Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-21
VOLUME XVI.

Clara said nothing, but looked her thanks
at her old uncle
However, Uncle Joseph he ought tC
have come back and taken his dismissa
quietly. | have no patience with these poor
men blighting a girls chance of getting
well settled in life in this way however
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 respect
and whose position will secure you every
comfort"
"And one e,mamma, whom nothing ON earth
but my solemn promise to my poor father
would make me call husband"
"WelI, my dear, it's fortunate for youe
future interests that you made that promsr
Pm sure that Mr.. Tredgar is man after
my own heart. If | hadn't other views for
my children's sake, should have set my
cap at him myself"
" Pm sure, madam, Mr.. Tredger would
feel only to much honored if he knew your
sentiments the candid avowal of them is,
| think, highly calculated to add to Clara's
happiness under existing circumstances"
"Well, you know, Uncle Joseph, 1 am
candid to a fault"
replied, remark which caused Mrs Web
some time in silence, though shortly after
wards she dropped asleep.
Clara stole to my side of the carriage
and leaned her head on my shoulde,
20 uncle, | wish / were dead can it be
so very wrong to die? am so wretched ;
| dread tomorrow oh why will not God
pity me, and take away my life 2"
| My dear Clara, don't, there's a good
child it's wicked to talk in this way life
must be born | have felt as you feel, and
yet live, and am not positively unhappy
only vague, shadowy regret for what
might have been stands like cloud be-
! tween me and any happiness that Nigh be
mine. Yours are keen suflerings, but bear
them patiently, and use will dull the pain
But, uncle, why did he not let me hear
| from him, as mamma says"
Because he was a man of honor the
four years were up only last April, and this
is but July; who can tell where he is !?
Wherever he is, he is faithful and true,
| know"
"Oh uncle, God bless you for these
words | know it too but what can do :?
| cannot delay longer my poor fathers
dying words, my solemn promise to marry
this man, my stepmother's prosecutions
what can | do? Three months have |
fought, and now | wish | could lie down
and die 0 uncle, is there no escape
have such dread that he will come back
after | am married, and then-oh ! it would
be worse than his death to see him The
| temptation-Oh why cannot | die 2"
| "Poor child my poor child !" was all
could utter
! Bound by VOW made at her fathers
deathbed she was going the next day to
marry a man who was old enough to be
her father, and who but for the fact of his
persisting in his claim, spite of her openly
expressed dislike of him, was esteemed
very good kind of man.
True, Clara was beautiful and accom-
plished beyond the average of woman of
| her class, and it would be a struggle to man
to give up such prize, backed as he was
by the assurances of the stepmother that it
was only girlish fancy, and that love com
ing after marriage was more to be trusted
and more lasting than if it came before,
confess | was buta poor counsel, for under
such circumstances. still | loved her very
| truly she was almost as my own daugh-
L L
would have given my life to save her But
it was impossible, and tomorrow would
seal her fate.
1t was not a pleasant journey, that. Mrs.
! Webster read and slept at intervals the
whole time, and when she slept Clara nes-
| tied close to me.
We arrived at York about six o'clock,
and just as the train was Stacking speed
into the station, guard jumped on to the
/ footboard, locked, or unlocked the door, and
remained there until the train stopped.
! Have you all the parcels, madam 7"
"All, thank you, Uncle Joseph, except
my umbrella oh tha:'s under the seat"
said Mrs. Webster
"Now, guard, unlock this door"
Are you with that young lady, Sir Z"
| pointing to my niece
Yes, certainly unlock the door,"
Better not make fuss, sir"
Fuss what do you meanW
Step into my office dare say it's all
right Better not say too much here you
| know"
We followed him through the little crowd
of passengers and porters, accompanied by
policeman in uniform AS we passed we
heard fragmentary observations of most
pleasing kind
(Which is it 2" said some one.
ITS the girl, think"
"No, it's the old woman she looks as
though she'd do any one mischief if it
suited her"
cold man looks too soft for anything"
and so on.
We went into the Office, and indignant
ly turned to the station master,
What is the meaning of this, sir?"
"Oh ! it's very simple, sir; telegram
has arrived from the police in London with
orders to stop this young lady ; here it is. "
| took it, and read
The young lady looking very i'll, dress
ed in black silk mantle, white straw bon
net with white flowers, is to be detained at
the station till the arrival of the officer by
the afternoon mail She is seated in the
middle of the third carriage from the end
of the train Her present name is Clara
Webster. To avoid the possibility of a
mistake, she has diamond ring on the third
finger of her left hand with the words
From HERBERT engraved on the inside"
1t certainly was correct description,
and, the name-there might be two Clara
| Webster thOuph