Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-04-21

then sought his sister in her apartment.
Isabel looked up as her brother entered
and then started from her chair anxiously
asking him if anything had happened, as
she noticed the sad. detected countenance.
Read that he said, in hard, bitter
tone, and he handed her the letter, stand
ing with folded arms before her while she
read.
After she had finished she crushed the
letter in her hand saying
'Alvah, some enemy wrote these lines, l
am sure; do not believe Clara Marsh did
it,
Her trother' face brig htened.
None but Clara could have an object in
doing this, he said I'VE have no foe who
could be benefited by an estraugemcnt
Il am not so sure, " was the reply of
of Isabel; but she strove vainly to obtain a
satisfactory conclusion to the mysterious af-
fair.
CLARA has not written to me since her de
parture, " said Alvah. relapsing into his
former melancholy mool
- cannot acc punt for that .nurmered
his sister thodghtfully.
Alvah sighed; now as he viewed his be
trothed' past conduct, he was almost con
yineed of her fickleness
well, Alvab, what do you intend to do;
inquired Isabel, after pause
'Wri,e to her Immediately, and relin
quish my claims, of course
''Do you mean it, Alvah p
''Certainly.'
II would advise you to go and see her."
"What would that avail me p
1T certainly would not do any harm.
replied his sister. Come go and see hel
Tomorrow, she added, coaxingly.
The young man leaned his head uron hi.
hand and for some time remair ed in deer
thought; at length he looked up and said, =
Isabel, am resolved to do as yoW de
sire me to.
THANH YOU" returned the girl earnest
ly. Il feel that you will be the winner by
it."
Perhaps l may murmured her broth
spent the remainder of the day wandering
around the neighborlng pastures and groves,
where he had spent so many happy hours
with hrs betrothed, and he often wondered
ii he should ever experience them again.
Certainly the future did not present very
promising appearance, and when he return
ed to his home he was In very uncomiort
able frame of mind
The next day Alvah Everett departed fol
the city. He had considerable difficulty ~
finding the residence of Clara; but finally his
perseverance, was rewarded, and he stood
upon the steps Of an unpretendinghouse He
rang the tell with quick, nervous jerk, and
gave his name to the servant, who immedi
ately retired to Inform her young mistress.
In few moments the girl came back and
conducted the visitor into little parlor.
Clara was there and arose to meet him, her
eyes swimming with tears, and her frame
determined to be firm and unyielding; but
his resolutions utterly failed him, and he
clasped the form of the unresisting girl close
to his throbbing heart.
go Alvah, why didy not come before ?"
she said, with gentle, reproving look, as
shed isengaged herself from his embrace.
For an answer he took the crumpled let
ter from his pocket, and handed 1t to her.
She perused it, and her face paled per-
ceptihly, as she returned it, saying
What does itmean? Did you believe
that | wrote this letter, Alvah?"
''Did you not?''
No; | never saw it before
The impulsive lover uttered an lrrepress-
ible exclamation of THANKSGIVING, and i'm
printed fervent kiss upon the girls fair
brow.
''lrece,,ed nj letter yesterday, and tho't t
that it came .ruuI yon. ie reSt. Who could
have written Ii Land what vas their object? ?"
81 think 1t mu-t have been Cyrus Wheel
er, said Clara, the perplexeG expression
leaving her face after moments thought.
He was friendess orphan whom my aunt
brought up, but he proved ungratefu for
her kindness. and twice he stole considera-
bic sum of money from her. He was awfully
angry when he learned that my adnt had
left him penniless, and since her death he
has several times asked me to marry him:
because l refused him, he resorted to this
base means TO gain his purpose"
Let us be thankful, dearest, that he did
not succeed; for if re had our mutual hap
piness would have been destroyed forever
Would it not, Clara? p he added, with
merry smile.
''Ce. tainly, responded his betrothed, with
blushing cheeks and downcast face
During the afternoon Alvah returned to
his home, and Clara accompanied him. One
beautiful day, not many months later, we'd
ding was celebrated, and Isabel had the
pleasure of addressing her blushing school
mate as Mrs. Alvah Everett.
Where necessity ends, curiosity begins;
and no sooner are we supplied with every
thing nature can demand than we sit down
to contrive artificial appetites.