The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-06-30

see how i'll he had been, how weak he
was, and when her eyes fell on the
poor, helpless, wounded arm, great
tears swelled into them. How diff
fcnent to the Charlie Challoner oi
oldl Bright. true hearted. noble
Charlie Challoner, who had gone
away and left her because she had
firtad with PSir hilip Fairfax, in
stead OF being conterted with his
honest love.
.'oh. Charlie, Charlie, forgive me;
say you forgive mel" she cried, in a
low, sweet, plaintive voice, forget
ting oil else but the memory oil that
old true love. "Charlie, you should
not have gone away without word
that time. I know I deserved II,
but I was true to you u-indoed, I was.
I,1iever cared for.+-4--'ia.a 9fsdnu .ff
Hush" suid he. f
Cold, stern and proud--the soldier
threw her hand from his arm. II
was the first word he had spoken,
and there was no sound of love OF
forgiveness in the tone; it nearly
broke Clare Holroyd's heart.
"Hushp he repeated. "He il
your husband now, Lady Fairfax. -
DO not prove your truth TO me by
being false to him. II IL too latei' r
"Who told you that was mar.
ried?' she cried, with breathless
gasp.
A bitter smile curled his lip as he
replied, "You forget that English
newspapers travel to India; and
though they may not always be the
bearers OF pleasant tidings, at least
they are truthful. It was through
them that learnt that Glare Holroyd
was married at Brighton. in January
last, to Sir Philip Fairfax, the owner
of Duneden Hall, Stafordshire,
the
"The greatest fool in London" he
would have added, in his bitter scorn
but he checked himself, sinking
YEARLY back upon his back.
There came light over Glare
Holroyd's face, the old glad light,
which left it when Charlie Challoner
went away SO suddenly TO India. II
came back now, slowly. but surely.
Standing there before him. with hei
hands elapsed close together, trem-
bling with strange new agitation,
she questioned him:
"lf-if / had not married, could
you haze forgiven me, Charlie?-
Could you have loved me?'
He looked up to her. Was she
trying TO tempt him? Why was hel
voice 80 sweet, her tone so gentle?
"Speak! tell mel she cried; "bui
for that, could you have forgiven
me?"
II could" he replied.
The light on the girls face was
creeping down to her heart as she seat
ed herself on the sofa beside him. The
twilight had died away in the cleal
moonlight. There was no need oi
gas to reveal those two faces TO eacf
other. Clare's was not pale now; i
was burning with lovely color.
"You bad better leave mo now;
am not quite strong yet" he said
with little effort.
He was right; the old wound was
opened afresh. and the pain seemed
greater than the old man could bear
Il know it" she answered. "Ir
one moment will leave you il yo,
wish it. I want to ask you anothe
question. Captain Challoner. d.
you remember my aunt and cousins q
Harley street? / think introduced
you to them once"
He bowed lis head.
You remember the girls?" sh
continued. There were four o
them-Grace, Mary, Julia ant
Clare"
"I never heard their nnmes," h
replied; II only saw them but once
the day we met them in the park.
think you introduced Sir Philip Fair
fax to them at the same time" H
spoke somewhat sharply, and with
weary impatience.
Clare's voice trembled as she said
II did; and four months after b.
married the youngest girl, my cousiI
Glare. I am Glare Holroyd still"
Then she rose up from her sofa
and he sat there alone. The mool
passed behind a cloud, and ther
came intense darkness and silenc
over the old library at Woodlands
but it was only for a few minutes
then the clouds were gone, and ther
came flooding into that stiffness 6
wonderful light, which found its wa.
into the heart of the wonded soldier
"You will forgive me now" sal,
Glare; "you will tell me so before
GO; it would make me feel happier
much happier, to know I am forgiv
en-. And may Heaven grant yo,
may soon recover from this terribl
illness, and yourself again"
He tried to raise himself, but b
had alrea tried himself to the ut
termost; and now when this grea
Joy, streaming into his soul, whel
the old wound was healing, he fel
how miserably weak and helpless b
was to battle even against that un
speakable Joy, he looked at her
standing there in her beautiful youn
strength before him-one earnest
yearning, hungry look.
Clare saw the look. She saw th
weak, vain efforts to rise, and with
womanly tenderness she knelt dow
by his side; two warm, round arm
were about his neck; and as be caugt
her to his breast. she heard the dee
gasping sobs which rent the ono
strong brave mans heart.
| "Charlie, my own, my darling
don't, don't" she said, and burnin;