Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-09
is all gone ?'

is all gomez"
David returned the pressure. but he
did not speak at once Alva looked up
at him; but the light was growing dim,
and she could scarcely see his face.
TT still hurts little, dear" he said
slowly; mot because l have any re-
grets, but | feel resentment because
of the way / was treated. l shall get
over even that in time, but now it
makes me angry to think of it. l love
you dearly-better than l ever thought
/ could love any one, but a blighted
trust must always leave scar, sup
pose"
Poor darling," Alva's free hand
went to David's head and ran linger-
ingly through his curls and across his
forehead. With caressing emotion
her fingers touched first his cheeks
and then his eyes.
Suddenly she felt something wet
against her hand. Her body grew
tense, and her arm dropped to her side
as though she had been stung.
David said that the other woman
was nothing to him now, but-that
tear in his eye! Slowly Alva drew her
hand from his clasp, but he did not
seem to notice. Presently she SILVER
ed. and felt the motion
What is the matter dear?' he said
Are you cold? Shall I close the win
dow? See, the pink is only dull gray
now"
No, I am not cold" said Alva, wear
lily. All the brightness seemed to have
gone out of her life; it had changed
from gorgeous crimson to dull gray
while the sunset faded. Her heart ach-
ed and her head throbbed. She want
ed to be alone-to think it over.
Il have headache, DEAR" she said
aloud Il think, if you will excuse me,
| will go to bed. Perhaps it will be
better by morning."
Il hope so darling" answered her
lover, adding in a whisper: Il am sor-
ry. I'll go now" he continued, land
tomorrow afternoon Tcome and take
you for a drive
Thank you, DEAR" said Alva, but the
face she lifted to his was unresponsive
to his kiss.
why, your hands are cold!" cried
David. How thoughtless was to let
you sit so long beside that open win
dow! These evenings are cool. But |
was watching the sunset and did not
think"
Alva sighed. 1t was not the sunset
that made him forget, she thought
All night Alva lay awake, staring
into darkness. When daylight came
she got up and wrote the following let
ter to her lover:
Dear David: l am sorry-I Gid not
mean to hurt you last night. l did not
suppose it could hurt you to talk Of
her. But it did, dear, and so although
you do not know it, you must care for
her STILL If you did not love her, the
thought of her could not bring tears
to your eyes.
am going to break our engagement,
dear, for love you too well to have
even memory between us. All, you
don't know how it hurts me when | saw
that you did not want to talk of her.
Had l shown tact, l would have chang
ed the subject, but l could not do it..
And l should always be wanting to
talk of her to see if it still hurt you.
1t will be easier to endure the agony
of separation than to go through life
with this awful ache in my heart, and
yet | must go on thinking OF you, al
ways. Good-by, dear, and God bless
you. ALVA.
After this letter was sent Alva took
up her life as if it were something
that must be got through with some
! how. A week passed without bringing
any sign from David. but on the eighth
day letter came. Alya clutched it to
her heart with fierce eagerness. She
had not known how hard it would be
to let him go out of her life. Trem-
blingly she broke the seal and read
the letter.
My Dear Child shall not try to tell
you how your letter hurt me. but it
was hurt far worse that the hurt of
the other night, the one that caused
you to write it.
l am not going to plead with you
dear. l am a proud man, and l cannot
do that, but am going to ask you to
alter your decision.
I hardly know how to write what l