The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-21
Herbert Montague's Mistake.

Herbert Montague's Mistake.
| Clara Lyman stood by the window, looking
earnestly out into the gathering darkness, for
| it was the close of short Winters day, and
! heavy clouds betokening An approaching storm,
made the coming of night seem even earlier
than usual The wind had risen, and its hollow
wall added to the gloom without.
With sigh Clara turned from the window,
and glanced around her-all was pleasant there.
Nothing could be more cheerful than the bright
woodfre that cracked on the hearth, lighting
up with its glow the dark walls of the oak pan
eled room, against which we'll filled book cases
stood. Easy chairs drawn around the large
centre table, seemed inviting one to draw near
and read the magazines that lay scattered
on its polished surface, or recline in their lux
urious depth in musing idleness, as suited ones
humor best. Every fold of the heavy curtains
seemed to bid defiance to the howling wind as
it ratified the double windows, and hailing to eff
feet an entrance, hurried shrieking by.
Yet, bright as was all about her, it failed to
Danish the sad expression from Clara Lyman S
face-an expression SO unusual to her smiling
countenance, that Leo, her pet dog, looked at
her with mingled surprise and sympathy in his
almost human eyes, and drawing near, licked
her white hand which had fallen listlessly by
her side. .r@ -m.. ....
She started, and as her glance fell on the
heavy folds of her mourning garb, tears rushed
to her eyes. "Oh, my fathern' she sobbed,
and bending towards the sagacious animal, till
her long curls almost touched his shaggy coat,
as he pressed nearer to her side in mute sym
pathy, she wept long and bitterly. At last she
! hoo1, in ha-
chair shading her eyes with her hand.
She had been sitting thus for a few minutes,
when the door softly opened, and young man
entered quietly approached, and taking her
hand pressed a kiss on her brow.
Clara said nothing, but her bright smile was
sufficient welcome. The new conner drew a
chair close to hers, and looking at her earnestly,
saw that she had been weeping.
Tears again, my Claran he said, in half
pityng, half reproachful tone.
I do not often give way thus, dear Herbert,
replied the girl. 4 know as well as you the
Importance of selfcontrol, particularly since
poor mother is so completely overwhelmed
All me! how will she bear the new sorrow in
store for her?' she added, sadly.
She paused for a moment.
HERBERT she resumed, Mr.. Wilson has
been here long time to-day, explaining mat
ters of business to me. | hardly know how 1t
is, but this one thing is certain, that if my ia
theirs Just debts are paid, nothing will be left
his family. By giving up all, no stain can rest
on his memory No man can then say that my
father has defrauded him of one penny. Mr..
Wilson tells me, that by some legal process the
payment of certain debts might be avoided, and
thus competence be secured to us; but neither
mother, Charlie OF I, would stoop to purchase
ease OF luxury at the expense ola parents honor
All will be sacrificed, and SO you see, she
concluded, CLARA Lyman, instead of being the
rich heiress, as she and all the world supposed,
is in reality as poor as the poorest.
Now, Herbert, under these circumstances,
I think it no more than right to give you back
your troth, should you wish it, plighted as it
was when all was far different
Her voice faltered, and tears rushed to her
eyes.
The angry flush that had mounted to the
Young mans brow faded as he saw her emotion.
Clara he said, much panied, 4 did not de-
serve such a remark. Did you have so poor
an opinion of me to suppose that in you |
soug hit only the heiress? No Clara, when we
were betrothed, no thought of your wealth
crossed my mind. | loved you for yourself
alone, and | felt that, had our situations been
reversed-had |, instead of being the poor
though hard working merchant, been blessed
with riches and you penniless-that we should
still have loved each other, and you would have
felt no more Indebtedness for the wealth | be-
slowed on you than | should have done had |
received riches with your hand. The accident
of wealth on either side, in my opinion, imposes
obligations on neither
4 felt that such would be your repl y, my no.
BILE HERBERT said Clara, with glance proud
affection 1t was no lack of confidence in you
that led to my remark Still, it is best that all
be understood clearly between us. We must
look the future full and bravely in the face
Yes, Clara, the young man replied, musing
ly, this must hasten our marriage. Our home
will be humble; for though | am in good bus-
ness, | am but beginner, as you know, and
for the present we must be content with the
comforts of life without its luxures.'
Would that had it in my power to offer
you more; but l will struggle bravely to place
you in your true position, and shall succeed.
Il 1 cannot bear the thought of your sull ying
this little had by toll, which, with all my ex-
ertions, | cannot prevent, should you become
the poor mans wife All | can, will do, and
with such an incentive there is no such word as
fail. We will be very happy, Clara, if ours is
humble home. You shall never regret the loss
of fortune iflove can compensate for it,
Clara could not speak, but her fearful eyes
were eloquent with loving gratitude. AT last
she said, softly, my mother!'
'She shall never want home, while have
a roofto shelterme. 1t shall be our care, Clara,
to smooth her pathway in her declining years.
The best we have shall belong to her
Noble, generous HERBERT! exclaimed Clara;
believe me, appreciate your kindness, your
unselfsh love, though cannot accept your Of
fer. No, Herbert, | know that at this time the
additional burden Of supporting my mother and
myself would very much embarass you; that is,
perhaps, would SO hamper you, that it would
require years of hard labor to place you in the
position which now you will soon attain, if left
as you are. I cannot consent, for my own self
ish qualification, to add thus TO your toll. Be-
sides, there is poor Charlie; he is such a prom
ising scholar, it seems hard to take him from
his studies, when in few years he might be
T. ] ] Z I {. NI..tt