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

alter the young man had passed,
Clara started, and looked up, and
presently said
He has no heart for anything but
his profession"
And he will need to stick to his
profession a long time before he can
resume his old stand 10 society,"" sug
gested Ellen.
"Yes-yes" 1t was all Clara an,
swered; aud she was agaiu thoughtful.
That evening Ellen Lamprcy met
Wallace Parker upon the veraudah,
aud he offered her his arm. lie coult!
do no less, seeing that she had sought
his side
Ellen adroitly led the conversation
until it touched upon Clara Edgerton,
By the way, Mr.. Parker, had al
ways thought that you and Miss Edger.
ton were good friends
" trust We are friends still, re
turned the gentleman, in low. hopeful
tone
II had thought so,' resumed the
pIotier, until she avoided you to day,
IN the garden Aud | should not have
thought so much of that it she had not.
when We were alone, spoken But
had better keep ny own counsel"
Wallace Parker was human, and he
wished to know what Clara Edgerton
had said ol him. Atlength, with much
apparent reluctance, Ellen told hin,
"She said you had no heart"
What! Did Clara Edgerton say
lhatY
Yes. And she said you would have
to stick to your profession a loug time
before you could regain the position you
had lost in society"
80! had not thought that of her
But what else could | expect? Bah
they are a cold aud heartless set-
She is under the influence She
must be, or she would not have spoke en-
those words"
"Well, well, said Ellen, with light
laugh, "she is very soon 10 be under a
new influence. She goos from here to
be married to Mr.. Ilapgood.'
ITO Giles Hapgood."
"Yes-ihe banker"
But he is old enough to be her
father !"
"Aud worth millionw added Ellen
Significantly. And new triumph was
in the sparkle Of her eye when she saw
Wallace Parker's lip curl with derisiou
aud saw scoru and contempt in his every
feature.
During the forenoon of the following
day Ellen Lamp cy observed Clara Ed
gcrtou and Giles llapgood, out in on,
of the foot paths, walking very costly
arm in arm, and apparently engaged il
very earnest conversation. She hunted
up Wallace Parker, and brought him
out in the balcony that he might see
it. lie did see it, and his look plainly
showed that he was unhappy; aud Ellen
Lamprey fancied that he looked to heI
for sympathy-that his heart was warm
Ing toward her as it shrank away from
the love of Clara She determined to
lose no time.
During the afternoon of that same
day Ellen drew Clara out into the gar.
den, and after light run of byplay she
carefully introduced the subJec OF
Wallace Parker.
He will not remain here much Ion.
ger" she said land for one | am glad
Of it. can endure almost anything
better than treachery."
"Treachery and on the part OF
Wallace Parker 2"
Yes"
what do you mean, Ellen 2"
"Since it has come to this, Clara,
will speak plainly. | accepted Mr.,
Parker's proffered arm upon the verau.
dah last eveuing. We spoke of you.
| had supposed that you were ou the
most friendly terms but, judge of my
surprise, when he announced to me, in
direct and unqualified terms, that you
were cold and heartless !"
"Did Wallace Parker say that p The
voice was startlel aud quivering.
"Yes,-aud expostulated. But he
presistei. He said you were throwing
yourself away under the very worst OF
influences"
20. Ellen cannot believe that Mr..
Parker spoke soberly."
A brilliant idea struck the plotter
She would make bold move.
"My dear Clara" she said, lin order
that you may know exactly how he eau
speak OF you, suppose you hear him for
yourselfI If you will take your seat
in this arbor this evening, | will lead
Wallace Parker this way, and he shall
speak Of you as he pIeases in your
hearing"
At first Clara Edgerton refused to
listen to the proposition; bnt after u
time she surrendered. She did really
wish to know if Wallace Parker dislik cd
her. The blow would be cruel Que ;
but she had better know the truth. even
at the worst So she finally said that
she would be in the arbor at nine o'clock
Ellen Lamprey had no doubt of her
slccesI. She had SO far won upon
Parker, that he was ready at any time
to wait upon her at her bid,lipg, and
she felt sure, if she could lead him to
the z rden, that she could draw from
him bitter words against Clara, But
one Of her most potent weapons was to
be wrenched from her without her
knowl.dge.
That evening, as Wallace Parker
sauntered out upon the driveway after
tea, he met Giles Hapgood, and the
banker was muttering and cursing to
himself