Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-03-25

why Ve4x9 Hayes ~ cQuK9os
Don't IN to make believe You didn't
see her.
Jim turned around quickly and
gazed after the retreating figure Of
Velva A look Of chagrin and disap-
pointment for moment clouded his
bright countenance, but he could not
see the tears in Velva's brown eyes
or hear her angry soliloquy.
HE need never speak to me again.
II he thinks he can snub me because
he was with her-I will show him.
l can be as Independent as that in
sipid wax doll"
But velva ate no supper that night,
and her mother noticed her eyelids
were red, as though she had been cry
| ing. About s o'clock the doorbell
rang and Mrs. Hayes disappeared
from the sitting room to see who the
visitor might be.
In a moment she returned.
Jim is at the door, Velva. He says
he hasn't come to stay; but it is very
important that he should see you, if
only for moment"
Velva rose with scornful toss OF
her brown head.
If you please, you may tell Mr.. Har-
court that decline to see him. Good
night, mother. I am going to retire
early, as have miserable headache"
Thus 1t was that Jim gained no adj
mittance to the Hayse domicile that
night, but the next morning by the
first mail came letter for Velva ad-.
dressed in Jim's plain, business hand.
Her first impulse was to return 1T
unopened, but, no. she could not do
that. After all, was not Jim very dear
to her; and then she was curious to
see the contents of the letter. So she
broke the seal and perused the close
ly written page, almost eagerly.
''My dear GIRL it read, ''believe me,
am awfully cut up over my miserable
absentmindedness yesterday. must
have been thinking deeply, for did
passed u.s. You'll forgive me, won't
you, Velva? And, by the way, l sup
pose you have an invitation to Rose
Austins party tomorrow night? Be
sure to come, for it wouldn't be COM
plete without you, and, besides, have
something of interest to tell you. Hop
ing you will forgive and forget what
happened yesterday"
Velva tore the letter in tiny pieces
and threw them in the waste basket.
ut is easy enough to write that and
try to smooth it over, but l have half
mind not to 60 step, much as I'd
like to-" she said. Something of in
terest to tell me- Indeed! Probably
something about her. Jim is young
and impulsive. Perhaps he has pro-
posed to Alice and she has said yes
and l would rather die than have him
| tell me that"
ITO be sure, Jim had known Alice
but year, and Mrs. Harcourt had
| told Mrs. Hayse she did not wish
James to marry too young, but,
pshaw--she would think of it no more.
Whether he proposed to Alice Mardon
or not mattered very little after all.
| But it did matter a great deal and
| that day and the next dragged slowly
| by. Velva had not felt very well for
a week, and although she said nothing
| to her parents, she felt hardly able
| to go to the fete at Rose Austin's.
But she was anxious to see Jim and
hear the Something of interest" he
| had to say.
The Austins were well-to-do and ev-
cry sort of entertainment had been
provided for the young guests, so it
was merry, we'll satisfied group that
| was gathered in the well-lighted re-
| ception rooms.
Alice Mardon was there, looking
more dainty and pretty than ever, in
her soft white evening dress, but she
felt little cross because Jim left her
the moment Velva entered the room.
"He will most likely apologize to
her." she thought, "and then come back
to me, but if l were him l wouldn't
let her see l was so dreadfully anxious.
But Jim was anxious. Velva gave
him chilly little glance, but he held
out his hsnd to her in his honest,
friendly way.
You have forgiven me, Velva?" he
said, his eyes fixed on her, with
please-don' t-say-no expression in them
that she could not repulse. "But say,
what is the matter-you' not look
ing well?" She laughed little pa
thetic laugh that sounded somewhat
unreal.
Don't alwas forgive all the shabby
treatment l have taken from your"
She put her hands to her head and
closed her eyes. What made that
strange ringing noise in her ears, how
dizzy she felt and how her head ached.