Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-12-05

Moonlight Talk That May Have Changed
the Destiny Of the Child and
Several Others.

OtllVl D.
don't know l1Ow-Oh, do know-it was
for the child's own sake; SO that you
really must not call me heartless par
ent any more, Miss Lascelles Nobody
would do that who knew what I'd suf-
fered for him!" Mr.. Bell took the Sec
Ond cigarette from his mouth, and
sighed deeply. Even in the beginning
1t would have been difficult to get out
of it, having once got in" he continued,
after pause; but it has been going
on so long, getting worse and worse
every day and every hour, till now.I m
tangled up and helpless, like that moth
in that spiders web-pointing to lit
tie insect tragedy going on beside
them.
Miss LascelleH leaned forward, rest
ing her arms on her knees, and spread
ing her hands in the enchanting moon
light, which made them look white as
pearls-and made her rather worn face
look as If finely carved in ivory. 1t
was graceful, thoughtful, confidential
pose, and her eyes, uplifted, cleaned
just under his eyes, ineffably soft and
kind.
I'm go sorry!" she nurmured. But
if l don't know what the trouble is
Oh, don't tell me if you'd rather not!
l can't help you, can I? I do wish l
could!"
$50 do /. But I'm afraid nobody
can help me. And yet-perhaps
fresh eye-a woman's clearer insigk.
He paused, irresolute; then
succumbed to temptation. Look
here, Miss Lascelles, I'll just tell you
how it is if you'll promise not to
speak of it again. You are no gossip,
l know-yOu will Understandable it
Will be such blessed relief to tell
somebody! And perhaps you could
advise me, after ALI
Let me try" she broke IN, encour-
aglngly. For an instant her pearly
hand touched his sleeve "You must
trust me-" she said.
I'm sure of it, I'm sure of it, he
responded warmly. He flung away the
remnant of the second cigarette, took
moment to collect himself, and
plunged headlong.
You see, we had nobody belonging
to us in this country. 1 came out to
make a living and a home for her
too crowded up in England-and as
soon as I'd got bit OF a steady in
come l sent fer her to join me. OF
course, we had to be married from
somewhere, and some kind old people
that l knew took her off the ship anG
looked after her for day or two, and
we drove to church from their
house. Their daughter acted as brides
maid and she and my wife got to be
great chums. She used to come ana
stay with us a great DEALT was
lonesome for the poor girl in strange
land, and me so much away-and we
used to put up with them when we
went to town. In fact, they were
what you might call bosom friends
That was just the difficulty
You are speaking" queried Rose,
gently. "of the person who has the
baby?"
Exactly. All, I see you begin to
understand"
II think So" said Rose, with a smile
broad enough to be visible in any
kind of moonlight. But what was the
difficulty?"
well, you know, being so really
fond of her, and all that-wishing to
do it for the sake Of her dead friend:
what could l say? Especially as those
women were killing the unfortunate
brat between them. She was not so
very young, and was evidently clever
at managing"
EYES," interposed Rose, smiling still.
And peculiarly situated for under
taking the job-much as you are sit
uated here-living with two old fell
lows who dotted on her and were only
too pleased to let her do whatever she
liked; fond of baby, and in want of
some object in life, and SO on. But
chiefly it was for Mabel's sake. To see
poor Mabel's child messed and mauled
about by a set Of bungling, ignorant
creatures, who had no interest what
ever in it, was more than she could
stand, she said; to tell the truth, l
couldn't stand it, either; and she beg
ged me to let her have it to look
after, as there was no female friend
or relative nearer to it than she was.
What could l do?- She lived in nice,
healthy spot, and there was the old
mother with her experience, and l was
obliged to go away, and-and-well, 1
just had to say yes and be thankful
to do it. We got the-the doctor found
ave engaged the sort of nurse that
does everything, you know, a fine,
strappling young woman, in the pink
of condition, and away they went to
Melbourne together And at the first
blush the worst of the trouble seemed
over instead of just beginning. l gave
up my house, and stored the furniture,
and went off after my necessary bust
ness, miserable enough, as you may
suppose, but at least with an easy
mind about the boy. AS far as I was
concerned, as far as poor dear Mabel
was concerned, felt that had acted
for the best. From the matter of that,
looking at the business from that point
of view, it appears even now that L
did act for the best. Indeed, 1 don't
for the life of me understand how any
man could have acted otherwise, under
the circumstances"
The listener, listening intently, here
put quiet question: did you pay
her?" which caused the narrator to
vince like CALLED horse.
''Ah, there you hit the weak spot,
Miss Lascelles, right in the bulls eye,"
he declared, signing furiously. "If I
could have paid her, of course there'd
been no difficulty at ALL But she
wouldn't be paid"