Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-16

M ~ ~ 4l. |S4.$s &C \ II ~
81 III hsIrf I lid ~ po0x 1Illclo ~
jus1llce. r. 1Ancied th1k ~ might
soanea,0w have been cont1dved By his
agency, and / was afradd to 50 back 70
him, or even to have him hear that I
was alive. But afterwards, when you
had gone out, thought it all over, and
saw how impossible that was. Ny
fathers brother! And besides. he is
not a clever man at all. He is jolly
and pleasant, and dare say under
stands business well enough, for he is
something in the City, and is not bad
" OF, or am sure that father would
have left him more in his will. But he
is not man OF amy executive ability,
even il he had the desire to be muir
derer. which l am certain he has not
1t is too late tonight, but tomorrow
morning, Mr.. Napier. really think we
ought to wire Uncle Willis, and set his
anxiety at rest. Only fancy, what a
state he and Mrs. Norton must have
been in during these days since dis
appeared! It is not very likely that
they can have had any news"
Still said nothing
Don't you agree with me?"
My position was far from pleasant
one. The girl was great heiress, and
was a penniless vagabOnd-very close
on being an adventurer. How easily
she might think that wished to keep
her from the care of her relatives as
long as possible, with specious excuse,
that she might feel that she had the
greater cause for gratitude towards
me; or land my forehead burnt while
the thought stung my mind as with the
sting of nettles) might she not even be-
lieve me vile enough for plot to COM
promise her by association with me,
that she might be induced to enrich me
by marriage.
The words I had been impelled to
speak stuck in my throat l was al
most ready to agree with the girls
proposal and let her uncle come for
her next day, or take her to him. But
the trusting eyes turned to me, the
fragile, fower-like sweetness of the
poor child who had endured so much,
shamed me for my brutal selfishness.
Let her misjudge me-let her believe
my heart as black as ink-rather than
permit one hair of that dainty shining
head to be in danger.
IF you will allow me to advise you,
Miss Seaford," l said, you will let
your uncle bear the suspense for a
few days longer"
Her face flushed brightly You be-
lieve that
Il believe nothing; but, for Heavens
sake, let us be sure."
'Yet only listen," she cried excited
bit, and put the pieces together. My
uncle could have known nothing of
it, nor Mrs Norton. She wanted to go
with me to Portland-place. 1t was
quite my proposal to go alone. l ran
out at last, lest she should repent and
keep me back, even after I had gained
her consent. l didn't even let one of
the men employed by the hotel call a
cab. l just took the hanson I fancied
myself Oh, my uncle is innocent of
any wish to harm me! You would
think so too if you should see him,
with his comfortable, rather silly face,
his old-fashioned whiskers and his
laughing blue eyes. l have not had
time to grow really fond of him, but
since | have felt so remorseful for
my unjust suspicious ] believe l have
liked him better than before"
She was gazing at my sulky, uncon-
WINGED visage almost Indignantly, but
| would not give way. Obstinacy had
been one of the Napier characteristics
for generations, and | had not broken
the chain of heredity.
You said that you thanked me-
though know well enough have done
nothing to merit it," | remarked. Still
if you feel that, you will do as l ask.
And do ask you not to let anyone
know that you are Miss Seaford until
uHtil-well, l can set no limit to my
request as yet"
"Oh, if you put it in that way must
obey you she exclaimed, though her
eyes looked reproachful, l thought. "Of
course, you mean it for my good,
though I'm certain you are mistaken.
But there! l won't speak of it again
until you give me leave. Only this one
word more and then I've done see
you are thinking the old man would not
have needed you to do the thing he