Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-04-24
UNDER SUSPICION
CHAPTER /.
THE ARREST.

"Uncle Joseph, will you please see to the lug
gage"
"Certainly, madam / replied.
l always called my b others second wife
madam; we never quarre,led, but each thought
that the Other was IL most disagreeable per-
son in the universe; and, rs we each knew
what the other thought, it may be imagined
that our intercourse was not very cordial
kind.
| did see to the luggage and then to the
tickets for the party for the York express by
the Great Northern Railway.
Fortunately We had compartment to our
selves-that is, Mrs. Webster, my niece Clara,
and myself.
"Clara, my dear, you look as i'll as you can
look; no one would think that tomorrow was
your wedding day"
"Do look III, mamma? ?" said Clara dream
lily.
Eyes, my dear, and wretched, too. | won
der 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, ii was one of the conditions Mrs.
Webster, that he should not WRITE | excam-
cd.
Clara said nothing, but looked her thanks at
her old uncle.
"However, Uncle Joseph, he ought 10 have
come back and taken his dismissal quietly.
have no patience with these poor men blight
ing girls chance Of getting well settled IN life
however, thank goodness, IT'S all over now, the
four years are gone this three months, and to-
morrow you will be the happy wife of a man
whose age will command your best respect
and whose position will secure you every com
fort"
Sand, mamma, whom nothing on earth but
my solemn promise to my dear father would
make me call husband"
swell my dear, it's tortunate.ior your future
lQtnrQQta me ia tlat
sure Mr.. Tleigar is man after my own heart
II hadn't other views for my children's sake
should have set my cap for him myself
"l'm sure, madam, Mr.. Tredgar would fee
only too much IGNORED ii he knew your senti-
ments; the candid avowal OF them Is, | think
highly calculated to add to Clara's Happiness
and welfare under existing circumstances
swell, you know, Uncle Joseph, l am can
did to fault
decidedly, madam, mos. decidedy," [ re
Piled, reply which caused Mrs, Webster I,
read yellow covered novel for sometime /,
silence, though shortly aiterward she droppe,
asleep.
Clara stole to my side of the carriage an,
leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Oh, uncle, wish was dead: can If lie g
very wrong 10 die? | am so wretched. / dreo
tomorrow. OH why will not God pity M
and take away my life?"
"My dear Clara, don't there 5 good child
MS wicked to talk in this way, life mast b.
borne;I have felt as You feel and vet live an
am not positively unhappy only a vague shad
owy regret for what might have been stand
like cloud between me and any hanninas
that might be mine. Yours are keen sutI,.riuqs
but bear them patiently, and use will dull Ii
pain.
"But, uncle, why did he not let me hear fror
AIM as mamma says?'
because he was a man Of honor; the iol
years were up only last April and this is bl
July; who can tell where he is?
Where ever he is, he is faithful and true.
know ''
'Oh! uncle, God bless you for those words
know 1t too, but what can do? cannot della
longer my poor fathers dying words, my sol
emn promise TO marry this man, my step-inotl
es persecutions-what can do? Three month
nave fought, and now | wish 1 could Ii
GOWN and die. Oh, uncle is there no escan
have such dread that he will come after
am married, and, then-oh. il would he wors,
man MS death to see him The temptation
oh! why don't die?
"Poor child my poor child was all 1 coul,
utter
Sound by vow made at her fathers death
peu, she was going the next DAY TO marry a maj
WY was OLD enough to he her father, and who
pul Tor the TACT OF his p ersisting ia his claim
spile oil her Openly expressed dislike of him
was esteemed very good kind of man.
true, Clara was beautiful and accomplish
60 beyond the average of women jpf her elias,
and 1t would be a struggle to any To man civ
up such prize, backed as he was by the ASSN
ances Of the step-mo:her that it was only a girl
sh fancy "a nd that love coming after marriap
was more 10 be trusted and more lasting Ina,
II IL came before; confess that | was but .
poor counsellor under such circ umstancos
Sui loved her very truly; she was almost as
my own daughter, for was a childless widow
sr, and l would have given my life TO save
ner' But 1t was impossible, and to. inorrew
would seal her fate.
II was not pleasant journey, that, Mrs
webster read and slept at intervals the whole
time, and when she slept Clara nestled close tC
me. ~ ~
We arrived at York about six o'clock and
Just as the train was slackening speed into III,
station, guard jumped on to the foot boart
locked or unlocked the door and remained Their,
until The train stopped
Have you all your parcels, madam"
IAN, thank you, Uncle, except my umbrell,
ON uats under the seat" said Mrs. Web
ster.
NOW, guard, unlock this door,
are you not with that youLg lady. sir
pointing 10 my niece -"