Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-31

still lower, she went on, speaking absent
~. as though repeating something she had
t tried to Convince herself of many times
before. 'And so 1 sent the story out. 1t
/ could not have been wrong-could, it? I
never used the money they sent me, and
yet have needed it many times And l
wrote it corefuIly, so very carefully. Each
| page was gone over again and again.
am sure that no one else would have ever
1 recognized it He could rot blame me for
/ it, for he would see that it was meant for
| him alone-and he would understand
( She moved restlessly in her chair, and
| then went on in a nervous tone: NO, it
is not strange that / have not heard. He
always took the magazine. but sometimes,
| / remember, he would be careless about
renewing his subscription. He could not
have read it, could he, and then be so
cruel Oh. no, no. he is not cruel. 1t was
1, always l. And he was so gentle. too.
that last day. He could not have spoken
so, could he, and then have forgotten
about it all in three years-just three lit
tie years-just three little years?" She
lifted her head, and, looking straight be-
fore her with eyes that saw nothing, con-
tinued: Dear, you will forgive me, won't
you. for being so UNJUST? That is what he
said, and his voice was so pleading. And
then-then I sent him away
The old man had gradually moved nearer
to the desk as she talked. Now he stood
Directly behind her chair, and looking
down at her bent head.
There, there" ht, said speaking as TO
a little child, while he passed his hand
gently back and forth over her head.
You mustn't be feelin' so about it. l low
it'll turn out all right. An you'll come an
stay alongside o. Marthy an me for
awhile an listen to the waves dashin' on
the rocks, an smell the breezes BLOWN
from the sea. 1t was because you was so
tired that you spoke without thinkin?
Why" and he laughed gently, you need !
not mind. 1t didn't make a bit O. differ |
ence. 1 knowed you Almost from. the first; /
your eyes were just as blue as when you !
were just a little mite of soft thing, an /
the goldy lights are still shinin' in your /
hair"
The sweet odor of pine and cedar lilled |
the air, while the even sound of the plane
and the short, quick tap of the hammer |
mingled with the voices Of the men with
in the shop The boats, anchored to their
mooring nearby, rocked lazily back and
forth. and the water rippled softly just
outside the door.
There's the boat over to Westward
See? Dippin' up an down, amt she? But
he can handle her. Land! Why, 1 should
think he was a borned sailor"
The captain spoke proudly. He had
drawn his partner to the door and both
men stood watching the boat They still
held their planes and a few soft shavings
chung to their clothes. YES, sir" he con-
tinued, taking off his hat so that the
breeze could blow across his forehead.
Yes. sir, he came last night, an 1 said to
Marthy, Let 'em have the sittin' room all
10 themselves An they was in there two
hours. 1 low it might ha' been a little
more. An when they come out they was
Just as smilin.' Sometimes I calc'late to
tell you all about it, an how I fetched
lim here, an how-but then" he broke
off suddenly, speaking very gently
What's the use o. talkin' about it, after
LII? For the lovin's there, an the light of
I is Shinin' in their eyes,