The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1865-11-11
Under Suspicion.
CHAPTER UNDER ARREST.

luggage Z!
Certainly, madam" I replied I
always called my brothers second wife.
madam we never 1uarreled, but each
thought that the other was the most dis
agreeable person in the universe and
as we each knew what the other thought.
it may be imagined our intercourse was
not very cordial kind.
| did see to :he luggage aud then
took tickets for the party for the York
Express by the Great Northern Rail.
way.
Fortunately We had compartment to
ourselves, that is, Mrs. Web.ter, my
niece Clara, and myself.
"Clara. my dear, you look as i'll as
you can look no one would think, that
tomorrow was your wedding day.
ado I look i'll, mama ?" said Clara
dream ly
Yes. my doar, and wretchei too. I
wonder ynn have not more sense at your
aye. II girl twenty fva, and breaking
her heart for l,ve OF man wln. for
four years ha' not taken the slightest
notice Of yuu."
"Why. it was one Of the conditions
Mrs Webster, that lie should not
WRITE" | exclaimed.
Clara said nothing, but looked her
thanks at her old uncle.
"llowever Uncle Joseph, he ought
to have come back aud taken his dis.
missal quietly. I have no patience with
these poor men blightiug girls chance
OF getting well settled in life in this
way however, thauk goodness, it's all
over now the four years are gone this
three months and to morrow You will be
the happy wife of man wh"se age will
command your respect, and whose posi-
tion will secure you every comfort"
"And one, mama whom ncthing on
earth but the solemn promise to my poor
Iathcr would make me call husband. ]"
"WeIl, dear, it is fortunate for your
future interests that you made that
promise. | IN sure Mr. lred gar is IA man
after my own heart. If | hadn't other
views for my chiidrens sake. should
have set my cap at him myself"
"Tm sure, madam, Mr. Tr.dgar would
feel too much honored if he knew your
sentiments the candid avowell of them
is, | think, highly calculated to add to
Clara's happiness under existing circum-
| stances"
"Well, you know, Uncle Joseph, am
candid to fault"
"Decidedly, madam, most decidedly" !"
replied, remark which caused Mrs.
Webster to read yellow covered novel
for some time in silence, though shortly
afterwards she dropped asleep.
Clara stole to my side of the carriage
and leaned her head on my shoulder.
ooh, uncle, wish ] were dead eau
it be so very wrong to die ? | am SO
wretched /; l dread to, morrow oh, why
will not God pity me, and take away my
life ?"
"My dear Clara, don't there's good
child it's wicked to talk in this way
life must be borne; | have felt as you
feel, and yet l live, and am not positive.
Is unhappy, only vague, shaddowy re-
greet tor what might have been stands
between me and my happiness that
might be mine. Yours are keen suffer
ings, but bear them patiently, and use
will dull the pain"
"But, Uncle, why did he not let me
hear from him, as mama says 2!
"Because he was man OF honor the
four years were up last April, and this
is but July; who can tell where he is
! Wherever he il, he is faithful and tue,
| know.
"Oh, uncle, God bless you for those
words. | know it too, but what Can |
do? | cannot delay longer; my poo,
fathers dying words, my solemn prom
ise to this man, my stepmother'S perse
cutions-what can do? Three months
have I fought, aud now | wish | could
lie down and di,. o, Uncle is there nc
escape? have such dlead that he
will come hack after am married, and,
theu,-Oh il would be worse than his
death to see him The temptation -
oh I. why cannot | die ?
Poor chlld my poor child" was al
I could utter.
Bound by a vow made at her father
death bed. she was going the next day
to marry Il man who was old enough It
be her father, and who, but for the fact
OF his persisting in his claim, spite o.
her openly expressed dislike ofhim, was
esteemed very good kind ofa man.
True. Clara was beautiful and accom-
plished beyond the average OF women o.
her class. and w"uld he struggle to any
man to give up such prize, 3acked az
he was hV the assurance Of the step
raother. that it was only girlish fancy
and that love coming after the marriage
was more to he trusted and more lasting
than il it came before, | confess | Wa
but poor councillor under such c'r
cumatances. still | loved her very truly
she was almost as nv own daughter, fol
was childless widower. and | wuul(
L.