The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-11-06
UNDER SUSPICION.
THE ARREST.

udSSdSe!
"Certainly madam" l replied.
always called my brothers second
wife "madam ;" we never quarreled
but each thonght the other the mos
disagreeable person in the universe
and as each knew what the Other
thought, it way be imagined that oul
intercourse was not of very cordia
kind.
did see to the baggage, and tool
their tickets for the New York ex
press by the Great Northern Rail
| road.
Fortunately we had compait
ment to ourselves-that Is, Mrs
Webster, my niece Clara, and my
self.
"Clara, my dear, you look as ill a.
you can look no one would thint
that tomorrow was your wedding
day."
"Do 1 look ill, mamma ?" saiC
Clara, dreamily.
eyes my dear, and wretched too
l wonder you've not more sense a
your age, girl of twenty-five,
breaking her heart for love of ma'
| who for four years has not takel
the least notice of you."
"Why, it was one of the condition
that he should not write, Mrs. Web
ster," l exclaimed.
Clara said nothing, but looked he
thanks at her old uncle.
"However, Uncle Joseph, h,
ought to have come back and LakeT
his dismissal quietly. l have no pa
tience with these poor men blightins
girls chanes for getting well set
tied in life in this way. However
thank goodness, its all over now tn
four years are gone this three months
and tomorrow she will be marie,
to man whose age will comman
your respect, and whose position Wi
secure you every comfort"
"And, mamma, whom nothing o
the earth but my solemn promise t
my poor dying father would max
me call husband.
"Well my dear, It's for your futur
interest that you made that promise
Pm sure that Mr.. Tredgar is ma
of my own heart. IF / hadn't othe
views, for my children's sake,
should have set my own cap for him
| "I'm sure, madam, Mr.. Tredga
would feel only too much honored
he knew your sentiments the candi
avowal of them is, | think, highl
| calculated to add to Clara's happ
ness under existing circumstances. u
| "Well, you know, Uncle Joseph,
am candid to fault"
| decidedly madam, most decided
ly," l replied remark which cau
ed Mrs. Webster to read a yello'
covered novel for some time in g
lence, and shortly after dropped
sleep.
| Clara stole to my side of the ca
riage and leaned her head on m
! shoulder.
[ "Oh, Uncle, l wish / was dead
can it be so very wrong to die? | al
SO wretched l dread tomorrow
| Oh why won't Sod pity me an
take away my life p
"My dear Clara, don't, that's
good child its wicked to talk in th
way life must be borne l hav
felt as you feel and yet l live, an
am not positively unhappy; only
vague shadowy regret stands b'
tween me and any happiness thu
might be mine. Yours are keen su
ferings, but bear them patiently, an
use will dull the pain"
"But, Uncle, why did he not Ii
me hear from him, as mother says
| "Because he was man ofhonor
the four years were up only la:
| April, and it is now but July wh
can tell where he is ? Wherever b
| is, he is faithful and true l know"
| "Oh, Uncle. God bless you fe
these words. l know, too, but whs
can ! do l cannot delay longer
my poor fathers dying words, m
solemn promise to marry this maj
my stepmother's persecutions-whs
can / do? Three months have
fought, and now l wish l could Ii
down and die. Oh Uncle is ther
no escape? l have such a drea
that he will come back after / al
married, and then-no !! it would b
worse than death to see him Th
temptation !-Oh why cannot
die ?''
| "My poor dear child !" was all
could utter.
| Bound by VOW made at her fail
er's death. bed, she was going, tn
next day, to marry man that wa
old enough to be her father, and who
but for the fact of his persistlng in h
claim, in spite Of her openly express
ed dislike for him, was esteemed
very good kind of man.
True, Clara was beautiful and az
complished beyond the average c
woman of her class, and it would b
struggle for any man to give u
such a prize, backed sas he was b
the assurance of the stepmother ths
it was only girlish fancy, and ths
love coming after marriage was mor
to be trusted and more lasting than
it came before.
| l confess that was a poor coui
selor under such circumstances sti
| 1 loved her very truly-she was a
most as my daughter, for l was
childless widower, and would hav
given my life to save ber. But
was impossible, and to-morro'
would seal her fate.
| 1t was not pleasant journey, tha
Mrs. Webster read and slept at il
tervals, and when she slept Clar
| nestled close to me.
/ We arrived ut New York abor
six o'clock, and just as the train wa
Stacking speed into the station,
guard jumped on the front boart
locked or unlocked the door, and re
mained there until the train stoppe,
slave you oil your parcels, mat
am p"
| WAll fhonk vnu DnoIa To.o~h -.