The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-26


be so very long behind him. trust"
"And to which of you, wonder will
he belong in heaven7" was what the
ingenious Lucy thought to herself;
but aloud she said: Dear. dear Miss
varney, I hope you win live forever"
She put her arms around Miss Var
ney. and her eyes wandered to the
symbol Of this strange wldowhoOd on
Miss varney's black hair, Her thoughts
few to the other widow Of Robert
Musgravo, the sentimental one, who
had no sense Of humor and who, she
shrcwdly suspected. was crying her
eyes out in the cold, frelsss dining
room at this very moment. She remem-
bered Miss Leven's soft round cheeks
and her pale yellow locks, and decided
in her own mind that though in her
youth she must undoubtedly have been
the prettier Of the two. yet that Miss
Varney must have been by far the most
vlvuclous and interesting.
Miss Laven, wherever she was, did
not come back. II wonder II might
say to you what I have been thlnklng?'
Lucy asked Miss Varney, tlmorously.
"of course. dear, say anything you
like-I have given you my confidence
our confidence. l might say-and ! do
not withdraw t."
ut is this-thAt think-somehow-
that Mr.. MuSgrave must have liked you
best"
Miss varney's face clouded as It had
not done in the whole period Of her In
tercourse with Lucy Gray.
"Ah, my dear" she said. don't think
to please me like thatI 1t is a wrong
note, and you must never strike It.
want no concessions to my vanity. Mr..
Atusgraye did not care for one Of US
more than the other. and that Is the
secret of our bond-NliSs Leven's and
mine. Do not you see thgt we are
co-partners- In his IndiffeTeaee, II you
like to put It so-and little more on
either side would at once destroy the
balance? 1t would be dlsloyalty to
Miss Leven II I were to let you talk
like that to me-" e.
She sighed, and then she laughed.
81 really don't wonder that people call
me eccentric" she said. Talking like
this to a mere child! What can have
become OF Miss Leven?"
you don't know how love 1t" ex-
claimed the mere child. you are
quite sad. and yet you make such funny
fun of yourself all the time, as It
were"
rs 1t the saving grace of humor that
l have got2" asked Miss Varney, spIl-
ing again, and again the girl was psne-
truted with the conviction of her past
and present attractiveness. That 10
what you lIke2 wear my rue With
difference, that's all"
differently from Miss Leven," the
girl could not help saying. "she is
sweet, too, but she never says funny
things. You can never have both been
alike in that"
Miss varney, to her surprise, accepted
this little compliment, adding, however:
"she was a great deal prsttier. at any
rate. Here she comes! We have no
secrets from each other, Kitty and I!
Kitty, have been telling this child all
my love story-our story!"
Miss Leven had been crying. But
she answered, without shadow of UNI
bragg: You know, Alice, that you can
always speak for me-"
Eyes, our minds are quite siamese in
that respect, are they not?" Miss Var
ney rejolned, laughing. You look
cold, Kitty. Come and get warm. I
was Just telling Lucy how awtully pref
ty you used to be!''
There was 4 caress in her voice.
"And told Miss varney that I could
see that for myself" said the child.
with astounding simplicity. Butt am
so puzzled about him."
How so7" came both the widows at
once.
"weIl-how can he have been 50
bllnd?"
Miss varney persisted in taking an
entirely humorous view Of II all. you
see" she said. me had great deal OF
choice. There were SO many other
pretty and funny women in the world!
But Kitty and are quite content with
what Fate was good enough to mete out
to US. One cannot have everything
and there is no bitterness"
Except the bitterness Of death" Miss
Lucy unexpectedly put In, and Miss
varney stared at her.
And that Is easier to bear in con-
cert. isn't it, Rltty?" she resumed, with
persistent cheerfulness. Good night,
dear little Lucy. Kitty looks tired.
Don't go and tell all D. about the two
silly old women, but come and see US
again"
Lucy Gray kissed them both. her maid
was summoned, she put on her wraps
md walked home. She thought n good
deal OF what she had heard, and the
sum of her reflection and her sympathy
for Miss Varney and Miss Leven came
to thIs-that their theory OF life. poeti-
cal as It was, was hardly satisfactory
They are two. dear, strange. sweet
women" she thought to herself really
and truly eccentric, suppose; but, as
far as am concerned. shall hope to