Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1872-06-05
A brilliant idea struck the plotter
She would make bold move.

Onc Wouiu Iitke DOlu move.
"My dear Clara" she said, Gin order
that you may know exactly how he can
speak of you, suppose you hear him for
yourself? Ifyou will take your seat in
this arbor this evening 1 will lead Wal
lace Parker this way, and he shall speak
rs he pleases in your hearing"
at first Clara Edgerton refused to lis
ten to the proposition; but after time
she surrendered. She did really wish to
know if Wallace Parker dislikcd her.
The blow would be cruel one but she
had better know the truth, even ut the
worst. So she finally said that she would
be i'll the arbor Mt nine o'clock.
Ellen Lamprey had no doubt of her
success. She had so far won upon Par
Eker, that he was ready at any time to
wait upon her Mt her bidding, and she
felt sure, if she could lead him to the
garden, that she could draw from him
bitter words against Clara. But one of
her most potent weapons was to be
wrenckcd from her without her knowl-
edge.
That evening, sauntering out upon the
driveway after tea, he met Giles Hap
good, and the banker was muttcring and
cursing to himself
"Eh! Hargood what on earth is the
matter? Stocks DOWN."
"Down fatv returned Hapgood, raj
lying.
Have you lost hcavily?'
81 have lost heavily, and for all time"
Il am sorry"
Presently the banker looked up with
a grim smile.
"lt isn't money, Parker o, no, not
quite so bad as that! I ianc:et! this aE.
tcrnoon, that | had lost my heart; but
guess | shall find it. again. You can
Tkeep n sccrct?"
The secret of friend is with me n
sacred trust"
Then, my boy, II, tell YOU frankly
Clara Edgcrton has refused my hand |"
Refused you?"
aye; and that isn't the worst of it.
When asked her why she had allow cd
me to bask i'll the sunlight of her smiles,
she fell to weeping, and begged of me to
forgive her. She said she had sought
protection under my care as she would
| have sought it at the hands Of IL father !
f.gad think of it! What cut, ch %
but she was honest"
$50 she was, my boy. She clung to
me~'-taking shelter under my gray hairs
SO she might escape the persecution of at
tcnlion from the hundred and-one full
! some fatierers that hovered around her.
This afternoon | could have cursed her :;
but now | can only curse my own stupid
ity, while | have come really to honor
and respect the purc-hcartcd girl who
was willing to place SO much confidence
in Giles Hapgood."
The appronch of another party inter-
ruptcd the conversation, and Wallace
shortly nfterward returned to the house,
where Ellen Lamprey met him upon the
piazza. He would have avoided her, but
she took his arm, and claimed him ms her
prisoner; and by and by she led him to
the garden. Little dreamed she, as she
prepared for the attack, what he had
heard within the hour
When they had entered upon the flow
er flanked avenue Ellen spoke of Clara
Edgerton. She spoke at first sympathiz-
ingly and lovingly, then pityingly, and
then she gradually vcrgcd upon the con-
demnntorv.
The arbor was not far distant, and she
must make the final stroke. This she
did By speaking of Clara's approaching
marriage with Mr.. Horgood. at the same
time adroitly working in repetition of
the story she had before told of the lady's
harsh Judgment of himself
The arbor was reached, and Ellen
stopped for her companions reply. She
felt sure it would be II bitter one.
Wallace Parker took her hand, and
locked down into her face. He had