The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-08-08
TNDER SUsPECEOY.


"UDcle Joseph, viii you see 10 thelug-
gage ?"
"CertaiuIy, madam" I replied. I al
ways called ny brothers. second wife
madam )" we nsver quarreied, but each
thought the other was tue most disagree
able person in the universe; and as We
each knew what the other thought, it
may be imagined our intercourse was not
Of a very cordial kind.
I did see tile luggage and then took
tickets f1r the party for the York express
by the Great Northern Railway.
Fortunately, We had compartment to
ourselves, thatis, Mrs. Webster, M niece
Clara and myself.
"Clara, my dear, you look as i'll as you
can look ; 10 one would think that to-
morrow was your wedding day"
"Do I took i'll, mamma p said Clara,
dreamily.
"Ies, ny dear, and wrotched too I
wonder you've not more sense at your age
a girl Of twenty FIVE and breaking her
heart for love of = man who for four years
has not taken the slightest notice Of you" "
"Why. It was ooe OF the conditions.
Mrs Webster, that be should not write,
I exclaimed
Clara said nothing, but locked her
thanks at her CID uncle.
"HoRever, Uncle Joseph, he ought to
have come tack and taken bis dismissal
quietly. ! have 10 patience with these
poor men blighting girls chance of get,
ting well settled in life 10 this way how
ever. thank goodness, it's all over now,
the four years are gone this three months
and to morrow you will be the happy wife
Of a man whose age will command your re-
spect, and whose position will secure you
every comfort
"And o1e mamma, whom nothing Oh
earth but ny solemn promise to my poor
dear father would make me call husband.
"WeIl, my dear, it's fortunate for your
future interests that you made that prom
ise. I'm sure that Mr. Tredgar is man
after my own heart. If hadn't other
views fer my children's sake, l should
have set my cap at him myself
"I'm sure, madam, Mr.. Tredgar would
feel only too much honored If be knew
your sentiments; the candid aYowal Of
them IS, I think. highly calculated to add
to Clara's happiness under the existing
circumstances"
"WelI, you know, Uncle Joseph, 1 an
candid TO a fault"
"Decidedly, madam, most decidedly"
I replied, remark which caused Mrs.
Webster to read q yellow covered novel
for some time in silence, though shortly
afterwards she dropped asleep.
Clara stole to NJ side Of the carriage,
and leaned her head upon NY shoulder.
ooh, Uncle, I wish I were dead can
it be so very wrong to die !? am so
wretcbed l dread tomorrow. Oh. why
will not God pity ne, and take awayswy
life? ?"
'cNy dear Clara, don't, there's good
child; it's wicked to talk in this way
life must be born; I have felt as you feel
aud vet live, and am not positively M.
happy; only a vague, shadowy regret for
what might have been stands Ike 4 cloud
between me and aDy,,haPPiness that might
be mine. Yours are keen suffeTings, but
bear them patiently, and use will dull the
pain"
But, uncle, why did he not let me hear
from him, as mamma says r
because be was man Of honor the
four years were up only last April, and
this Is bat July; who can tell where be
is? Wherever he is, he is faithful and
true, know"
ooh uncle, God bless you for those
8oIds; I know ii too, but what can ! Do?