Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-04

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nance win last but > week"
Goodrich looed SIT her quickly; but
her eyes were. fixed on the mist that
hid the ridge. This was his chance to
say something good and apt and
~clinching; but his vast inexperience
gave no precedent, and he, knowing no
better, maintained his silence.
is YOU trunk ready?" she asked.
after a long season of quiet. The
wagon is outside"
Yes he answered absently. John
knows what TO do with it,"
She waited a moment, then said:
I'm really sorry you're going"
Strange he said, brushing a way
ward strand of hair from her temple.
Il was thinking the same thing"
81 shall miss YOU
Here again Goodrich. with frightfll
lack of generalship, wasted his forces
in thinking when speech was most
needed.
Miss Nelson bit her lip. What time
is it," she asked. with the tiniest bit
of WEAKNESS in her voice.
Goodrich produced his watch. -Four
| thirty he answered; then added. with
superb stupidity: Half an hour more"
She moved a little ffrther from him.
John can take you to the station now
if you wish. You might find it pleas
ant to cit ON the platform and smoke
away that haH hour"
Thank you-for your thoughtfulness,'
answered Goodrich, somewhat stifly.
"Eut I think / shall stay here
| Thraa rniutaar ra SxaS Nafrra oSther Snnka
again. Then Goodrich said. with an e.
fort at c~heerfulness,, course, 1 may
write ycu?"
why do you say of c~ourseg"
Considering what we have been ia
each other"
"oh. we have been to each otherY' .
Il can speak for myself"
'Ah-she gave a little laugh-"rm so
glad to find IL out
He looked a little puzzled. 'sYou mean
that you are-er-really glad He step
ped.
'Oh, don't misunderstood me" she has
tened TO say. Il only mean that I'm glad
you can speak for yourself. / hadn't no
ticed it before
''Oh." he said slowly and ruminatively
"Yes-oh." she answered with perfect
mimicry. And. though he could not ses
her face. her shoulders betrayed her
laugh.
Goodrich. for quite sixty seconds. gased
helplesxly out OF the window. He hardly
knew Just what he should say, but after
the desperate minute he evolved an idea,
and scattering conservatism to the -four
winds, he proceeded 10 make ID known.
This may seem l~aughable to YOU" he
said, drumming on the window frame
but, seriously. do you know what II
means TO mar
Shrewdly, she did not try TO answer.
1T means he continued. gaining
strength. avalanche-wise. as he went on
'it means that the world will seem very
empty to me after / lave left here
Yes she said, looking up at him with
great open-eyed f~rankness. ~ know II
will. You'll miss the birds and the wood:
and the mountains, won't you? am sor
ry, my dear boy; but you will 60"
He flushed a little. "What do l care for
the birds, and all those things?" he ok.
claimed. "In mis- you. That's what
mean
"Oh, no you won't"
but 1 will, terribly"
"But why? You didn't seem to care q
few minutes ago.
II didn't You made a very bad guess
But really. Gertrude-Miss Nelson. had
thought of this going away, with all thai
ii means TO me, / should have kept away
from Arno-and from you. You know how
/ love-"
"Ah. then why don't you remember
IT'S better to have loved IND lost"
Have I lost?'' he Interrupted, graspiRa
her hand quickly.
81 was quoting was the answer.
'"Then YOU mean
Nothing. IL you insist on going
I'm only going" he said. because Ly.
man is coming next week"
rs he?"
"You said So"
And 1 told him so. too. But II yot
say
I'll say anything" he said. hastily
stepping closer to her side. MAY 1 com,
the week after he eoes7"
Stupid boy" she laughed. mo. yot
shall
"Kerridge is waitin,' Mars Goodrich. .
Miss Nelson turned TO the dark figure
In the doorway. Send 1t back to tn,
stables, John. Mr.. Goodrich will stay.
Then to the man at her eide. Father will
wire our friend Lyman not to oome." Sh.
pointed to their names on the windo~
pane. Shall / rub them OFF, she asked
No. ne answered. leading her away
"They look very well together"
To her this was the boldest speech he