Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-09-09
COUNT TIL E M'KINLEYS.

| COUNT I'll
| His eyes were cold and gray, and the
corners of his mouth, clearly seen be-
meath the upturned mustache, were
tight and cruel.
Robert, Lord Erresdale, was never
loved by the people on his land. His
naughty disdain made him feared. He
was a proud man, living melancholy
life in this old Tudor castle. People
bent their heads as he passed, but
cursed him as hard master.
To-day he had married Mrs. Isabel
Rridgeman, and all Cumberland had
marveled at the strap geness of 1t. She
had laughed and gamboled and made
| merry with her Wooers. When Sir
John Furnivall asked the Honor Of her
love she said her love would never out
live the honor, that it must be kept for
some one less nobly born; perhaps,
she added with smile, for some young
/ cupate that her father might engage.
But the cold eye of Robert, Lord Err
resdale, watched her one summer morn
| ing two months ago as she knelt In
prayer within the village church. And
now to-day they had stood together in
that church and plighted their troth.
and pretty Isabel, the daughter of the
parson, became Isabel Countess OF
Erresdale, of Erresdale castle, in the
county of Cumberland.
| One. two. three-eleven times sound
ed the clock in the tower, and still
the man looked out towagd the hills
and long thought OF this new chapter
of his life.
Five and twenty years before he had
stood on that terrace in his fathers
| time and won the heart of Margaret,
youngest daughter Of the Marquis of
Fallairne. But that was long time
ago; and for over twenty years Mar
garet had rested in the chapel with a
| marble angel weeping on her tomb.
He shivered and wrapping still clos
er to his limbs the long and costly
cloak, walked with bowed head towards
the entrance hall.
| His heart beat quick as for a mo-
| ment he stood in shaft of moolight,
and gazed out over the sleeping world.
!, Was Isabel waiting for him? Would
Isabel be glad at his coming?
| So he passed up the sweeping stairs
and entered the room with a flush on
his dark cheek. The light was soft
and dim, and the rare silk hangings
sent from France could only hint their
richness of design and the beauty of
( their texture.
! my lord"
1t was a womans voice, half caress-
| ing, half afraid.
| Lord Erresdale crossed the room,
and bending over the couch, whispered
my countess" He stroked back the
unbound hair that fell in golden curls
| about the fair young shoulders.
And you are the Countess of Erres-
dale" he said, gently. "Does the title
| please your
mot half so much as the dear nam
of wife"
Does my countess love me well?'
Better than l have words to say.
The outer world is nothing to me now,
| for thou art all my world"
She raised her long, pale arm and
stroked the cheek of him she called
her lord, kissed him fondly on the
Hips
IAN old graybeard am l." Lord Err
fondle you, my child, with more than
warmth of a fathers heart The
world SAYS that | am cruel, hard and
proud, and that my head is too high
and my tread too firm, but TO thee shall
| be the tenderest woer that ever knelt
| by the side of his love. | feel that my
heart would break with joy.
The great lamp f1ickered and splut-
tered and then went out, and the only
| light in the chamber streamed in
through the easement window.
Sometimes" he said, when he felt
| the woman creep closer to him,
Clouds sail across my life and all is
| black. Have you heard nought OF
this?"
Whatever I have heard, my lord"
HAS it never been said in the coun-
ty of Cumberland that my ways are
| stranger"
1T has been told me that fancies do
possess your mind, but l have never
needed these stories. | only know,
| my lord, that l do love thee"
Tonight l felt as though one of
! these dark moods were Selling my soul,
and / did hasten for thee TO Danish all
such thoughts away"
And in good truth, my lord, will, ;"
and stretching forth her arms she twin
ed them round his neck and kissed him
| often on the cheek and lips. She was
| proN to claim the love of this great
| lord of Cumberland.
| But knowing hardly how 1t was, a
sudden fear crept in her heart. and as
her eyes looked through the dark into
| the countence of this lord dread
| shook her limbs, ana with cry OF
4 anguish she shrank away and buried
her face in her hands.
4 "And do you see it, too?" Lord Err
resdale asked, in voice that was husky
and low.
I Il see nothing, my lord. but Your
face" the woman said, and it is STAIN
led with sin.
| LORD Erresdale laughed. and jump