The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-08
evening State Sautnat.
SATURDAY EvEN'G. FEB'RY s. 1873.
ID
cuAprER 1.-THE ARREST.

always called my brothers. second wifi
''madam :" we never quarreled, but each
thought that the other was the most disa,
greeable person in the universe ; and as
we each knew what the other thought, il
may be imagined that our intercourse wa:
not of a very cordial kind.
did see to the luggage, and then took
tickets for the party for the York express
by the great northern railway.
Fortunately we had a compartment to
ourselves-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 to-mor-
row was your wedding day."
"Do / look i'll, mama?" said Clara,
dreamily.
"Yes, my dear, and w~retched, too; |
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 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. l have 40 patience with these
poor men blighting a girls chance of get
ting well settled in life in this way how
ever, thank goodness, it's all over now, the
four years are gone this three months,
and tomorrow you will be the happy wife
of a man whose age will command 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. Pm sure hat Mr.. Tredgar is a man
after my own heart. If | hadn't other
views for my children's sake, | should
have set my cap at him myself"
Ppm sure, madam, Mr.. Tredgar would
feel only too much honored if he knew
your sentiments I; the candid avowal of
them is, l think. highly calculated to add
to Glara's happiness under existing circum-
stances.o
swell, you know, Uncle Joseph, I am
candid to a fault"
Decidedly, madam, most decidedly"
| replied, a remark which caused Mrs.
Webster to read a yellow-covered novel for
some time in silence, though shortly after
ward 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 so wretched.
/ dread tomorrow. Oh! why will not God
pity me and take away my life ?"
"My dear Clara, don't, there's a good
child ; it's wicked to talk in this way ; life
must be borne ; l have felt as you feel and
yeti live, and am not positively unhap-
py only a vague, shadowy regret for
what might have been stands like a cloud
between me and any happiness that might
be mine. Yours are keen sufferings, but
bear them patiently, and use will dull the
pain.o
"But, Uncle, why did he not let me hear
from him, as mamma says?"
because he was a man of honor the
four years were up only last April, and
this is but July (; who can tell where he
is? Wherever he is, he is faithful and
true, l know"
"Oh! Uncle, God bless you for those
words. l know it, too, but what can l
do? | cannot delay longer f; my poor
fathers dying words, my solemn promise
w LidliJ tlio ihdb3 my DtCp-hlOthSl . pCl-
secutions-what can l do Three months
down and die. Oh, Uncle, is there no es-
cape? l have such a dread that he will
come back after | I'M married, and then
oh ! it would be worse than his death to
see him! The temptation Lob! why can
not / dep
"Poor child I! my poor childW was all
I could utter.
Bound by a vow made at her fathers
death-bed, she was going the next day to
marry a man who was old enough to be
her father, and who, but for the fact of his
persisting in his claim, spite of her openly
expressed dislike Of him, was esteemed 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 a struggle to any
man to give up such a prize, backed as he
was by the assurances Of the stepmother
that it was only a girlish fancy, and that
love coming after marriage was more to be
trusted and more lasting than if it came
before / confess l was. but a poor counsellor
under such circumstances, still | loved her
very truly ; she was almost as my own
daughter, for | was a childless widower,
and i would 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 six o'clock,
and, just as the train was slackening speed
into the station, a guard jumped on to the
foot board, locked or unlocked the door,
and remained there until the train stopped.
"Have you all your parcels, madam?''
"All, thank you, Uncle Joseph, except
my umbrella-oh !! that's under the seat,'
said Mrs. Webster.
NOW, guard, unlock this door,"
"Are you with that young lady, sir?'
pointing to my neice.
NYes, certainly, unlock the door,"
"Better not make a fuss, sir"
"Fuss! What do you mean ?"
The man, who seemed to be looking out
for somebody, now asked, SAL right,
sir ?"
SAIL right" said the station-master
coming to the door and opening it s'this
way, Miss"
"What does this mean ?"
"Step into my office, 1 dare say it's all
right. Better not say too much out here,
you know"
We followed him through the little crowd
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