The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-06-30
''W0UNDED.u
By THE AUTHOR or "aHE OLD HOUSE ON
THE CLOSE"

THE CLOSE.
Down to the banks OF the Thames
slopes the lawn ut Woodlands, the
residence of Mrs. Christopher Lane,
widow; and beneath the shady lines,
on what is termed the "Croquet
Ground" far enough away from the
geranium and verbena beds TO do nc
mischief to them, stood party oi
four, mallet in hand, on a certain
September evening, not very long
ago. tis4 aein lfa aht 80
WELL" said Garry Lane. 1--WE had
better make haste and choose sides
or We shall not have time for another
game before we are benighted. Re.
member the evenings are shorter
than they were month ago. l
With a clever stroke of her mallei
Garry sent her croauet ball bounding
up to the spot where Mr.. Hale, the
curate. stood talking to Mnjor War
der. of ''the Blues" and Miss Hol'
royd, who, like himself. were guests
at Woodlands for the evening. He
gave a brisk jump as the ball came
with full force against his ankle
looking hastily round at the pretty
cuiprit, who laughed quietly beneath
the shade of her dainty little hat and
plume. her bright young face radiant
with bloom and happiness.
'You are hard enemy, Miss Car
ry," he said, coming towards her;
$50 if we are to choose sides, l shall
have you OH mine"
Every we'll, said Carry, no way
displeased. Let US begin at once.
Come, Clare, and Major Warder."
So the battle began in real earnest
Glare Holroyd and The Major OF
one side; Garry Lane and the curate
on the other. Report said this young
curate, of Thamestown, was counting
pretty Garry Lane. Perhaps he was
at all events Carry knew hest; and ne
one had any right to set reports going
until the fact was confirmed. But i
it was true, then we can only say the
curate was man Of good taste, anc
he might have gone very far before
he would have found prettier wife
or a warmer heart than this little
Carry Lanes.
The other girl formed quite con
trast to her; Garry was all brillianc'
aud color, with richly tinted cheeks
I sparkling roguish eyes, and jet-blacl
locks; but Clare Holroyd was pale
wonderfully pale and fair; it was on
ly how and then that faint, sof
tinge of color would come into he
cheeks and tighten up her deep gra,
eyes. Her hair was very beautiful
it formed quite a glory round th'
pale face-snch real, bright, waving
gold-colored hair. 4 little rar,
smile would sometimes part the deli
cately curved lips, and linger there
a while, and then it was that yor
would call Clare Holroyd very lovely
She was tall and sleDder, and on this
September evening her dress was al
white. Garry Lane had placed b.
of bright scarlet geranlum in In
golden hair, which formed fttin:
contrast.
Garry had been telling the curat,
all about Miss Holroyd, for tha
young lady had only lately arrived
on visit to some friends in Thames
town, and was not known in tn
neighborhood. She had just passe'
through q "season" in London
where Garry said she was ''rave,
about" People called her firt, bu
Garry couldn see it, unless tha
careless, half-absent way in whicl
she allowed the assiduous major b
arrange her croquet bali, watching
him with look of calm indifference
in her beautiful eyes. and sometime
that rare, sweet smile on her lips
might be called flirting. The majo
was sincere admirer of Miss Hol
royd's, but Carry denied there beini
anything in it. The curate shoe.
his head, and wasn't sure but wha
there might be-"
The game proceeded slowly, OWN,
to the repeated "bad strokes" of til
major and slight absense of mine
on the part of the curate.
| Presently there came out through
one of the library windows whicl
opened on the lawn, a tall. handsom
old lady, to look at the players.
81 have just left my invalid to him
self for little while. Poor fellow
I wish he was able to be out here,
she said, ensconcing herself in gar
den chair under the lime trees.
"Invalid-aw!" said the major, al
ranging his tawny moustache, an
gazing sleepily atthe speaker. "Wh
is he-aw-Mrs. Lane? Didn'tkno,
you had any one staying here"
"He has been with usa week now,
replied Mrs. Lane. "He is sort G
connection of mine-Captain Challo
ner, of the-the-just home from In
dia, where he was wounded in tn
arm during the mutiny. He is re
covering that, however, though tn
arm is still in a sling; but he is SUI
feling from frightful depression an
weakness, after an attack OF brai
fever. I got him here as soon as
could for a change of air. His
rather romantic story"
.Like to hear it-aw," murmure
the major, indefatigably smoothin
. his moustache.
Before he went to India" sal
Mrs. Lane, .his mother told me b
met at q friend house in London,
young lady-she did not know ht
name-to whom he became attached
and, in course of time, engaged. I'll
wedding day was fixed and ever,
thing arranged, when suddenly,
the surprise OF all, the engagcmel
was broken off. The young LAD
went to Brighton, and Charley Cha