Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-23

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'She went along the wood road lead
in past the bit o. pond"
And met
The question he is about to put so in
tensely agirates him as to hinder his
completing it. He stands with sus-
pended breath, his heart heavily beat
ing; but breathes freely again when
Dick, divining what he would have
asked, answers:
she didn't meet nobody; leastways,
not yesterday
''And was there no one with herr"
'Ne'er soul-'ceptin' the Charles
spaniel you gied her.
Il wonder what could have taken her
along the wood road? mutters the jeal-
Gus lover, apparently relieved from an
unpleasant suspicion. Then interro-
eating: Did you see anyone near
going or coming?'
''Nayther, EUR. i seed nobody on the
road but her an the spaniel"
What did she appear to be doing?"
''Nothin at all. as noticed only
walkin' along, an rayther briskly, for
it war sharpish cold when seed her,
How far did She go?"
about fifty yards beyond the water
hole. Then she turned round the big
beech that stands close to the roadside
and kim street back"
The spy has not been quite so sharp
as he fancied himself. Had he been on
the other side of the big beech" when
the young lady made the circuit of its
trunk. he would have seen her hand
stretched upward, with something
white between her fingers, which fell
not upon the ground, but into a cavity
of the tree. For she was doing what
other young ladies have oft done be-
fore-depositing a billet-doux in the
forest post-box; that being the purpose
of her solitary promenade, for which
Nigel Harding in vain seeks an explain
alton. Having no suspicion of her car
rying on a secret correspondence eX-
cept with himself, he wonders what
could have taken her that way. The
path spoken of leads to no house; nor
is it a near cut for convenience; only
wagon track through General Hard
ings own woods, in winter used for
getting firewood, the Top and top" of
the timber. The day before, as observ-
ed by the keeper, was sharpish cold; in
fact, frosty; with keen, cutting wind
anything but pleasant weather to be
out in. Why was she?
Nigel Harding has several times ask
ed himself this question; and now puts
it to his spy, who is equally unable to
answer it.
After silently considering for some
time, he again interrogates the keeper:
Ibid she see your"
81 doan't think she could, Eur, KEEP
well back 'mong the bushes, an didn't
| make no more noise than a cat arter
rabbits. AS she went by me, comm
back. she showed neer sign O. havin'
seed me. 1 war nigh her as she COED
| past, stannin' behint holly, the which
| screened me frae head to fut."
''Where did she go afterwards"
"Stret home to her own house; that
| be the mothers. l follared, an KEEP
| nv ewes on her till she was inside the
great"
Every odd, all that!' mutters Nigel
Harding mechanically; then adding:
What the deuce could she have been
| doing along that road?"
AS before, unable to shape a salts
factory answer, he at length gives 1t
I'D. Turning to another trouble, which
now presses him, he says:
'Dick. we must go home; and there's
| sure to be a shindy when we get there.
| BY this. Henry's had his story told;
| and father'll be in frightful rage.
Well. there's no help for it but to tell
| ours. What is it to be?''
| w ndl6FeI YOU llhNs huotSi ANA5~i'
Gle me the thread OF, an I'll stick to
what We say. Sweer TT, lift needs
| that"
For a time the young sportsman is
silent-on his features an expression
| that shows him connecting some tale
to tell his father--of course, false one,
for the truth would surely condemn
him. 1t must be plausible, however,
and therein lies his difficulty. What
can he say about Henry's wounded
hand? The cut finger, streaming
blood, will go terribly against him.
True, it was only an accident; but how
it came about that requires explanar
ton. Nor will 1t answer to admit his
intention of manning the dog by sryp-
ping the animals ear. His father
would be angry with him for that; be-
sides, it justified his brothers interfer-
ing as he had done. His own cruelty
in the scale against Henry,s humanity.
That matter must not be made known
What, then, is he to say?
"Ah. l have it," he exclaims, after
.,,.. .o,,;o-,;r1 On tho circuro-