Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-10-06

"Her song her soagi" he murmur-
ed, +" ! hoped had forgotten her."
The poor wounded hand struggled
hard 70 cover the face, but only the
right hand Was able to perform its
work. Aud the man who had once
been. strong and braye, groaned in
anguish perhaps for his helpless
state, but methinks it WAS more at the
memories which the old song recalled.
II could have borne it all had she
not married him-married that fellow
that fool !" he groaned.
All, there was q wound in Charles
Challoner's heart far deeper than that
in his arm-a wound which time did
not heal.
The opening Of the door caused him
TO look around. Then. trembling,
ssaggering and ghastly, he rose to his
feet. Was it the ghost Of his former
love that came to him there in that
moonlight silence, robed in white, with
her pale, beautiful face rivaling her
dress9 A moment she paused, then,
with outstretched hand, Clare Holroyd
came toward him.
Capt. Challoner, she said, Il heard
You were here, they told me-you were
i'll. ! am come to see you-to say l
wronged you once in my foolishness.
But now l ask you TO forgive"
Broken, disjointed, and almost in
comprehensive ~ was her speech, he
understood it.
Il Was no ghost, then it was really
Clare Holroyd-his 6rst, his only love.
And the face he had wearied and pined
TO see was now there at his side, the
moonlight playing npon it and upon
the soft, golden hair-Clare Holroyd,
more beautiful than ever, because Of
the pride, the hauteur that was gone,
the gentle, tender humility which had
come.
Capt Challoner saw the danger, and
remembered she was another mans
wife. He recovered himself in min
ute He took the outstretched hand,
felt the slender fingers clasp his own,
then carelessly, toldly let it 60. And
Clare stood there looking at him, with
yesrning sorrowful pity in her face
she could see how i'll he had been, how
weak he was, and when her eyes fell
upon the poor, helpless, wounded arm,
great tears swclled into them.
How different from the Charles Chal-
lOner Of old! Brave, bright Charles
Challoner, who had gone away and
LEFT her because she had hirted with
Sir Phillip Fairfax instead Of being
contented with his honest love.
"Oh, Charlie, Charlie. forgive me
say you forgive mer' she cried, in
low, sweet, plaintive voice, forgetting
all else, but the memory Of the old.
true love. "Chsrlie, you should never
have gone away without word that
time. know that deserved it, but
was true 70 you, indeed WAS.
never cared"
Hush !" said he.
Bold, stern and proud, the soldier
threw her hand from his arm. 1t was
the first word he spoke. but there was
no sound Of love or forgiveness in the
tone. 1t nearly broke Clares heart.
''Hush !" he repeated. ale is your
husband now, Lady Fairfax. Do not
prove your truth " me BY being false
70 him. 1t is too late now"
"Who told you was married." she
cried, with breathless gasp.
A bitter smile curled his lip as he
replied.
You forgot that English papers
travel to India, and though they may
not always be the bearers Of pleasant
tidings. 1t least they are truthful. 1t
was through them that l learnt that
Glare Holroyd WAS married at Brighton
in January last 70 Sir Phillip Fairfax,
the owner Of Duneden Hall, Stafford
shire, the"
1.-The greatest fool in London" he
would have added, in his bitter scorn,
but he checked himself, sinking weari-
~ back upon his couch.
There cs,ne light over Clare Hol-
royd's face-the old, glad light which
LEFT it when Charlie ChaIloner went to
Iudia. 1t came back now, slowly but
surely. Standing there before him,
with her hands clasped close together,
trembling with . strange, new agita-
ton, she questioned him:
"If-if had not married, could you
have forgiven me. Charlie! Could you
have loved me:'
He looked up at her. Was she try
ing to tempt him? Why was her voice
30 sweet, her tone 50 gentle!
"Speak-tell me !" she cried: "but
for that could you have forgiven me.
~ could" be replied.
"The light on the girls face was
creeping down to her heart as she seat
Cd herself on the sofa beside him. The
twilight had died away in the cleRr
moonlight.
There was no need Of gas to reveal
these two faces 70 each other. Clare's
vas not pale now: it was burning with
. beautiful red color.
"You had better leave me now; l
- not quite strong yet,' he said, with
an effort.
He was right the old wound was
opened afresh, and the pain seemed
more than the man could bear.
II know it," she answered. "In one
moment will leave you II you wish it.
I want 70 ask you another question.
CApt. Challoner, DO you remember my
aunt and cousins in Harley street. l
think introduced you TO them once" :"
| He bowed his head.
'.You remember ths girls p she con-
tinued. "There weTe four Of them
Grace, Mary, Julia and Glare"