Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-20

as he moved down the broad street
under wasted branches of November
trees. 1t sounded like a footstep and
for an instant he was on the point OF
turning. Then he recognized that
there could be no one following him
and went on alone.
All, yes, that was the trouble-he
was alone! But the leaf rustled again,
and this time it seemed as though
some message were being blown after
him-a bit of stray paper, perhaps, on
which there might have been traced
words of the greatest import to him.
He knew still that this, too, was impos-
sible, but he was in such mood that
he now stopped short upon the SIDE
walk and looked around.
There indeed was the leaf, still t1ut-
tering slightly, with one crisp indented
edge grazing the inlaid bricks OF the
old footway. Then it became motion
less and lay at his feet.
Had not the passing gust OF air
brought it to him with something ike
a definite purpose?
Quite mechanically he stopped and
picked it up. Any tri1e that could
occupy his mind just now, even for
few moments, would have been well
come and the leaf was beautiful. Inc
upper half of it, above the Wlthered
pallor of the rest, seemed still to reflect
the flush of a lost October sunset IN
this cold, late light of November. lie
carried it along with him, twirling 1t
occasionally by the stem, without
thinking of it again.
But by the time he had come into
his own room in his mothers house
and had begun to look around, with
the eye of a man who is measuring, at
the various objects which it contained,
he grew aware of the leaf once more
He went on looking at the photographs
along the mantel, some small knlck-
knacks on a bracket in one corner the
Ennapers on his table, the books IN their
ed one book, a volume OF poems
ID in faded green and gold, placed
leaf carefully in between the
pages and laid it on the table. After
this he gathered from their shelves
small assortment of other books, mis-
cellaneous, but mostly of practical
kind, and slowly put them in order
beside the volume of poems, where he
also set some of the things from the
mantel and the bracket, leaving the
rest where they were. With a glance
at a trunk which was standing within
the open door of capacious closet, he
sat down and began an attempt to look
over and arrange his papers-memo-
randa. accounts, neat bundles of cor
respondence-wer the last straw added
to this days burden. He soon deslst-
ed, and the preparations for packing
came to a pause.
In Malvern's mind another rooE was
framing itself, with di&srens wahs,
colors and atmosphere, and so vivid
became this inward imagining that he
could scarcely have told at the mo-
ment in which place he really was
The room called his own or the one he
had lately left, but now seemed to see
again so clearly. The whole scene
was being re-enacted-brief, poignant,
SCATTERING.
He did not find himself alone Leila
Grey was sitting there opposite to him
in a pale violet dress, with flexible
gold circlet lying lightly about her
neck in a sort Of careless pride. There
was something in her whole attitude
that exhaled a mood which this CLEAN
of gold merely accentuated as she half
rsolined in the corner of a couch where
small white fur lay beneath her
arm. She appeared to possess all that
she desired for the time being, yet to
be only playing with it, and yet,
thought Malvern, that could not really
be true.
} But now ult II 4ldppSli' o4iN "S9
asking him. How could you do it,
PAY so much attention to Miss
Brendon?' he answered, for IL was all
actual to him again at this moment,
and he could hear the sound OF his
-vn voice. THAT is what you mean,
If course But | might ask you, How
I'm YOU do such a thing as to be jeal-
Gus of her?'"
Jealous, Dick? Nonsense! Yes.
that is nonsense for engaged people
like rs If we ever were in the stage
where that would be possible, we ought
to have passed out of it long before
now. and indeed you ought to under
stand me better"
"WeI. III try to-" he said, as though
hat would be quite easy.
ut isn't that worry about her or
care about it myself, said Leila, Civ
Ing the fur skin a soothing touch, but
STRENGTHENING herself little. 1T IS
only what others may think and say"
'Its very magnanimous in YOU"
Malvern laughed without thought Of