Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-26

stirred my senses. Under my fingers !
felt thrill at last, and, half mad with
JOY that it was not too late, 1 remem-
bered the brandy and the salts, which
had looked far enough ahead to pur-
chase on the expedition l had made in
search OF chisel.
Pouring a few drops Of the spirit be-
tween the half-cpen lips, waited for
the effect None was perceptible at
first, and it was not until | had re-
peated the experiment again and yet
again that there came O. bird-like fut-
tefing in the white throat, and the girl
gasped for breath in frightened,
tremulous way.
I spoke to her, stammering in the
fear that the sudden sound Of voice
would do moro harm than good; but
she opened a pair Of great grey eyes,
stared at me as if bewildered for an
instant, then closed them wearilN
Ireeling down, l held the smelling
salts at a cautious distance from her
nostrils, and was presently rewarded
by the trembling of the long curled
lashes once again. For few moments
she did not lift her eyelids, but she
was breathing regularly and softly;
and as let her rest, hoping that danger
of death was past, looked at the beau-
full little profile, which was turned par
TALLY from me. with a growing Curl
osity.
1t seemed to me that the girl was
a mere child, fifteen or sixteen at most,
for she was so small, so almost fairy
like in her delicate proportions. I felt
old enough to be her father, as l GER
tainly was in experience if not quite
in years, and mentally l vowed that,
as 1 had been made an unwilling in
strument in bringing her to this pass,
so | would defend and protect her, in
atonement, if it proved that my cham
pionship were needed
My gaze travelled down to the child
ish hand that lay with its pink palm
upward, the tapering fingers. SO cdrled
together that the whole looked like q
seashell, white and roseate. l could
scarcely tear my eyes from the pathetic
appeal Of its helplessness, but when
did SO at last. l found that the girl
was looking at me, with grave wonder
on her face.
Thank God, you're better." I ex-
claimed.
"Whc are your" she whispered, sigh
ing as the words were spoken, in sheer
weakness and exhaustion.
Don't trouble to ask questions now"
l answered, for you have been i'll.
Only listen to me while 1 tell you that
you are safe, and that, if you will let
me, l will be your friend, and see that
no harm comes to you, until your own
people are with you once more"
Il have-no people Of my own" she
said YEARLY. please tell nowhere
l amp"
If had known where she would best
have liked to be, | think that l should
have lied, and made her happy for the
time; but l knew l should be apt to
blunder if l plunged into prevarica-
lions, so I kept to the truth-though l
would have given much If that brutal
box could have been out Of the way,
beyond the chance that her eye might
find it.
You are at an hotel in Glasgow, +"
I returned, watching her face You
seq
She half raised her head from the
pillow. and stared round the room with
anxious gaze. rs he here-that horri-
bic old man."
l knew well whom she must mean.
No." I hurriedly answered her. lie
is not here. I hope you won't mind if
I tell you that you are alone with me
Just now. But as soon as you can