Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-01-28

chatting easily about the oatfeld that
had failed and the threatened tumble
in the price of wool Mildred confront
ed them tartly:
Upon my word, you two come saun-
tering UP that walk as if you had just
stepped out of the house five minutes
ago. Ledyard, you know how nervous
get after nightfaH IL you're not with
me-"
| my love, we are not in the wilds OF
Africa, and-such a moon!"
But you are limping?"
ct takes folks a good long time
sometimes to learn how to walk about
this rocky country. I had no end of
sprained ankles the first year I was
here" Harriet came glibly to his res
cue-then slipped past them to go into
her own room.
She had tided him over that breaker
nicely, for which he owed her languid
| thanks. He was too thoroughly ex-
hausted to go into any explanations
about anything. Tomorrow he should
tell Mildred the whole story and to-
gether they would decide upon an
early return to New York city.
But the next day his sprained ankle
and terribly strained muscles panied
him viciously. He was unable to leave
his bed, and during the course of the
| day the story of Rogers attack upon
| him came to his sisters ears rudely
through Jimmie McNab. The excite
ment made her ill, and Harriet found
herself very suddenly called upon to
look after two temporarily helpless
| guests.
She believed she was glad that mat
! tiers had taken just that turn. Every
thing had been jostled out of the
smooth groove of the past few months.
and she was dizzy with the effort of
readjustment.
With Fielding confined to his room
and Mildred relying upon her for ev-
erything, she experienced a saving
! sense of her own Importance. There
was matter for self-congratulation in
not having to sit opposite her man
ager three times a day at table just
then All things considered, she was
quite willing he should be "cooped up"
| for awhile
And so things went forward for
week or two, when Milly, acting under
orders from Ledyard, began to make
vague illusions to when we go back
home"
The first time she did it poor little
| Mrs. Monette turned so pale that she
felt uncomfortably guilty.
"Of course" said Harriet, sadly. 81
don't suppose we could go on this way
forever. 1t would be too much happi-
ness for me. It's been awfully nice"
ut is about you that am troubled"
said Mildred, honestly.
Troubled about me? That's funny.
| How"
What will you do after we-after
I go away?"
Just like I did before you came"
"No. Things can never be just as
they once were. After people once
come into each others lives, they are
here to stay, whether for good OF evil"
81 guess maybe you are right about
| that
| The two women were sitting sewing
| in the pleasant living room. Ledyard
was on horseback and away over the
estate somewhere. for the first time
since his encounter with Rogers. Har-
riet folded her hands over her work
in wistful idleness.
Il never thought of it that way"
"You don't think you and I, for in
stance" said Milly, looking at her with
affection, could ever actually forget
each other?'
"Oh, no, no. At least couldn't And
wouldn't if l could. You've been so
much to me-so very much-more than
you'll ever know"
and you've been so much to me
that could not be happy if I went back
home and left you as found you"
They were both, consciously and pur-
| posely, leaving Ledyard entirely out of
| the question.
Harriet spread her hands outward
with gesture of despair But what
| am to do? What can 1 do? This is