The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-22
TALE OF the BORDERS
THE STORY C7 CLARA DOUGLAS
BY JoHS HACKAT WILsoE.

t'hfhH'Nt I"F'eNN away Wiuttt duu NDTluL
succeeded, and summer came again, anc
with K came the wish TO see Mary one,
more. However much had before doubted
the truth of the axiom, that absence make,
the heart grow fOndcr." | now felt the full
force Of its truth My affection for Mary
was day after day, becoming stronger
and, il spite " the dictates Of prudence
nv determination never to see he again
began to fslter and one evening | uncon.
sciously found myself in the yard of the
Black Swan. Well, since had come there
at any rate, il would be exceedingly foolish
to 70 away without speaking to Mary; SO
called to the stable boy to put up my
horse The boy knew me, for had once
given him a sixpence for running message,
and he came briskly forward at my first
call, no doubt with some indstinct idea Of
receiving another sixpencc at some no very
distant date.
81 Eb, Mr.. NOR" said the boy, while !
was dsmounting in answer to my question,
What news in the village Z" yen no
guess what's gaun to happen? ? Our Mary,
/ the folk say, is gaun to be married "
\ Our Mary, thought /, can oar Mary be
my Mary? and, to ascertain whether they
we're one and the same parsonage, | in
quired Of the boy who our Mary was.
"Ou," replied he, "shc's just bar-maid
at the inn here"
started, now that this disclosure had
unhinged ny doubts and subdui z, as well
as was able, my rising emotion, | boldly
asked who was " the happy man"
"Thcy ca him a captain :" said the boy,
innocently; but whether he's a sea
captain, an offisher in the army, or a
captain q police, I'm W that sur At
ony rate, he aye gang, about in plain claes.
Hes been staying for month here, an he
gangs OF tut seldom, an that only in the
gloamin' 50
/ After thanking the boy, and placing the
expected silver coin in his hand, | turned
! the corner Of the house in my way towards
the entrance, determined, with my own
eyes and ears, % ascertain the truth Of the
boys statement TIE pace at which | was
proceeding WAS 50 rapid, that, ere | was
aware Of the vicinity Of any one, | came
bump against the person Of gentleman,
whom, to my surprise, instantly recognised
as the mysterious visitant to the grave Of
Clara Douglas, and to the spot where her
relies were found. He seemed to regard
me with suspicious eye for he shuffled
past without uttcring a word. His air was
li,ordercd, bis step irregular, and his whole
appearance was that Of man with whom
care. and pain and sorrow had long been
familiar.
Can this be the captain was the thought
which first suggested itself 10 me. 1t was
a question could not answer yet ]
entered the Black Swan, half persuaded
that il was.
"Ab, Mr Moir," cried Mary, coming
forward to welcome me in her usual way,
the moment She heard my voice, you have
been long stranger. larcled that, some
how or other, | was the cause of it, for you
went away last time without bidding Inc
good.by" ] held her hand in mine, saw
her eyes sparkle, and the blush diiFuse her
check, and muttered confused apology
! " Well ] am 20 glad TO sec you," she con
tinued. 4" 1t was but yesterday ] spoke Of
you to the captain"
The captain" | repeated, while the
Pangs Of jealousy, which had, during the
last five minutes, been gradually lulled over
10 sleep, suddenly reused themselves.
"Who is the captain, Mary?'
"Oh =! I'm sure you will like him when
you become acquainted with him" she said,
blusbing. There is something 80 prepos-
sessing about him, that really defy any
one not to like him The animation with
which she gave uttersnce to these words
, made me miserable, and cursed the captain
in my heart,
The next day passed over without my
being abe to obtain q sight Of my rival
and, when | walked out in the afternoon.
he had not yet risen. Mary's assigned
reason for this was, that he was an invalid ;
but bis was more the disease of the mind
than Of the body. In bis memory there
was implanted a deep sorrow, which time
could never root out. In my walk, the
churchyard and the venerable ruins of the
church were visited. l stood again beside
the grave of the hapless Clara Dauglas,
and her melancholy story afforded me a
theme for sad reflection. which for a while
banished Mary and all jealous fears from
my mind.
It was evening when | reached " mine
4 inn" On passing the parlOur window, q
sight met my eye which brought the cOloI
70 my cheeks. A tall, noble-looking man
lay extended upon the sofa, while Mar
lsant over him in kindly solicitude, and
with marked assiduity, placed cushions SOl
. hls bead, and arranged bis military cloak
Thls' then, must be the captain, and be and
my mysterious friend were not the same
That was some consolation however.
Thus as be lay, be held Mary's hands in
his. My breast was racked with agony