The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1897-09-01
KATHLREN KENDIe.

appearance or being as happy as any
in seven states and thank Heaven
that we were enabled to give it that
appearance, as devotedly as thank
God, that to-day it is happy. Tellyo
all. how it happened and all that7
don't know as should, but pardon my
selfishness, 1 believe it will do me good
to tell it to somebody and you are the
only one to whom could freely relate
what has been severe struggle for
Kathleen and me. You know we were
playmates, she and 1, when tots, no
larger than urchins you see gamboling
along the opposite side of the street
there We studied, we read, we rode,
in fact we were always together until
her Aunt Mary, on remember we
were both orphans, placed her in
school, and 1 was sent to college.
The separation was blow, but new
scenes and new friends soon helped US
to partially forget. Then after leav-
ing school she Travelled on the CONT
nent with distant relative for year,
coming home a thoroughly finished
young lady, though in no way spoiled.
To me she was simply charming. As
much of each other, and inthe spring
after her return our engagement was
made known to our friends, and was
heartily approved Possibly you re-
member 1 had some property left me
by my father, but my mothers brother,
Uncle John, had always intended me
to be his heir; assuring me that some
day 1 should own all his property. in
Guiding Brighton, and he frequently
presented me through his lawyers
with handsome checiS, hence had
no fear of the future.
Time passed quickly and the ma
jority of the preparations for our
marriage being about completed,
Kathleen proposed a short trip into
the country in order to have quiet
and rest before the eventfuI day.
babe her good bye most reluctantly,
she laughing at my fears in parting
from her saying in her sweet way, that
we would have an opportunity to
write few ''love letters"
About the time for her return we
were grieved to hear of the death of
Uncle John, which severe fever had
caused while travelling in South Amer
lea. Those who wrote said that in
his delirium the name of Kathleen was
constantly ON his lips, that he had
done a wrong which she must right.
This could only be explained by the
fact that the will, which was found
among his papers left his whole for
tune to Kathleen
She had returned and it was noticed
that she looked thin and pale, her
fine spirits were gone, she was nerv-
GUS and irritable, all of which was new
in her, but when mentioned she would
quickly dismiss the subject by saying
she had not been well. When told of
Uncle's death and his will, she seemed
as if in a dream.
Thinking that she was grieyed at
the manner in which Uncle had left
her, to right wrong, without any ex-
PLANTATION begged her not to give it
a thought, and fearing that she would
be i'll, 1 proposed that our wedding be
postponed and that she travel, to all
which she objected, requesting that
since Uncle's death had occurred many
weeks before we heard it, we should
be married immediately. She reused
herself and made the final prepal a
tions. saw but little of hero those
two or three days, so was glad when
we were made husband and wife.
In my ecstacy and joy had noticed
that she shrank from my first kiss.
If anything seemed strange, 1 attri=
buted it to her shyness. oh, my little
girl, how 1 worshipped her. Pardon
me, old fellow, memory plays havoc
with my feelings. found an oppor-
tunity before it was time for us to
leave, to go to the little library which
opens off from the back drawing
room, for a few moments of quiet
thought and rest. But short time
had passed when realized that my
heart was throbbing and oh, the bit
terness of my position. 1t Kath-
leen, my wife, of less than an hour,
saying and listening to words OF love
and endearment from another. Ieould
not for the life of me move, in order to
let my presence be known; 1 could but
listen. From what heard, / learned
that while in the country, she had
met and given her love, that thought
I held, to George Kendig, promising
to appeal to me upon her returns to
release her from. our engagement.
But finding Uncle Johns dying hours
had been filled with the thought that
she would right the wrong he had so
strangely done, and knowing that she
could do it in no other way, she had
deemed it her duty to carry out his
plans
She had written George Kendig,
all. but the letter miscarried and he
had come to claim her as his bride.
When he found she was my wife, his