The Van Buren press., 1869-09-21

were i'll. an, come to see you--to--to
say wronged you once, in my cruel
foolishness /; but ask you to forgive
Broken, disjointed, and almost incom-
prehcnsi5lc as was her Speech, he under
stood 1t.
It was no ghost, then, it was really
Clare Holroyd--his first, his only love.
And the face he had wearied and pincd
to see was there now, at his side, the
moonlight playing upon 1t, and upon the
soft, golden hair-Clare Holroyd, more
beautiful than ever, because Of the pride,
the hautcur that was gone, the gentle,
tender humility which had come. Captain
Challoner saw the danger, and remem-
bered she was another mans wife lie
recovered himself in q moment lie took
the outstrctched hand, felt the slender
fingers clasp his own, then carelessly, he
let it 20. And Clare stood there looking
up at him with yoarning, sorrowful pity
in her face she could see how i'll he had
been, how weak he was, and when her
eyes fell on the poor, helpless, wounded
arm, great tears swelled into them. How
different to the Charlie Challoner OF old |!
Bright, brave, true. hearted, noble Charlie
Challoncr. who had gone away and left
her because she had flirtsd with Sir Phil
ip Fairfax, instead OF being contented
with his honest love.
"Oh, Charlie, forgive me" she cried
in q low, sweet, plaintive voice, forget
ting all else but the memory Of that old,
true love. "Charlie, you should not have
gonc away without word that time. !
know deserved it, but was true to you
indeed ! was never cared for
Hush said he.
Cold, stern and proud, the soldier
threw her hand from his arm. 1t was
the flrst word he had spoken, and there
was no sound Of love or forgiveness in
the tome; it nearly broke Clare Holroyd's
heart.
Hush p he repeated. lie is your
husband now, Lady Fairfax. Do not
prove yout truth to me by being false to
him. II is too late now"
WHO told you was married p she
cried with a breathless gasp.
A bitter smile curlcd his lip as he re.
plied
"You forget that English newspapers
travel to Ida, and though they lnay no,
always be the bearers of pleasant tidings
at least they are truthful. II was through
them l learnt that Clare Holroyd was
married at Brighton, in January hast. "a
Sir Philip Fairfax the owner OF Duncdeu
Hall, Statfordshirc, tho" ,
"Tho greatest feol in London" he
would have added, in his bitter scorn
but he checked himself, sinking wearily
back upon his couch.
There csmo light over Glare Hol
royds face--the old, glad light which
, left it when Charlie Challoner went away
| so suddenly to India. 1t camo back nov
slowly, but surely. Standing there be
| fore him, with her hands claspcd clos,
r together, trembling with a strange, new
agitation, she questioned him:
! cliff ] had not married, could you
have forgiven me, Charlie! Could you
have loved mop
lie looked up at her. Was she trying
to tempt him? Why was her voice &C
, sweet. her tone 80 gentle?
"Speak tell me" she cried but FOL
that could you have forgiven me y
II could" he replied.
The light on the girls face was creep
ing down to her heart as she seated her.
sell on the sofa beside him. The twilight
had died away in the clear moonlight
There was no need of gas to reveal those
two faces TO each other. Clars's was MOI
pale now; it was burning with lovely
, color. m
"You had better leave me now; IN
not quite strong YETI he said, with Al
effort.
lie was right the old wound was open
cd atresh, and the pain seemed greatel
than the man could bear.
II know it,' she answered. "In on,
moment will leave you II you wish 1t
want Ito ask you another question
Captain Challoner, do you remember my
aunt and cousins in Harley street?
think l introduced yeu TO them once
lie bowed his head. You rcnsmbe
the girls ?" she continued, "there wei,
. four of them, Grace, Mary, Julia ant
Clare" f
/ "rncvcr heard their names." he re
piled +" only saw them once--the day
, We met them in tho park think 20,
r introduced Sir Philip Fairfax to them a
. the same time" He spoke somewha
sharply, and with weary impaticnce.
Claro's voice trembled, as sho said, T"
did and four months after he marrict
t the youngest girl, my cousin Clare.
, am Clare Holroyd still" gE ae
) Then she rose up from the sofa, Al,
. he sat there alone. The moon passes
K behind cloud, and there came intens
f darkness and silence over the old librar
: at Woodlands, hut it was snly for fe,
r minutes; then the clonds were gone sn'
b there came flooding into that stiffness
wonderful light which found its way int
' tho soul Of tile wounded soldier.
y "You win forgive me now = sai'
e Clare "you will tell me So before 60
1t would make me feel much happier, t
: know am forgiven. And may HEAVIER
grant you health and strength, that 20,
1 may soon recover from this terrible i'll
t ness, and be yourself again.
. lie tried to raise himself, but no Ia,
G already tried his strength to the utter
most; and now, when his great joy wa
I streaming into his soul, when the oil,
wound was healing he felt how misera
bly, weak and helpless he was to battl
{ even against taat unspcakablc JOY. III