Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-03
UNDER SUSPICION.
THE ARREST.


luggage ?"
"Certair!T. madam" I replied l al
ways called my brothers second wife
esmadam;" we never quarreled, but each
thought the other the most disagreeable
person in the universe; and as we each
knew what the other thought, it may be
imagined that our intercourse was not OF
s. very cordial kind.
did see to the luggage, and took their
tickets for the York express by the Great
Northern Railway.
Fortunately we had compartment to
ourselves-that is, Mrs. Webster, my
niece Clara, and myself.
"Clara, my dear, you look as III as you
can look; no one would think that to-
morrow was your wedding day"
'sDo look i'll, mamma?" said Clara,
dreamily.
eyes, my dear, and wretched, too. |
wonder you've not more sense at your
age, q girl of twenty-five, and breaking
her heart for love Of a man who for four
years has taken not the slightest notice of
ou."
"Whv, it was one of the conditions,
Mrs. Webster, that he should not write, "
I exclaimed.
Clara said nothing, but looked her
thanks at her old uncle.
However, Uncle Joseph, he ought to
have come back and taken his dismissal
quietly. l have no patience with these
poor men blighting a girls chances of
getting well settled in life in this way.
However, thank goodness, it's all over
now; the four years are gone this three
months, and tomorrow she will be the
happy wife of man whose age viii COM
mand your respect, and whose position
will secure you every comfort.
"And, mamma, whom nothing On earth
but my solemn promise to my poor dear
father would make me call husband"
"Well, my dear, it's fortunate for your
future interests that you made that prom
Use. I'm sure that Mr.. Tredgar is a man
after my own heart. If | hadn't other
views for my children's sake, should
have set my own cap at him myself"
"I'm sure, madam, Mr. Tredgar would
feel only too much honored if he knew
your sentiments; the candid avowal of
them is. think, highly calculated to add
to Ciara's happiness, under existing cir
,cumstanCes.'
"Wcu, you know, Uncle Joseph, I am
candid to fault"
decidedly, madam. most decidedly
replied; a remark which caused Mrs. Web
ster to read a yellow-cov novel for
some time in silence, though shortly
afterwards she dropped asleep.
Clara stole to my side of the carriage,
and leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Oh, Uncle, [ wish were dead; can it
be so very wrong to die? | am sc
wretched; dread tomorrow. Oh, why
will not God pity me and take away my
ife?"
"My dear Clara, don't, there's good
child; it's wicked to talk in this way; life
must be borne; I have felt as you feel
and yet live, and am not positively I'm.
happy; only vague, shadowy regret for
what might have been stands like cloud
between me and any happiness that might
be mine. Yours are keen sufferings, but
bear them patiently, and use vii; dull the
pain"
''But, Uncle, why did he not let me
hear from him, as mother says?"
because he was a man of honor; the
four wears were up only last April, and
this is but July; who can tell where he
is? Wherever he is, he is faithful and
true, I know"
ooh, Uncle. God bless you for those
words. I know, too, but what can | do:
| cannot delay longer; my poor fathers
dying words, my solemn promise tC
marry this man, my stepmother'1, perse
cutions-what can / do? Three
months have fought, and now | wish
could lie down and die. Oh! Uncle, is
there no escape? l have such dread
that he will come back after | am mar
ried, and then--no! it would be worse
than his death to see him! The tempta
ti0n-ohi why cannot | die?"
Poor child! my poor child" was all
could utter.
Bound by VOW made at her fathers
death-hed, she was going, the next day, tC
marty a man who was old enough to be
her father, and who, but for the fact OF
persisting in his claim, in spite of hel
openly expressed dislike of him, was es
teemed a very good kind of man.
True, Clara was beautiful and accom-
plished beyond the average of women OF
her class, and it would be struggle tc
any man to give up such prize, backed
as he was by the assurance of the step
mother that it was only girlish fancy
and that love coming after marriage was
more to be trusted and more lasting thar
if it came before.
I confess l was but a poor counselor
under such circumstances; still | loveC
Dcr very trulS-SHc was allhoSe dS Hit
own daughter, for I was childles:
widower, and I would have given my lif,
to save her. But it was impossible, an(
tomorrow would seal her fate.
1t was not pleasant journey, that
Mrs. Webster read and slept at Intervals
the whole time, and when she slept Glars
nestled close to me.
We arrived at York about 6 o'clock, anC
ust as the train was slackenirg speed
into the station, a guard jumped on t.
the front board, locked or unlocked The
door, AID remained there until the trair
stopped.
"Have you ali your parcels, MADAME
can, thank you, Uncle Joseph, except
my umbrella-oh, that's under the seat
said Mrs Webster.
CHOW, guard, unlock the door"
care you with that young lady, sir?'
pointing to my niece.
eyes, certainly; unlock the door"
"Better not make fuss, sir"
"Fussl What do you mean?"
The man, who seemed to be looking