The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-04-05

| hNNAH - - h'NAiA ONhNl WOW . lOl
my children's sake l should have
set my cap at him myself"
I'm sure, madam, Mr.. Tredgal
would feel only, too much honored
if he knew your sentiments; the
candid avowal of them is, L think
highly calculated to addto Clara;
happiness under existing circum
stances.n ---..|t.- a... .Ii .
"Well, you know, Uncle Joseph
| am candid, to a fault" -
''Decidedly, madam, most deci-
dedly," | replied, a remark which
caused Mrs. Webster to read a vel.
low-covered novel for some time in
silence, though shortly afterward
she dropped asleep. 4
Clara stole to my side of the car.
riage, and leaned her head on my
shoulder. I. :
ooh, uncle, | wish | were dead
Can it be so very wrong to die9 !
am so wretched-I dread tomorrow;
oh why will not God pity me, and
take away my lifew
"My dear Clara, don't, there's a
good child; it's wicked to talk in
in this way; life must be borne;
have felt as you feel, and yet | live,
and am not positively unhappy
only vague, shadowy regret for
what might have been stands like
a cloud between me and any hap
! piness that might be mine. Yours
are keen sullerings but bear them
patiently, and use will dull the
pain" a.. ...
"But, uncle, why did he not let
me hear from him, as mamma saysT
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, I know
ooh! uncle, God blessiyou for
those wordsl | know it too, but
what can lido? | can not delay
longe.; my poor fathers dying
words, my solemn promise to mar
ry this man, my stepmother's per-
secutions-what can | do z, Three
months have fought, and now
wish l could lie down and die. Oh
uncle, is there no escape? l have
such dread that he will come
back after am married, and then
oh! E! it would be worse than his
death to see im!-the temptation!
--oh ! why can not | die 2"
"Poor child my poor child" was
all | could utter.
Bound by VOW made at her IA
TIERS deathbed she was going 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, sPlte$oi her openly ex-
pressed dislike of him, was esteem
ed very good kind Of man.
True, Clara was beautiful and
accomplished beyond the average
women Of her class, and it would
be a struggle to any man to give
up such prize, backed as he was
by the assurance Of the stepmother
that it was only a girlish fancy,
and that love coming after mar
riage was more to be trusted and
more lasting than fit came before;
confess | was but poor counsel
lor under such circumstances, still
| loved her very truly; she was al
most my own daughter, for 1 was a
childless widower, and l would
have given my life to save her.
But it was impossible, and to-mor-
row 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 nestled close
to- me. ...
We arrived at York about six
o'clock, and, just as the train was
slackening speed into the station,
guard jumped on to the foot
board, locked or unlocked the door,
and remained there until the train
stopped.
Have you all your parcels, mad
amp
All, thank you, Uncle Joseph,
excep, my umbrella-oh! that's
under the seat" said Mrs. Webster.
Now, guard, unlock the door
Are you with that young lady,
sir pointing to my niece.
yes, certainly; unlock the door
Better not make a fuss, SIR
Fuss! what do you meanp
The man who seemed to be look
ing out for somebody, now asked,
'All, right, sir 2 o..
'All right said the station mas
for coming t0 the door and oman