The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-01-09

ting toll which shs helped the drosry hours o
sunlight onward.
While time wore on thus with Clara, Riwar,
Lane was in New York. lie had received he
cruel letter, it was TIE last blow required l.
make him perfectly desperate.
II was a. we'll that those who loved him an,
WHO in tpits Of all, bad his interests al heart
could not SOC him then.
He was doing his character more injury b,
his reckless, mad folly than years could eve
eradicate; yet he VAS 10 be pitied oven NOR
than blamed, for II was very hard at that ag.
aud with his impetuous feeling TO DO hwarteC
in his dearest hopes, made 10 fo,l thai no on,
reall, cared for him and left TO his own burtfu
'aDci's and wsyward temper til he plunged
into every specios Of dissipation that offered, DO.
| wing that he could thus forge, the thoughts
which disturbed him.
At last a longing seized him 10 return
home; he felt bitter and uufo-Riving
toward his father he was still furious
with b. sitters, but Clara no must and would
SEQ oLcs moro.
The unhappy young man could not believe
In the truth or the reality Of her letter; he
must see her, must hear her own lips pronounce
the words which would shut out all hope and
leave him wrecked in the very outset Of oxis
Iencc She should pronounce his doom with hor
own lips.
With his usual impoiuosty, no yielded
al orce TO this desire. The very next morning
found him on his way home, rosdy 10 meet his
fathers ieprCoi with dogged Indifference, his
,istors' tears and ieproacbes with harsh words
and to dofy them al If Clara could 10 induced
TO rtlent.
One evening after tea, Clara had gone out TO
walk tie bad grown 40 restless that Il was
impossible for hor &C. remain in tho house, moth
ing but rapid, nsy fierce exercise in the open
air couli rsmovo that strange opprossi N at her
heart and tho wild thoughts which crowded up
like worrying animals.
II wAs broken country, highly cultivated
but beautifully picturesque, ever which the
poor girl Wal dored. She had followed ono Of
heso pretty streams far OFT OF tho village,
shich Ord their source in somo orystSl spring
n the hills At d. gathering up every silver thread
4, me f,suro in tho rocks ard pour themselves
,oftly through pasture lands and meadows till
hey brighton some noble river and arc swept
off TO the ocean. In mock Of tho broken hill
side, shaded with Gins and great weeping will
lows tho mountain stream had worn a deep
basin where it slcp, in mirror like calmness,
while tho foliage above sent green shadows
trembling over II and tho sunshine ficksrod
through, touching 1t here and thoro with gold
Clara was somewhat subdued by her long
walk and resting against the trunk Of willow
stood looking drcarily down upon the wator
longing, as many sad heart has done before,
wrap herself in those cool waves and DO at
rest.
While she stood there wrapped in these
,hous h,s, quick step sounded upon the grass
nd Voice spoke her nAme--she turned, and
found herself face to face with Edward Lane.
For an instant Mother spoke; but remained
gazing at each other, overpowered by the
whirl of memories and emotions which passed
over them, both were gone and she had a look
Of Wild terror in her eyes.
lilo stepped forward and took her hand,
which lay cold In his clasp.
81 have been at your home; your mother
odd me you were out to walk. saw you in
he distance and followed"
She did not answer and his rcprossed fool
ngs broke out.
"ob, Clara how have suffered God for
i've you, girl-how could you wri o mo tina!
et,cri"
SO was troubled, rush of tender emotions
well,d her leart, but instantly Tho recalled
hat converiat alton with his father and tho cold.
css of unyielding pride settled upon her fea-
turcs.
because it was my duty, she replied, in a
vice 40 bard and cold that 1t made him start.
your duty =" no repeated angrily.' The
common word for all sorts Of cruelty and hard
'i,art,dness."
Clara shut her lips close together Edwards
dice WIS like his fathers, aud the recollection
,r ali the insulting words that stern man had
-poken shot across her heart like flame.
"why do you stand there like a statue"
10 exclaimed passionately. Have you no
ceiling, Clarai"
~ hope not" she answered, with vohemence
cqusl to his own, and startling, from its con-
Jrast to her former GOODNESS "the less feeling
/, woman has the better
And the more power she has Of tormenting
others, returned Lane.
Did you come here only to insult and out
rage mel" tho asked. "How dare you OF your
father use such language to me1"
"Oh Clara, DO generous. l came because |
vas almost crazy with suffering he replied
" because could not endure any longer.
must know what you meant by that letter.
what am TO depend upon now but for mer-
cy's FAKE change that face"
"All that have to say was expressed in that
letter."
"And you really felt and intended what you
sad !"
Claras forehead contracted with a spasm of
pain, something in her throat seemed choking
her, but she al swored courageously still
al did"
lie looked at her with a sorrowful astonish.
mcnt which wounded her worse than reproach-
| es wonld have done.
~ could not believe it, = he said "even that
harsh letter failed to convince me. But you re-
peat it again. Clara, you cannot mean this,
,ou will not give me up; speak to me, say that
you we've not in earnest
~ was In ca nest, she answered slowly; 81
m in earnest row. | meant every word.