The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-12-02

sacred trust"
Then, my boy, III tell you frankly
Clara Edgerton has refused my hand.'
Refused you!"
"Aye-and that isn't the worst Of it.
When asked her why she had allowed
me to bask in the sunlight of her smiles,
she fell to weeping, aud begged me to
forgive her She said she had sought
it at the hands OF father Egad !.
think of it What cut, eh !"
" But she was honest
80 she was, my boy. She had
cluug to me--taking shelter under my
gray hairS-sO that she NIGH; escape
the persecution of attention from the
hundred aud one fulsome hatterers that
lowered around her This afternoon |
could have cursed her; but now | can
only curse my own stupidity, while |
have come really To honor aud respect
the pure heated girl who was willing to
place so much confidence in Giles Hap.
good"
The approach of another party inter.
rupted the conversation, and Wallace
shortly after returned to the house,
where Ellen l.amprey met him upon the
plazza, lie would have avoided her,
but she took his arm, aud claimed him
as her prisoner and by aud by she led
him to the gaI den Little dreamed she,
as she prepared for the attack, what he
b,l Ia.rl ,,,,t III, tha k.,u
When they had entered upon the
hOwer.hanked avenue, Ellen spoke of
Clara Edgcrton. She spoke at first
sympathizinglya and lovingly-then pity
ingly-and then she gradually verged
upon the condemnatory
The arbor was now not far distant,
and she must make the iual stroke
This she did by speaking of Clara's
approaching marriage with Mr.. Hap
good, aud at the same time adroitly
working in a repetition of the story she
had before told Of the lady's harsh judg.
ment Of himself
The arbor was reached, and Ellen
stopped for her companion reply. She
felt sure it would be bitter one.
Wallace Parker took her hand and
looked down into her face. lie had
heard her words, but they had not SO
much place in his mind as had other
words he had that evening heard from
the lips OF Giles Hapgood.
Miss Lamprey," he said slowly,
| and almost starnlv Egyon opl hol h.. 1,
come to an understanding at once.
am willing to believe that you are mis-.
taken. Al all events, | will never be.
lievc that Miss Edgerton could williag.
ly or Intentionally speak i'll Of me until
can hear and judge myself When
you first told me what she had"
20, Mr.. Parker. Ia mercy's name"'
But Mr.. Parker did not heed the in.
terruption.
"What Clara had said of me, | was
grieved but | am sure you must have
misunderstood her"
Ellen Lamprey trembled like an as.
pen, and could not speak. Her com,
panion continued:
"Never, while ! can hel lp it, shall the
bright vision of Clara Edgerton, as a
pure and blessed spirit of light, be
wrestcd from me. As God is my Judge,
believe her to be incapable of deceit.
But if she has faults, | do not wish to
know them took her image into my
soul years ago. aud | wish to hold it
there, enshrned 10 purity. Had not
dire misfortune come upon me, would
dare to 90 to her and ask her if she
despised me but now-now-"
"She can speak without the asking
sounded voice from the arch of the
arbor 80, Wallace I! how blind you
have been how blind And all these
years have had no heart, no love, that
was not yours y
And Clara Edgerton, advancing from
the sheltering bower, gave her hand to
Wallace Parker and rested her head
upon his bosom while Ellen Lamprey,
almost bereit Of sense, shrank away to
the house, her steps tottering aud un.
certain, like unto one who is drunk
with much wine.
On the very next morning, without
her eakfast, Ellen Lauprey left New
port. She could not bear to witness
the happiness Of the pair she had sought
to put forever asuuder, nor did she care
to remain after the story OF the ridcu.
lous manner in which she had got
caught in her own trap should have
leaked out.
In the joyous event which legitimate.
ly grew out from all this, Giles Hapgood
did himself infnite credit and honor.
He demanded and received the privi
lcge of acting as groomsman at the
wedding.