Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-08-28

self. \ am not wen. II think 4
shall lie down.
Hall an hour afterward Mary came
into her room.
Victoria, knocked and you didn't
hear me. thought But, oh, Victoria,
what are you doing?"
For Miss Wallace's trunk stood in
the middle Of the floor, nearly packed
and she herself was in her shawl and
bonnet.
Il am going home, Mary" she an
swered calmly.
Home! Before Launce Games bacF'"
"Launce is nothing more to me-" she
answered, bravely choking down a lit
tie sob in her throat. Il shall never
see Launce again.
Victoria, are you craZy?"
Almost, think" with a wretched
mockery OF a laugh. BE merciful to
any more questions"
But. indeed, Victoria, you cannot go
until"
Cannot? Am l not my own mis-
tress?"
"At least let me call mamma"
call nobody. Let me go in peace
and quietness-let me go and leave
.. 'lsAsIoJ puIqeq sseuIddgq 10 9JII GW
Victoria" she said resolutely, you
must give me some explanation. Has
Launce offended your"
'No-but he Is my Launce no lon
ger. He has fallen from his high es-
tate"
"Since when? An hour ago he was
as dear to you as ever. Victoria, Vic
toria. don't decide rashly upon any,
thing. Think how much hangs on
your decision. Be just to Launcelot,
whatever you do. Remember what
you declared not twenty-four hours
ago-that nothing in the world should
ever shake your confidence in
Launce."
''Ch, if l was only back to yesterday
again!" she sobbed-"if l could only
forget the last hour! If / had only
died before it unsealed my eyes!"
Tell me all labout it," whispered
Polly. And then Victoria opened her
left hand, which had been tightly
clenched all this time, and let the fatal
slip of pink paper slide into Marys
hand.
Read that, Polly" she sobbed,
y
ever to speak to him againi"
Polly read it-then she crimsoned-
then she laughed.
Victoria" said she, II know who
wrote this"
Who? Tell me who, for PHYS sake.
Il wrote it myself | wrote ii 10
Fred Dayton a week ago-and / was
sitting at the desk in Launcelot's room
~ he inn
would break; and mamma came in of a
sudden, and | slipped the note away in
the very first hiding place / could lay
hands on. And then Launce came in,
and all the rest of them, and | was
glad to make my escape the best way
could. And it so happened that Fred
met me down by the river road that
afternoon, and so there was no need
for the note, and in my fright and wor-
ry l entirely forgot where l had put
it,"
Il am so glad, so happy, so sorry"
Historically sobbed Victoria.
Sorry, darling?"
Because | have so cruelty misjudg-
ed Launcelot! because l have been so
false to him in my hearth
"He will never know" said Polly en-
couragingly.
HE will know,''. cried Victoria; "for
l shall tell him all about it. Do you
think / will ever have any secrets
from Launce?"
We'll, dear, dare say you are quite
right" said Polly. only l hope you'll
learn a lesson from this-the lesson of
never Judging rashly. Poor, dear Fred
if half a dozen love letters jumped out
of his vest pocket, l wouldn't believe
them!"
And when she was Mrs. Trestleford
and Polly was staying at her house,
making up wedding dresses-for luck
less Fred struck a vein of good for
tune one day, and got a good position
in a rising legal firm, with an annual
salary sufficient to warrant him in
marrying and Pollys mamma in enter
tanning his proposal on behalf of her
daughter-they all had good laugh
over Launce's love-letter.
But didn't think it any laughing
matter then" said Mrs. Victoria.-New
York News.