Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-03-21
+" UNDER SUSPICION.
THE ARREST.


''madam; :" 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
a 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.
"ClaTa, my dear, YOU look as i'll as you
can look; no one would think that to-
morrow was your wedding day"
"Do look i'll, mamma?" said Clara,
dreamily.
Eyes, my dear, and .wretched, too. I
wonder you've not more sense at your
age, a girl of twenty-five, and breaking
her heart for' love of man who for four
years has taken not the slightest notice of
you"
"Why, it was one of the conditions,
Mrs Webster, that he should not write" "
| 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. have no patience with these
poor men blighting girls chances of
getting we'll settled in life iii 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 will 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"
"WGll, my dear, it's fortunate for your
future interests that you made that prom
lse. Pm sure that Mr. Tredgar is 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 Clara's happiness, under existing cir
cumstances."
"Well, you know, Uncle Joseph, I am
candid to fault"
''Decidedly, madam, most decidedly, !" [
replied; a remark which caused Mrs. Web
ster to read yellow covered novel for
some time in silence, though shortly
afterwards she dropped asleep.
Clara stole to my side of the carriage,
and leaped her head on my shoulder.
"Oh, Uncle, wish were dead; can it
be so very wrong to die? I am so
wretched; dread tomorrow. Oh, why
will not God pity me and take away my
ife?"
"<sMy dear Clara, don't, there's a good
child; it's wicked to talk in this way; life
must be borne; have felt as you feel
and vet live, and am not positively un-
happy; only vague, shadowy regret for
what might have been stands like cloud
between me aud any happiness that might
be mine. Yours are keen sufferings, but
bear them patiently, and use viii, dull the
pain"
''But, Uncle, why did he not let me
hear from him, as mother says?"
because he was man of honor; the
four years were up only last April, and
this IS but Jaly; who can tell where he
is? Wherever he is, he is faithful and
true, know"
ooh, Uncle. God bless you for those
words. know, too, but what can | do?
l cannot delay longer; my poor fathers
dying words, my solemn promise to
marry this man, my stepmOthers perse-
cutions-what can do? Three
months have fought, and now wish l
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'
tion-oh why cannot l die?"
"Poor child! my poor child!" was all
could utter. aeta
1 40 % Fafh nc
death bed, she was going, the next day, to
marry man who was old enough to be
her father, and who, but for the fact OF
openly. expressed dislike of him, was es-
teemed 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 to
anyman to give up such a prize, backed
as he was by the assurance of the STEP
mother that it was only girlish fancy,
andthat,love coming after marriage was
more to be trusted and more lasting than
if it came before.
confess I was but a poor counselor
under such circumstances; still | loved
her very. truly-she was almost as my
own daughter, for I was a childless
widower, and Iswould have given my life
to save her. But it. was impossible, and
tomorrow would seal her. fate.
1t was not a pleasant journey, that.
Mrs. Webster read and slept at intervals
the Whole time, and when she slept Clara
nestled close to me.
We arrived at York about 6 o'clock, and
just as the train was slackening speed
into the station, a guard jumped onto
the front board, locked or unlocked the
door, andremajined- there until the train
stopped. -
"Have you all your. parcels, Madam ?''
'tAlt, thank you, Uncle Joseph, except
myrumbrella-oh, that's under the seat, y
said Mrs. Webster.
't.Now, guard, unlock the door, = !.
AFe> you with that young lady, sir?'
polntlngto my niece - =
Yes .certainly; unlock the door"
better bot make fuss, sir,
"Fuss!- What do you mean?"
The man, who seemed to be looking
out for somebody, now asked, 'All right,
sir?" -
''All right, n.ssid The station,mastsr
way, Miss" *
'FWhat does this mean?" @
"Step into my office. I dare say its's al
right. Better not say too much here, yor
know - Il,
We followed him through the little
crowfaof Passengers and poFters, accom-
panied 10y a policeman in Uniform. Al
we passed, we heard fragmentary obser
vations of the most pleasing kind.
s'Which-is it?" said some one.
''It's tkssgirl, [ think. ~. =.
ssNo; it's the old woman. She looks q
if she would do any one mischief, if
suit66 her" e @ s ~
cold man looks. too soft for anything,
and SO on.
We went into the Office, and I indig
nantly turned to the station.master.