Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-18

leaning over the railing of the piazza,
pleasing himself with dreaming of the boon
which might be his. if he cared TO put out
his hand and take il, q bugle callsounded
across the water, musically sweet and
clear.
Instantly his mood changed. He was
no longer the dreamer. His future lay
there, upon the deck of his ship, not here
amid the throng of merry-makers. The
Siren was his mistress; 10 her he owed
fealty.
we sail in q few hours; I must be
on board ere the anchor is weighed. 1t
IS so hard TO leave this earthly paradise;
but duty is imperative. 1 must make my
adieus."
over Mauds face crept a shade Of sor-
row. regret and pain. He was quick &c
notice it, and it Aattered his vanity.
What mattered it? He was going away
to be gone four years. 1t would do no
harm: he must kiss her once; and ere he
down-dropped eyes were aware Of his in
tontion. he held her in his arms and press
ed a burning kiss upon her lips. then turn
ing. ran out of the house % the beach,
where his boat awaited him, and, taking
his place was rowed to the Siren.
And Maud? Her heart gave one great
leap and then seemed to stand still.
He loves me! He loves mel" was her
first conscious thought.
Her cheek crimsoned, her breath came
quick. She loved and was beloved. Away
off there in the moonlight. where the ST.
rem swung at her mornings. there was
heart that beat with love for her. And
she loved him; she never knew how well
until that stolen kiss revealed her own
hearts silent workings. He would come.
he must come again. and she should hear
from his own lips the story of his love;
that old sweet story to which maiden
hearts have listened and beat responsive
through all time.
For the remainder of the evening, she
went about as one in n dream. All, this
birthday party was an era in her life
Henceforth. the tenth Of June should be
10 her. OF all days in the year, the most
memorable.
The mocking-birds were trilling in the
magnolia tree beneath ner window. and
Maud hoated off into dreamland on the
tide Of their bewildering song; but alas!
when she awakened and looked out for
the Siren. the anchorage was deserted;
the ship had vanished; he was gone
And she had been so certain he would
come 10 her to-day. The ship must have
sailed sooner than had been at first in
tended. Somewhere there must have been
n cruel mistake She was full of sorrow
and surprise. but with the elasticity nat
ural 10 youth she would not despair. True.
he was gone: but he would return. He
loved her and would come to her again.
And he would write. Oh, yes. he would
write 10 her.
So Maud tried to console herself and
wait patiently until she should hear from
the man whom she loved with her whole
heart. But it was weary waiting. and
many time was she destined TO grow
tired and heart-siCk with disappointment
ard hope deferred. for no news came. and
the Siren had gone on n long cruise, and
years must intervene before she came
back.
Coloners Dumonts daughter was the
belle of the county Her beauty was so
marked as 10 render her conspicuous in
whatever circle she moved. while her nat
ural sweetness and grace. combined with
the charm of her perfect manners. Won
homage from ALL There were lovers by
the score who came to tell their love, but
went away unblessed.
she is cold" said they; "either heart
less or a firt"
But none could see how the image Of
Lieutenant Adair was enshrined in her
heart, where it filed all space. and com
p,ete,y excluded all thought Of any other
lover.
So the days and months went on. and
Maud was still uuwedded and the kiss
which the tenth of June had brought to
her was stil 10 her the sign Of a death
less and eternal love.
And what OF the Siren? She sailed meath
? Any skies. her PROV dipped in the wa
ters of the five great oceans which lave
the shores OF the continents: her sails
caught breezes which blew from every
variety Of climate: the trade winds bore
( her onward in safety: the wild cyclone
ragged about her and threatened instant
destruction; the north wind howled
through her rigging and left every rope
and spar coated with ice; and the south
wind died. and she lay becalmed upon the
surface of an unruffled sea.
And Lieutenant Adair? He looked up
on many strange scenes; danced at Lon