The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-11-01

1t was palace of place, yet drea-
ry shadow lay ever athwart of its mag
misunderstanding underlined yet none
the less perceptible, of loneliness and ST.
lence. The flowers that blossomed a.
round the marble fountain-the sunshine
creeping along the arabesques of the mo-
sale pavements in tie halI-the old dark
Ipictures leaning from the gilded walls
the pretty carpets, whose deep, crimson
lpile Of Turkish woof deadened the heavi-
est football. all seemed to lie under spell
of solitude. Yet no magician's wand b ad
ever waved above its stately precincts,
and the key to the mystery was the sim
pie fact that the fair young wife whose
glance, five years ago. had lighted up the
hearth, was resting low under the orange
groves Of sunny Italy.
Five years Clifford Avenel had remain
ed faithful to the memory of his dead
wife, and now after protracted sojourn
in the land where her early grave had
been made, he had returned to the long
desolate home OF his boyhood From the
moment he re-entered s<c:ety, marriage
able damsels and interesting young wild
ows were not wanting, whose sympathies
for the sill youthful and wealthy man,
would cheerfully have taken the form OF
matrimony, but to their great disap-
pointment, he still remained minated.
AS he came through the vestibule,
leading to the garden. with sprig OF
myrtle in his hand, his musings were in
terrupted by gay voice and elastic foot
step, and Harry Leigh stood before him.
"Well, Clifford, you seem TO be in a
brown study, again. Twice I've spoken
without being honored with the least at
tention. I'll wager my best horse that
you were thiuking of those two beautiful
Neville girls, that fascinated you SO last
night Come, confess now; isn't it so?''
Clifford smiled. "Well, l believe you
are right, Harry said be. ''They are
certainly very lovely; and the more I see
of them the more interesting they ap-
pear"
"Glad you think so," said Harry, pull
ing on straw colored kid glove, as be
spoke, "For I told them I would bring
you around to their house this evening.
By the way, Clifford, which is it?'
(Which is what, you ineomprehensible
tellow?''
"Why, the one who is to be Mrs. Ay-
ane!."
''That's question easier asked than
answered." said Clifford, laughing, yet
perplcxed by the abrupt query. Sup
pose I'm not entirely clear on the subject
myself. as yeti
"Then you ought TO be-"
sometimes the lovely brunette en-
chains me- What a splendid creature she
is, Harry--such soft, gentle Manners
Of all thing, a sweet tempered, submis-
Lsive woman, is the m 1st charming"
.Thats Miss Isabel" said Harry, de-
murely.
.And her blue eyed sister, whose hair
always makes me think of sunshine, and
whose voice is SO exquisitely sweet
"That's little Alice. Great pity you
can't marry 'en both, isn't it Will you
call with me this evening? You know
you have never met them except in the
glare of ball rooms and evening assem-
bles.''
'.With pleasure. I shall drive into
town at about seven O'Clock, and will cal
for you.''
1t isn't particularly pleasant to be un
deceived even about the color of cra'
vat, or the shape of cigar case, much
| less about SO important a thing as the
choice of wife--and SO Clifford Avene
found it out. The unanswered question
followed him everywhere, through all th'
bright, long hours of the August after
noon, like restless ghost.
:, Circumstances is an Oedipus tha
solves deeper riddles than this "I'l
:, leave it to the care Of fate !' he exclaim
ed at length. John, bring up the hors
. es Immediately; let me see whether
4. can't reach town in advance of yonde
:. threatening mass of thunder clouds"
II But either MIR. Avenel's calculation a
to the time proved incorrect, or his hors
es were slower than their want, for h
, was scarcely in the city limits, when tn
gloomy twilight and the deluging rain dc
scended together, accompanied with re
verating bolts Of thunder and forke
d flashes OF Lightning. MIR. Avenel coul
scarcely see beyond the heads OF the fer
animals he drove, when there was sue
: den check in his career, a shrek, and
:, gathering crowd. An infrm old woman
bewildered by the storm, had endeayore
: to cross the street almost under the hors
es feet; she had been thrown down,
: of course, and considerably, though nc