Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-03

desk, picked me up, looked at me with
disappearing eyes, laid me down, tried
another pen, and then returned TO her
old lover, meaning myself. A stray
Cling sunbeam kissed her shining eyes
until they glinted like an old fashioned
gold stone, and lovingly caressed, with
rudy fingers, the chestnutty ringlets
of hair beneath the violet aureole.
And, as | reposed snugly in the en-
brace of her gloveless fingers, she
moved me rapidly over the paper ana
inscribed, in graceful characters, an ap-
pellation of money order
1t was prosaic elimination Of my ar
dent and romantic desires, but | had
only to wait a few moments, when
something followed. Without hesita-
ton, though each stroke OF my rusted
tip was cutting through two quivering
hearts, she indited the following
Dear Jack know what you will say,
when you read this-you will say am
heard hearted, that l do not care-that
/ ought TO leave all and cling TO You,
If love you-but cannot do what you
wish me to. And Jack, dear, DO love
you, too. But they, my parents, need
me-need my help. have left them up
there, in the country home, while go
battling with the cruel world, SO that L
may be of use to them, who did for me
as long as they were able. You know
the whole pitiful story, Jack.
"A breath just now, from the newly
spring grass on the green brought IL
back to me, and l have half closed my
eyes so the tears should not fall on my
aetter. Father blind, mother his only
attendant, and feeble herself, with only
my arm-Jack, my woman's arm--De-
tween them and want. You would say,
If you were here and was talking now
instead of writing this, that your arm
was stronger than mine and you could
do for them and me. But think, there
would be four of us then, and could you
do for four-and you young man, with
such prospects as you now have! Coulu
YOU weight yourself with your own bur-
dens and mine too? No, 1t can never
be.
Better for both OF us, that we
should put such thoughts far away from
our hearts. This is cruel old world
lack. and diamonds, not hearts, are
trumps. | must not marry while they
live unless-Jack, it is cruel, but l
must sell myself for gold, II l marry at
ALL"
was glad when she finished abruptly
and laid me down where | could watch
the streets pouring their seeming
masses of human beings, God knows
where-I do not.
In a few days, he came in again, and
I wrote for him a few words, pltlfully
brief message:
If am going to the Philippines. You
have made 1t impossible that snouio
live here, and 4 Ire not whether i've
elsewhere or not. A worthless HE Is
best offered up on the altar OF my
countrys service, and mine Will De
only another name to add to the list OF
noo- devils ALREADY killed by pestllence
or the bullet of Tagalo.'
Inere was nothing else, only MS
name. 1t was quite time that should
be replaced with a new pen, MAD out
lived nv usefulness-but | continued
to be overlooked and many day ana
night. have | lain there, quietly on the
desk by the window, and thought Oh
that brave fellow, off there, nghtlns
where no glory could ever be ms,
crawling through tropical underground
and searching out the treacherouss foe
TO be finally wasted and killed by
insidious disease-denied even the hon.
or. doubtful perhaps, of dying even by
the hand of the enemy.
TWAS only the other day, knew
the brilliant bloom had just burst from
the beds in front of my window, and
great crystal drops from the fountain.
were blown by the madcap breezes, OF
the spring, when my soldier came IN
and stood near me. He had returned,
and there was a happy light in his
eve. a flush beneath the rich bronze
tinting of his cheek. Evidently, his
enlistment and service had done him
no harm.
He gave one quick glance across the
rainbow brightness that crossed and
recrossed the velvet greenness OF the
turf outside, one at the cerulean blue
above, and then, grasping me, his old
friend, he wrote hastily.
Dear Mabelle-I have come nome
for good. My time is up, and have
great news for you, for while l was out
there, fighting natives and sickness,
and dreaming of you-my fortune mere,
was being made. Something l mad