Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-10-06

portunity Of passing the afternoon and evening
at home.
Somehow the world had grown dark to Cla
ra In week. There seemed no sunshine IL
that dreary Sunday evening. Her father hat
been much worse for a day or two, and hel
mother was anxious and depressed. And Mr.
Harley did not appear. All through the weel
Clara had felt almost sure that she should sec
him Sunday night. But she was doomed Il
disappointment. And she took her way back
TO Mrs. Reynolds with dismal feeling thai
there was not much in this world worth work
ing for.
Had she sufficiently counted the cost of heI
new departurep Her resolution remained un-
shaken.
81 have done ing wrong" she said, To
reassure herself. 81 will not yield, but 60 on.
The friendships that Imay lose by 50 doing are
not worth retaining"
"By the way, Mary" Suddenly broke out Mr..
osgood that same Sunday evening, shave l
seen your table girl before? Her face seemed
to me very familiar"
CLARA Lord said Mrs. Reynolds. forgot to
teil you about her being with me this winter.
the picnic at Reverend last summer.
'Wha.l Otis Lords daughter? | knew he
lost good deal by the Dodge failure, but are
they 50 reduced as thatT
Il cannot say that II was absoln tely neces-
sary,' responded Mrs. Reynolds, but Clara
Thought she should feel la ppier TO do something
| TO help herself
| .COuld size not have done something else p'
Then Mrs. Reynolds told of the suggestions
she had offered, ard the responses that had
been made, and that nothing else so good as
this seemed open for Clara.
| But people look down on that sort of work
so,' said Mr.. Osgood.
| CLARA considers all those notions false. She
maintains that she can be lust as true a lady
| inU in itohn
she could be anywhere. She says that it is in
reality no more degrading for her to work in my
house than 1t Is for her brother to work in the
Judges othcen
well, we'll y exclaimed Mir. Osgood after a
long and thoughtful pause, Il believe she is in
| lhe right OF 1t. But she must be an uncommon
| girl to live up to her theories in such matter
der acquaintance might be worth chltvatng
| 1t is refreshing to know of a woman with an
opinion Of her own In such matter, and daring
| to live up TO It, Doesn', she play, Mary p
'Oh yes, finely
wont you ask her to come in ana give lis
some muscs
She is at home this evening, unfortunately
The worst thing about her being with me is
| that Mr.. Harley, who has been attentive to her
| for long time, has taken serious offence at her
coming here 10 live, and has discontinued his at
tentions.'
he must be strong individual, and
possessed Of great depth of Affection, laughed
Mr.. Osgood.
'Mhat is that p said the judge, his attention
attracted from his reading. 'Mr. Harley has left
Clara" Depend upon IL, Mary, it is a good
| thing for her. l always wondered what so sup
erior girl as Clara Lord could see to like in SO
shallow an individual as young Harley seems to
be-
As Mr.. Osgood was Obliged to leave very early
IN the morning, Mrs: Reynolds babe him good
bye on retiring, telling linn that Clara would
have cup of c0ilae ready for him in season tho
next morning. 1t grew very cold during the
night, and when before light, Mr.. Osgood, CROPPED
ms way done through the dark halls, vtky at
tractlye seemed the warm and brightly lighted
breakfast-room, where the delicious fragrance
OF Coffee greeted him on entering, and Il Tempt
ing repast was in readiness
'Gool-morning, Miss Lord, he said, alvanc-
Ing with extended hand. 'Yon must pardon
Inc for not recognizing you yesterday Have
you done me the honor of preparing this feast
Tor me- he added, turning 10 the table.
nave had the honor Of preparing AR. Os-
goods breakfast said Clara.
you will not, am sure, refuse TO do me the
farther honor of sharing IL with me- rejoined
MIR. Osgood, politely placing a chair for Clara
And Clara sat down opposite him. A pleasant
conversation ensued, in which Clara who was
entirely at ease sustained her part well. sIlow
gracefully she presides,' thought Mr.. Osgeol,.-
.oGe might easily fancy Ler the mistress of the
house, unconssously echoing the sentiment of
one OF the gosslpping callers, but with feeling
OF admiration rather than censure. Il am yery
glad said he, as he rose from the table, po
have had the opportunity of renewing my ac-
qnaintance with you. l shall be out once or
twice during the winter, and hope we may be-
come still better acquainted And may ven
turc, MISS Clara, to express my admiration of
your independence in dariug to pursue q course
that so few women would have had the courage
to undertake. My sister told me all about it
last night. Good-morning,' and with bow he
was gone.
Clara's heart bounded with pleasure. Here
was one at least who did not seem to think that
Sue had lost caste. A little hearty appreciation
Is such powerful auxiliary 10 one struggling
amid doubts and dscouragements, that IL would
be well If there were more In the world And
Claras heart beat more lightly all day, and for a
good many days because OF those few approv-
Ing words. 1t is only the first few steps in a
new way that everything seems SO strange as to
be almost unreal, and Clara soon became accus-
TONED to The routine OF her new life and to ell
joy the sweets of independence. Something
new presently transpired which demanded the
attention OF the gossips, and she was left in
peace to pursue her chosen course without COM
ment.
The winter wore swiftly away. Mr.. Oseood
| came out to Guildersnd in fortnight to spend
Sunday again. And this time Clara did not
spend sunday evening at home, but in Mrs.
Reynolds parlor, ana it passed 50 quickly and
pleasantly with music and conversation, that
Clara almost reproached herself as she laid her
head on berpillow, for having scarcely Thought
| OF Clarke Harley once for tho evening, She
had seen him two or three times ON the street,
and he had honored her with yery distant
| bow.
once during the winter there was party
given-a large party for Guilderland,-at which
the Lords, the Reynolds, and Clarke Harley
were present. As IL was given by old friei.ds Of
Mr. osgood, he came ont from Albany to at
tend. Clara Lord was almost the belle of the
evening. Always brilliant and entertaining in
company, she never appeared to better advan-
tage than on this occasion. Clarke Harley not
ed the attentions she received with surprise and
chasrin. since other people treated her Just
Inc same as OF old, perhaps it would be well
enough for him, Clarke Harley, to do so. II
everybody else overlooked her peculiar and
outre course OF conduct, why, surely lie might
venture 10 do So He certainly did care more
| ior her than for any other woman he knew, and
had not passed a really pleasant and enjoyable
sunday evening, since he had sat beside Clara
that night at the piano. So concluding TO re-
move the weight of his displeasure from her, he
approached her. Clara bore no malice towards
MIN, put treated him with kind politeness. He
| was oimly conscious of something lacking how
ever, and Clara wondered If his conversation
mad always been SO insipid and characterless as
seemed now. When the evening ended he
sought her in the cloaR-ruom to offer his escort
why, thank YOU, Mr.. Harley said Clara
hesitatinsly, but L.
EXCUSE me, Mr. Harley interrupted Mr.. Os-
good who was standing near Miss Lord has
already granted me the honor of attending her. ,
words are inadequate to describe the state of
,eoilng lu Mr. Harley s breast as he pursued his
lonely way homeward after the party.
towards the end of the winter, Mr.. Osgood
came to spend every Sunday with his sister