Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-02-13

"eo iullC If6SpOHSlpiC, anu 'iAANN W.
money could not be found, there was
nothing to be done
So the weeks slipped away; and at
last one day Ben told his brother that
he and Agnes were to be married at
Christmas, and that they were going
to live in the old farmhouse.
Il suppose you'll go on here?" said
Ben.
Yes, L suppose So" said Will heav
lly Il can't afford to go away now;
and no more was said.
That autumn was a wild one, and
VIII found some relief to his misery
as he wrestled with the bitter stormy
tides and the gales that swept fiercely
over the barren fats. They suited
his mood and as his boat cut its way
through the blind night seas, or as he
wandered on the shore at dusk, and
heard the wild fowl flying overhead
like rushing winds, his heart forgot to
ache, and he found a brief rest from
sorrow. But amid all his absorption
IN his own feelings he was struck
sometimes with a passing wonder at
the look upon his brothers face.
Ben's eyes had always been eager and
quick glancing, but now they seemed
both restless and i'll at ease. He
avoided Will as far as he possibly
could, and, when they were forced to
meet, his manner was abrupt and I'M
natural
viii fGncied sometimes that he was
not happy in his love, but he could not
question his brother on the subject;
and as he seldom saw him with Agnes
he had little opportunity of judging
for himself He could not tell wheth-
er she noticed the way in which he
kept aloof from him or not; at any
rate, it was too painful for him to
meet her, and almost the only time
that he ever saw her was in church
on Sunday.
Both Ben and Will had good voices,
and had sung in the choir from their
boyhood; but since Ben's engagement
he had resigned his post and sat with
Agnes and her mother in a pew so
placed that Wills eyes could not
choose but fall on them whenever he
raised them from his book. The pain
of it was almost more than he could
bear; and on one Sunday evening,
when he was feeling more than us
ually wretched, he left his place in the
choir empty and went for a solitary
walk III the November mist.
His thoughts were very gloomy as
he splashed his way over the wet
roads, all the more so because he felt
himself to be a deserter. What was
the use of trying to run away from
his trouble when he knew he must
carry it to his dying day? But still,
things would go better with him when
he was no longer in sight of the hap
piness from which he was shut out
When Ben and Agnes were married,
they would settle down in the farm
house, and he need never come across
them unless he chose to do SO; and
perhaps in time the soreness would
pass away from his heart, and he
should be able to rejoice in their JOY.
But here an old doubt came back to
his mild, and would not shaken off
What was it that had caused that
strange alteration in Ben's manner,
and why did that look Of sadness
cloud Agness blue eyes? His heart
grew hot as he thought of it, and,
rousing himself with sigh, he tried
to turn his mind to other things.
A sound Of confused voices caught
his ear as be did so, and looking about
that he had wandered out as far as The
old farm. The voices came rom
shed in one Of the fields near by, and
asWill listened. he was amazed TO find
that one of them was his brothers.
lie could hardly believe that he heard
Alright, so wildly all this time had
he been picturing Ben by Agnes's side
! in church. But as he appreciated the
shed he found that he was not mistak>
en-, for there by the dim light of a Ian
tern he saw his brother standing over
the crouching figure Of Zeke Brown.
In his surprise he remained perfectly
still, and their words came plainly to
his ear.
III you don't confess it, | will beat
it out of you!" said Ben raising tnc
sllt. that he held in his hand.
Don't seat mo- criel Z"ke, looking
Up I TRULY with lis poor vacant eyes.
III CcnIess it, | WILL"
You did take the money, then?'
said Ben relentlessly.
Yes said Zeke, glancing at the
stick with an expression Of agonizing
terror.
"And what have you done with it,"
ooh, / don't know gasped the boy.
you must tell me, Or" and Ben
raised his stick threateningly; but
Zeke could bear no more; his poor
overtasked brain gave way, and he fell
motionless on the ground.
"You brute!" cried Will in uncon-
trollable excitement, and, rushing in
to the shed he knelt down by the pros
trate figure.
win! How did you come here?"
exclaimed Ben, his face turning white
and his eyes glazing; then. recovering
himself quickly, he added, 1t is a good
thing, though, that you did come; for
now there is a witness to this poor
fellows confession
Il have no time to think about that
now said VIII sternly; we must
take him home and get a doctor
Nonsense" said Ben, hes only
shamming."
He approached and seized the boys
arm, and his words were SO far cor
rect that Zeke opened his eyes imme-
diately. but at sight Of his tormentor,
he shook from head to foot, and his
face grew wild with terror.
Keep away from him." said VIII;