The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-05-14

fsiu 10 htrfeils bilerys as sile iliitu ihe
inaniinaie body oi ihe poor gid in her
arms. aud laid il upon the sofa.
Without summoning any of The family,
Mrs. Mears made use Of every effort an
her power 10 restore ihe circle Of life. In
lhis she was al last successful. When
the mind Of Clara had become again ar
iire. and measurably calm. she said 10
her
II was a cruel jest. and the conse-
quences have been most painful. But |
Trust il is not yet too lale TO repair The
wrong thus done. although no eomPensa-
lion can be made for The suffering 10 which
you have been subjected"
ali is TOO late. Mrs. Mears-ioo late y
replied Clara, in mournlul voice.
.Say not so. my dear young friend"
Bui Clara shook her head.
Ii was in vain that Mrs. Mears slrove
earnestly TO lifi up her dropping hear.
The calmness with which she had been
able 10 bear the destruction Of all hopes,
because there had seemed an adequate
cause for The sacrifice she had made. was
all gone now. There had been no adj
equale cause for the sacrifice. Her lover
was as excellent and honorable as she at
first believed him 10 be, and she had cast
him of on the authority OF hearlless
Jest. To all thai her friend could say. she
had but one reply TO make
Ia is too late. now ~
Not too late. lrusl," said Mr.. Mears.
good deal disturbed by his wiie's rela-
lion Of her interview with Clara.
must ascertain where Fisher is. and write
10 him on The subject. Did she say any
thing that led you 10 believe that she re-
cognized the voices Of the persons whom
she heard conversingl Do you think she
suspects me in The matter ~
~ do not think she does."
i" So much the better"
, The effect upon Clara Of the informa-
. iion she had received was very serious.
J Deeply US she had been afflicted, the con.
sciousness Of having done righ. in refusing
; TO marry man who was destitute, as she
had accidentally discovered, Of viriuous
. principles. sustained her. But now il wa:
: revealed 10 her that he was as excellent a,
Z she had frs, believed him, and that sh,
e had been the victim Of joke! There
: was no longer anything 10 hold her up
and accordingly her spirits completely for
: sock her. and in less than two weeks sht
: was seriously i'll.
3 The news of this deeply disturbed Mr.
Mears, who had written TO Fisher. ant
: was waiting impa.ienlly for an answer.
: ~ am afraid we have made the mattel
I worse," he said 10 his wife. who, on re-
! turning from visit TO Clara, reported that,
so far from improving. she was loo evi.
den,ly sinking daily. If Fisher should
. nave entered in another engagement, or il
his pride has take fire al being thrown Of
n what may appear TO him such sligh
. grounds, really iremble for the conse
J quences."
:. Let us hope for the BEST" reIuined
Mrs. Mears, as we have acted for the
! best. Il was plainly our duty TO do as
, we have done. On that subject have no
doubt"
Two more weeks of painful suspense
and anxiety passed. Clara did nnl improve
, in the least. Mrs. Mears called to see her
every few days, but dared moi venture 10
tell her her husband had written TO Fisher.
She was afraid TO fill her mind with this
hope. lest il should fail. and the shock
, prove too severe. But, even as il was,
life seemed 10 be rapidly ebbing away.
Al length there came change. Nature
rallied. and life flowed. though feebIy still,
in healthier currents through the veins Of
Clara Grant. In week from The time
! this change took place, she was able 10
, leave her bed and sill up for a few hours
, each day. But all who looked into her
, young face were grieved at the sight. There
) were no deep lines Of distress there, bul
The marks Of patient. yet hopeless suffer-
. ing.
/ One day she SAT alone. in dreamy
/, muslng state. with book lying upon her
lap. She had been trying ,oread. but found
, ii impossible 10 take any interest in the
) pages over which her eyes passed, while
her mind scarcely spprehended The sense. .
|, Some one opened The door; bu. she did
moi look around. The person, whoever II
n was. remained only for momen, or two,
and then Withdrew. In little while the
i door opened again, and some one entered
/ and came towards her with The tread Of a
man. She started TO her ieet. while her hear,
. gave sudden bound. As she turned, heI
. eyes fell upon the form Of her long absen,
!, love. For an instant, perhaps longer. she
looked into his face TO read il as the index
: Of his heart, and then she lay quivering on
his bosom.
A few weeks later, Clara. the bride o
: Charles Fisher. had left with him for The
, South. Neither Of them ever knew The
! authors Of the wrong they had suffered
! Il was better, perhaps. that in this they
should remain ignorant.
So much !" for the fim Of t."
Il -~-~~~-~-~~~-~~~
!. !. THE BROTHERS CHEERYBLE.
|. William and Charles Grant were son