann iu the servants han save
/ him many uneasy moments He had never
/ thought OF asking her 10 meet him out Of
doors and. OF course it was not her place
\ t1 suggest such thing. Go he must. and
/ go bee would. Anything and everything
must Doe dared for Mary AIMS sake. Yet
b his emotions were terribly mixed. when
I one Tuesday evening. at half past seven,
ra Knocked az the area door of No. 90.
/ For a thriving literary man, who was al
ready lion i'm many Bohemian drawing
rooms. to seek "a place i'm the servants hall
Ito drop to- the level of follower oh, it
was awful he was glad it was dark so
that nobody sitting I'm the windows of that
rnfr md fs. hon. a
with n great and sincere nope. that the
k-.hen would be pretty clear. If this adj
y.rfl~a should get abroad he would never
hear the end of it.
A s0lemu-looking page opened the door,
and Crossbie I'm a husky voice. asked for
'.Nuss Robinson" He was relieved TO see
that the i..p did not even smile.
Eyes. sir. Please come this way. sir.
was an ne said. and Crossbie followed,
braciug himself for a terrible ordeal
BUT mstcad of being taken to the kitch-
ON mo- was led upstairs and ne saw, to his
annoyance. that some mistake had evil
IDENTIFY been made. But before he could
say "a word q door was thrown open, al
lowing a murmur of voices to reach his
ears and a splendid footman had an
uouuced his name i'm clear, distinct tones.
"lIr. Crossbiei'
Flowers. voices evening dress. ladies'
ne was vaguely conscious that he was
doomed. That idiot of a page had brought
him to- the drawing room where an even
ing' Of some kind was evidently being
held. Crossbie cazed around him in blank
d.smay and i'm another moment would
have bolted to the door. But before he
could escape an elderly lady sailed across
the room TO his side.
$50 pleased that you have come, Mr.
Crossbie.' she murmured We have
been expecting YOU for some time
Expecting me?" said Crossbie, in the
purest surprise ''I am afraid you mistake
-it must be some other
'"Tbe lady laughed pleasantly
Come" she said. who could mistake
the author of those delicious Idle ldylls
I'm the Poetaster? But let me introduce
YOU TO some of the people here
She was a pleasant old lady, with
motherly face. hut Crossbie was too be
wildered 10 see it, Some awful mistake
had been made-but how did she know of
the Idylls2
Before no could collect his thoughts he
found himself sitting ON a couch between
two gentlemen to whom ne had been intro
duced. His amazemeut was not lessened
when he understood that one was a not
able editor and the other very eminent
artist.
How they greeted him. what they said.
what he said i'm reply, he could never re-
member. He was trying to contrive
means or escape but was trying in vain.
and after a short time his companions
resumed their conversation.
"Yes.' said the editor of Our Own Re
view you may call it eccentricity If YOU
please. hut it is good and useful eccen-
yricity. We shall have some new light on
the subject now"
"Do YOU pubHsh?" asked the artist care
Icssiy.
Eyes. I have secured the series. Life
Below Stairs-The Experiences of a Mary
Ann ] think it will so Well"
Crossbie started. The familiar sound
had caught his ear. but he soon perceived
that it was not his Mary Ann whose name
had been mentioned.
lie was ON thorns. OF course. there was
only one thing which he could do. He
must 20 to that motherly old lady and
explain.
-'I SIM afraid. madam. that I have been