The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-11
| your ticket And don't forget what I

mt situation GS the train bore him
eastward. He had told Regina q lie
about the necessity for going to Kansas
CITY. There was no particular need to
attend to the mortgage Just then. lie
had made out that his presence In the
chief city In Missouri on certain day
was Important and Imperative, He had
cherished u sncakinE determination to
have another spirit" Interview With
! Syringa. to tell hcr-but that was Pc
ter's secret. Anyhow, when he found
himself In n position from which he
| could not recede, and In which his men-
daclty had placed him, h. had been
pledged to abstain from the one en-
thrallIng enticemcnt which was draw
ing him to Il larger town than that OF
| Bubble. Not that his wife's structures
upon the theatre annoyed him. The
| footllghts held no fascination for man
tortured by self-scorn and bounded by
remorse. To be shut out from the audh-
| cIous charms OF sirens was no depriva-
| ton. but to have spooks also denied
to him was 4 sad blow.
He pulled at his stubbv beard and
stared out OF the window as the train
flew along. He was man OF his word.
He had never broken bis word. He
would rot do It now. But how. apart
| from Regina's few commissions. should
! he spend his time In the big place to
which he was speeding? And then the
needless expense Of this wholly unuec-
essary journey!
He spent the night In cheap lodging
house opposite the depot. The next
| morning he went up into the town, eX-
ecutcd Reginn's commissions. and hung
around the wllGow wherein the clair
voyant's sign was displayed until II
was time TO catch Ills train. He went
straight back to Bubble. and alighted in
the clear yellow light OF a wonderful
January sunset-the only passenger
from the east.
Caught your train on the Rock Is
land, did you?" asked the agent. shoul-
derlng the mail bags. Had pleasant
trip? That's good. Cheers one up to yet
away from home and see the sights In
while. News? No; none I've heard
unless about Mrs. Cicero Morrison. She
| has had turn for the worse, and Ed
ridge has given her up. Says she can't
live the night out. Your team aln't here,
see. Guess AIRS. Pollock wasn't look
| ing 10: you so soon."
He gave the heavy sacks on extra
bunch on his shoulder, and walked off.
bending under their weight, up the
main street OF the town. Trembling
| and open-n,outhed the prosperous far
mer stood looking after him. Els face
was ashen with agitation. y queer eN-
preston. several expressions. indeed, Of
hope, daring, doubt. quirered like sheet
| lightning across his countenance.
Dying, Mrs. Morrlson-commoaly
! called Mrs. Cicero to distinguish her
| from her s!ster-in-law, MrsA Sam Nor
| rison-was dying. Why not send by
| her o message to Syringa? He had
heard OF such things being done He
| felt confident the message would be de-
| l!vereG. He felt ju5!lant that he had not
| delayed In Kansas City. Some merciful
| power must have impelled him TO has
ten homeward before 1t would be 100
late 10 deliver TO the living 4 message
for the dead. And Regina had not ex-
pected him, or she would either have
come herself or have sent the chore boy
with the team 1t was all arranged
beautifully. He felt he could not have
( settled matters more satisfactorily
| himself than some remote and beIef-
| cent power had done.
IN hire livery rig. by Gum," he de-
| c!ded, in the first flush OF his erthu-
| siasrl. I'll drive out there-no. that
| wouldn't 10. They'd wonder, and ask
| questions, and Regina might get word
| OF It. No. I'll walk out. I'll so in real
| careless like. and say Mrs. Pollock had
me come over to inquire FOR Mrs. Cicero
III fling IN something easy and natural
| about Mrs. Pol!oc!, and Mrs. Cicero
| having been such friends. They was
believe. before Mrs. Cicero's Jelly cake
| took the prize owe" Reglna's at the
county fair. Well. here Goes!"
! He Started out, walking up the main
/ street. but at the first turning he
branched on TO the !crt and followed
| the road that ran east beside the
I tracks. He walked rapidly. II some
J what s;ealthiiy. Pleasurable excite
| ment thrilled him. Occasionally he stop
| ped 10 glance back over his shoulder.
| But the apprehension which now and
| then seemed 10 still. his heart In his
bosom was each time succeeded By 4
stronger sensation OF sa;is!actlon-ot
mysterious and spiritual exalta,ion
which the object Of his pilgrimage en-
gendereG.
About q nile from town he turned
north. and. crossing little bridge,
struck out along road borGered with
! hu1d!ed brown trces-poor, naked
things. sh!TerIng against steel gray
sky. In the distance ahead he could see
pal: OF tawny horses approaching.
IT'S Eldridgc's buggy!" he exclorn-
cd. she amt dead yet. thank Godl"
lie fastened his steps, but was not In
time to intercept the physician. who
shortly after came out OF the house. got
into the. vehicle. and, turning the team,
I dr6Vc away In an opposite direction
from that In which Pollock approached.
The light was growing dim when Peter
reached the house. II was O s0mber old
frame building. set back from the road
In bare and trcelsss yard. Cicero
Morrison. In his shirt sleeves. and car
ry!ag n pail In each hand. was turning
towards the rear OF the house as Peter
came 10 the door
81 believe III 50 IN BIT" said Peter.
''lf YOU don't mind"
20, I don't mind" returned Cicero.
Go on In
Peter was about 20 knock when the
door was opened and Mrs. Satn Nor
r!son appeared She was .oothlcss
woman. clad In a faded blue cotton
gown, with bow OF sOiled pink ribbon
At her Ecraggy throat.
81 don't Ike to be p-psumIn', Mrs.
SAM" said Peter, timldly, but I've n
reason for wanting to see her alone i
feT minutes II might make so bold. "
TO be sure--why n0t?" said Mrs.
Sam. You naturally would Just com
Ing back from n Journey and all that.
She's Ia there 20 the right. The other
| f0iHE are eating supper In the kitchen.
wouldn't talk long. slough. Il was
| you. Shes cTG.ty well ;UckcTeG out."
| 'iT Won. ~,