Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-10-14

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saia, and there was brave flrmncss in tho
mouth and the massive chin. g
Presently Capt Challoner stopped in tho
middle of his walk His cor caught the
sound of music in tho tln.wing-ro across
the hall. lio stood asnioment to listen.
| Young, sweet voices Sung 'Annie Laurie. !"
Slowly he staggered back to his sofa again.
carrying horde of half-torgotten memories
with him memories which had. Como to
India a year ago with him. following INN
I'LL through the scenes OF war and death,
and returning home again, only to DO Ban
ished hy fever and Inconsistencies. Back
they flowed With double force, rs "Annio
Laurie broke ON tho stiffness around
"llcr song! Her song" he murmured:
II hopcd md forgotten her!"
Tn. poor, wounded hand struggled harl
to cover lGss G.ce, but only the right arm
was able to 10 its work, and the man who
had once been so strong and brave Groanetl
III anguish perhaps for his helpless state,
but methinkS it was more at the memories
which the old song recalled.
t?T"T eoald have borne it nll, had sho not
married him that fellow 60 that tool !" he
groaned. -,
All. there was wound in Charles Chal
loner's heart lar deeper than that in his
arp,77 a'wound which timo did not heal.
Tho opening Of the door caused him to lool;
round; then, trembling, staggering and
CHASTITY, he rose to his feet. Was it tue
ghost of his former love that camo to him
there in that moonlight silence, robcd in
white, with her pale. beautiful face rivaling
her dress? "A moment sllo paused, then,
with outstretchcd hand, Clara lIolroyd
came. toward, him.
Capt Challoher,"" she said, ~ heard
you were here, they told me you were ill.
l am come to SEQ You to say wsongcd
you once, in my cruel foolishness: but
ask You to forgive"
Broken, Sisjointed and almost incom-
preferable rs was her speech, lie under
stood it.
1t was no ghost then. it was really Clare
EIolroyd--hi first, his only love. And the
face he had wearied and pinned TO see was
there now, Mt his side the moonlight play
ing upon it, and upon the soft, golden hair
Glare Holroyd, more beautiful than ever,
because of tho pride, the hauteur that was
gone, the gentle, tender humility which
had come. Challoner saw the dnnger and
remembered she was another mans wife.
He recovered himself in n moment. He
took the ontstretched hand, felt the slender
fingers clasp his own. then carelessly, cold.
ly,, he let itgo. And Glare stood there
looking up ct him with yearning, sorrow.
full pity in her face; she could see how i'll
he had been, how weak he was, and when
her eyes fell OH the poor, helpless, wound
ed arm, great tears swelled into them. -
How different to the Charlie Challoner OF
old! Bright, brave true-hearted, noble
Charlie Challonar, who had gone away and
left her because she had Airted with Sill
Philip, instead Of being contented with his
"oh, Charlie. Charlie. forgive me; say
you forgive mel" she cried, i'll u low, sweet,
plaintive voice, forgetting all else but the
memory Of that old, TRUE love. ''Charfio,
you should not have gone away without q
word that time 4 know j deserve it, but
was true ID You, indeed Twas. never caret
for"
"IIush!" said no.
Cold, stern and proud, the soldier threw
her hand from his arm. 1t was the frs
word he had spoken, and there wis NJ
sound Of love or forgiveness in the tone; il
nearly broke Clnre's heart.
"fiusht : He tepeated.' ..H0 .is your hus
band now, Lady Fairfax. Do not prove
your truth to me by being false to him. II
is too late now"
"Who told you Twas married." she crci
with breathlrss gasp
A bitter smile curled his lip as he re-
Piled, "Y:ol forget that English newspa
pers travel to India, and though they may
not always be the bearers OF pleasant rid
ings.s atheist they are truthful. It was
through there Elearnt that Clare Holroyd
was married at Brighton in January last, tc
Sir Philip Fairfax, the owner of Dunedel
Hall, Stafforlshire, the -"
1.-The greatest fool in London he would
have added, in his bitter scorn; but .le
checked himself, sinkingsxeetly back upor
his couch. ~ "a - r.
There came light over Clare Holroyd',
face-the old. glad light which left it wher
Charlie Challoner went away so suddenly
to India. 1t came back now slowly, bui
surely: Standing there. before him, with
her hands clasped close together, atrem'
bling with a strange, new agitation, she
questioned him:
''If-if had not married, could you have
forgiven me, Charlie? COULD you have
He He looked u,} i atsr.< Was she trying te
tempt him? Why was her voice so sweet
her tone so gentle?
"Speak! tell NO." she cried; ''but fol-
that could you have forgiven me-?
II could, he replied.
The light on tht girls face was creeping
down to her heart rs she seated herself OF
tho sofa beside him. The twilight had dice
away in the clear moonlight. There Wa:
no need OF gas to reveal those two faces t
each other, Cl.re's was not pale now, it wa
burning with lovely color.
lyon had better leave me now; I an
not quito strong yet" he said with al ct
fort. ~.
He was right; the old wound was open
ed afresh, and the pain seemed create
than the man cou4h bear. ~. r. !.
II know it, she5 answered. s.1u on
moment will leave you il you wish it.
want to ask you another question. Capt
Challoner, do you remember my at.nt an.
cousins in Harley street? I think intro
duccd you to them once" lie bowed hi
head. "You remember the girls?" she con
tinued. "Thcro were four Of them Grace
Mary, Julia and Clare"
II never heard their Names" no replied
II only saw them once--tho day we me-
them in the park. I think you introduced
Sir Philip Fairfax to them at the same tim ,.
He spoke somewhat sharply, and with &
weary impotence.
Clare's voice trembled, rs she said, 81
did; and four months after he married the
youngest girl, my Cousin Clare. am Glare
Holroyd still" -. -
Then she roseap from the sofa, and; he
sat there alone. The moon passed behind
a cloud, and there came intense darkness
and silence over the old library at Wood
lands,' but it was only for few moments
flooding into that Stiffness q wonderful light
which found its way into tho soul Of the
wounded soldier.
''You will forgive me now:' said Glare
"you will tell me so before go? It would
make me feel happier, much happier, to
know that am forgiven. And may heaven
grant you health and strength, that you may
soon recover from this. terrible illness, and
be yourself again."
lie tried to raise himself, but he had al
ready tried his strength to the uttermost,
and now. when this great joy was stream
ing into his soul, when the old wound was
healing, he felt how miserably weak and
helpless he was to battle even against that
unspeakable joy. lie looked up ut her
standing there beautiful young strength
before him-one earnest, yearning hungry
look.
Clare saw the look. She saw the weak
vain efforts to rise, and with a womanly
tenderness she knclt down ut his side; two
warm, ronnd aims were about his neck and
| ah uc ctlSIlt uef 10 NIB breast, Sne Neacu
the deep gasping sobs which rent the once
strong. brave mans heart
"Charlie Challoner, my own, my dsrling,
don't, don't" she said, and burning pas
sionate kisses were pressed on the pale,
thin face over which tho pent up tears fell.
How strong she was in his hour of ter
rible weakness, and how successfully ut last
she soothed away those bitter sobs! With
all the power of his right arm he held her