North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-11-08
gtlert gtury*
THE ARREST.
UNDER SUSPICION,

"Ceftainly, madam" replied. always
called my brothers. second wife "madam :"
we never quarrelled, but each thought the
other was the most disagleeable person in
the universe and as we each knew what
the other thought, it may be imagined our
in tercourse was not Of a very cordial kind.
l did see to the luggage, and then took
tickets for the party for the York express by
the great Northern Railway. r .-t.
Fortunately we had compar tment to our
selves, that is, Mrs, Webster, my niece Cla-
ra, and Fmyself. a.' ,.-.a. s.rE
"Clara, my dear, you look as i'll as you can
look no one would think that Tomorrow
was your wedding day." .s ra...-.
"Do I look i'll mamma 2" said Clara,
dreamily.
'Yes, my dear, and wretched too. won
der 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 af you" 1~
"Why it was one of the conditions, Mrs.
Webster, he should not wrte," exclaimed.
Clara said nothing, but looked her thanks
at her old uncle. -.
"However, Uncle Joseph, he ought to have
come back and taken his dismissal quietly.
have no patience with this poor man blight
ing girls chance of getting well settled in
life in this way. However thank goodness,
it is all over now the four years are gone
this three months, and tomorrow you will
be the wife of man whose age will com
mand your respect, and whose position will
secure your every comfort"
"And one mamma, whom nothing on earth
but my solemn promise to my poor dear fa-
ther. would make me call husband"
K"Well my dear, it's fortunate for your fu-
ture interests that you made that promise -
I'm sure that Mr.. Tredegar is man after
my own heart. If I hadn't other views fer
my own children's sake, should have set
my cap for him myself"
S"I'm sure, madam, Mr., Tredegar would
feel only too much honored if he knew your
sentiments: the candid avowal Of them is, l
think, highly calcuIa ted TO add to Clara's
happiness under tie exciting circumstances :"
SWELL, you know, Uncle Joseph, am
candid to q fault"
decidedly madam, most decidedly" 1
remarked, which caused Mrs, Webster to
read yellow covered novel for some time in
silence, though shortly afterwards she drop
ped asleep. ia l.-
Clara stole to my side Of the carriage and
leaned her head on my shoulder. ....
"Oh, Uncle, | wish I were dead can it be
SO very wrong to die 2 am so wretched,
/ dread tomorrow oh why will not God
pity me, and take away my life 2" F'
"My dear Clara don't that's good child;
it's wicked to talk in this way; life must be
born. have felt as you feel, and still live
and am not positively unhappy, only vague
shadowy regret of what might have been,
stands like cloud between me and my hap
piness that might be mine. Yours are keen
sufferings but bear them patiently and use
will dull the pain"
"But, uncle, why did he not let me hear
from him as mamma says? 2"
Because ho was q man of honor; the
four years were up only last April, and this
is but July who can tell where he is faith.
fol and true, know"
ooh uncle, God bless you for those words,
l know it too, but what can do? 1. cannot
delay longer my poor fathers dying words
my solemn promise to marry this man, my
stepmother's persecutions-what can l dc?
Three months have fought, and wish to
lay down and die. Oh, uncle is there no es-
cape havo such dread that he will come
back after I am married, and then oh, it
would be worse than his death to see him
Then temptation !-oh, why capnot die ?
Poor child my poor child '' was all |
could utter. .......... .....-
Bound by O VOW made at her fathers death
bed she was going the next day to marry
man who was old enough to be her father,
and who, but for the fact Of persisting in his
claim, spite of her only expressed dislike OF
him, was esteemed very good kind. Of man.
True, Clara was beautiful and accomplish
ed beyond the average of women, and 1t
would seem to be struggle to pass by the
assurances of stepmother, that to give up
such prize, backed as he was, was only
girlish fancy, and that love coming after mar
riage was more to be trusted and more last
ing than If it came before I confess was
but poor counse llor under such circum-
stances, still loved her very truly, she was
almost as my own daughter, for was child
less, and would have given my life to save
her. But it was impossible, and tomorrow
would seal her fate. .-s- .a.s ,..~qsl g
1t was not q pleasant journey. O. Mrs. W.
read and slept at intervals the whole time,
AMI when she slept Clara nestled close to me.
We arrived at YORK aIout Rix O'Clock and.