Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-08


quite square-agreements drawn up and
everything settled. I've only just got back
10 town, and came straight here TO tell
you: l wanted you to hear it first. And,
now Nora, my darling, you can't posi-
bly, raise any more obstacles TO our en-
gagement. can you?'
"H-haven't you had my letter?"I SIAM
mered.
THE one in which you said you thought
We couldn't live on 600 a year?' said
Tom. my darling girl. you don't think
/ would ask you to ro' III it with me on
that? You really belieI ed my income was
so very limited?"
oh Tom. you don't understand"
said family. Il did not mean that letter;
il is the two others
The two others" Tom echoed, looking
puzzled "Oh. how stupid of me- OF
course you sent them to my rooms. and
they are there stu. Never mind. Wen
make up for it now with a nice long chat
instead. 1t seems an age since l saw you
last. my dear"
] grew cold and dizzy The room SEEM
ed to swim around me. Tom l said,
tearing myself from his embrace-''Tom
| am a hateful wretch. Don't come near
me till you know everything"
My dear girl. what is the natter
The letters" l gasped. You will
never speak to me again when you have
seen them
In that case l shall most certainly not
read them" Tom replied very calmly.
You must" l cried peremptorily. You
must"
But if they are disagreeable would
much rather not" protested Tom.
That's the very reason why you must,
l replied.
Nora. dear, if there is anything you
would have rather left unsaid in the lee-
ter. I would infinitely prefer to burn
tlenl.'
No! no! no." I cried bursting into
tears you will. you must. you shall.
read them"
oh, ,he deuce" cried Tom. For heav-
ems sake don't cry about it! I promise
you. as you seem to have set your heart
on my doing So, that I will read those let
ters when I 80 home tonight. Now, you
might be nice, I think"
tom" l said( rising and slowly retreat
ing toward the door. II can't stay with
you moment longer till you have read
them. Go horne row and do so. and some
day. If you can ever forgive me-per-per-
haps you might c-come and t-tell me So"
Tea is in. if you please. miss" said Jane
knocking al my door some little time later
on in the afternoon.
Has mamma come back YETI" I inquir-
ed.
Yes, miss, she sent me to say that she
was waiting for you"
1T will never do to give way" I said TO
myself. I've got to face Sir George as
yet"
1 smoothed my rufIled hair and went
down to the drawing room. l knew, as
poured out the tea that mamma was look
ing at me anXiously.
Has anyone called?" she asked
l took my cup and seated myself on a
"Only Tom
why didn't you ask him to stay to
dinner said mamma.
Because" I hesitated; because T
felt l couldn't"
I'm sorry to hear you say that; he is
such a thoroughly good fellow. and so
devoted to YOU. and 1 thought that you
cared for him. too"
I listened in amazement
Mora, i might as well be frank with
YOU" said mamma, drawing her chair to-
ward NINE Tom spoke to me about il
some days ago. so. Of course, I guessed
the object of his visit. You know your
own feelings best my dear, but must say
I should not have felt displeased if you
had told me that he would be likely to be-
come my son-in-law some time in the
future"
Great heavens I exclaimed wrathful-
~, "how can you say such things, man.
MAJ"
why not? What do you mean?"
How can you ask" 1 said. But
will be Frank as well. If it had not been
for you and Sir George I should have mar
ried Tom. I loved him. ! have always
loved Tom l should not have minded so
much the busting and cooking. and. in
time, l might have even learned TO make
my own dresses; but when I thought of
last years hats, and those dreadful bills,
l thought l should never be able TO bear
it. and l told him it was to be all over
~ Do q @