The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-09-05
onAprER n.-.rl.HaE oFFroER.

tThis way, sir. The young person is in my
house; she gave her word not to attempt to
leave; the old gentleman is with her"
This we heard through the door as the
station-master came along the passage Our
friend Mr.. Blake had arrived some time be-
fore. 'ses saoi ssz- esista iil 80 ~ 49, z
The station-master entered, and behind him
tall, broad-shouldered man, with bushy
beard and mustaches concealing all the lower
part of his face. +
"Win you have light, sirr said the station
master to the officer. ~ afe3 sEEa0
n "Thank you, no. fss g
Clara started at the sound of the voice and
laid her hand on mine.
q "Now, my goodman" began Mr.. Blake, ,"per-
paps you'll explain this matter; you telegraph
ed down from London to stop this lady, and
here she is. Now, if you please, explain
"This gentleman" / said to the officer, 9is
my niece's legal adviser. presume it is all
mistake, still we shall be glad ofyour explana-
ton. You are detective, / presume J" si.
No, sir, / am not; my name is-'oi sal5sN &
"Herbertl HERBERT my dear Herbert, it is
you"
Clara had gone to him and he was clasping
her in his strong arms, while her face was hid
den in his great beard. ~-...ts eq.,ts.s..
my ownl my ownl my own true darling
she loves me still" i ge.a,5...,,... -
But why describe this meeting? Mr.. Blake
said to me at once.
MY dear sir, am not wanted here and
doubt If you are," and we left them.
In half an hour we thought it possible we
might be less in the way, and we went in.
They sat on the sofa at most suspiciously
great distance from each other, and looked as
happy and foolish as possible. s7sae
Sand now, my dear Herbert, please to ex-
plain what has taken you at least half an
hour to make clear to my niece" SO
'Well, my dear uncle, II may call you un-
cle?" ge.a =. -.
aOh yes a month sooner is not much con-
SDon't uncle" aaid Clara. ifaA
"You know how went away with inst
enough to pay for my tools, and outfit and pas-
SAGE / went to California, to the diggings.
and was lucky, got good claim, worked 1t.
made a little money, took shares in machiue,
worked the claim, improved the machinery.
became manager, director, and got rich. start
ed six months ago to come home fer Clara.
took the fever at Panama, was down for two
months there not able to move hand or foot
and arrived last night in Liverpool. There
met an old friend and heard all the news
poor Websters death, the promise, and the
rest, and above all, that to morrow was the
day. / started by the first train to get to Lon
don, thinking the marriage would take place
there, and that should be in time. Looking
out OF the window of the carriage as the trains
We're passing each other at Peterborough
saw CARA with her mother; did not see you
was mad the trains had started, could not
| get out. There was Clara going from me, and
going rom her, as fast as express trains
could take US. What could l do? | knew
nothing of where she was going, and vet INV
information was positive that she was going to
be married tomorrow, solely because She
would keep her promise.
"Can you wonder atmy doing as did The
train did not stop till it reached London. and
found that by the time had hunted up the
address to which you had gone from the ser
wants at home, should have lost the last train
and not been able to get here till past mid
night. What to do l could not think. : =.
I'm the carriage in which sat, somebod!
had been talking about the murderer TaweLl
and the telegraph, the police on the doorstep
and so on. It all flashed across my mind in al
| instant. ~ + o. asai
Il went to the telegraph Office, and looking
in, there was only young lad there,