The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1877-01-25
VOLUME 29-NUMBER II.

saw, through the open window, the
Squire himself striding away down
she slrset into the village, and then
she was IN an agony to be at home,
out there Were stsps on the stairs and
Ia the ball, and she heard john Chap
lin say
Met hsr, Gid undcrstcnd ron, Mr..
BAseom? All, well, then I don't
wonder st your haste. I'll show you
ths way, and then suppose YOU can
take care OF yourself
The gentleman from the CITY
although Mrs Wsyte did not know
It, for his reply was inaudible-had
arrived in = state closely bordering
upon sgitstion, and John had gather
ed but = shsdOEy idea OF the cause Of
1t. Once in the open sir, however,
every external trace OF such q thing
vanished and the two strolled away
up the street together.
Now it had come to pass that
! Claudia had been able to do little
more than bid the Squire goodbye at
the gate, and he had hurried away
! with q dim idea that he had some
how made 3 very mOurnful mess of
| it.
Into the house - she exclaimed,
between her teeth. "TelI mother
what has happened ? Oh - and
then she aided, hOarsely, 'If only
Mr.. BSscom were here ! III / could
see John Chaplin In his coffin ~
She looked up for few minutes in
to blossOming cherry tree beside the
gate, patting the gravel nervOusiy
with her perfect foot, and then she
actually buried her face IN her hands.
How long
She did not know, nor was she
aware how completely she was con-
eealed by the lilac at her lefi until, as
she was aroused by approaching foot.
steps and lifted her head again, she
head voice close to her, saying
4 suppose we need not walt, dinner
for you, Mr.. Basc0m, and You must
make yourself perfectly at home with
u.s.
And there, before her, stood the
two men whom, in all the world, she
would least have wished to see to-
gether.
Smiling and strong and very NOBLE
looking was John Chaplin, as be
raised his hat, but Claudia mistOOk
the meaning on Mr.. Bascom's face.
She did not know he had seen her
leaning 50 heavily on the arm Of the
Squire.
Johns work y
And, as hethought flashed through
her mind, her face grew all one
Whiteness with hate and disappoint-
meat, and she exclaimed
He has told you then? 1t is false
auuarraf1 -, - - Fak
HIS father % exclaimed Bascom.
'Mr. Chaplin has told me nothing. 1
saw you with him myself, If that was
his father
So very beautiful, so painfully evil,
and yet 50 livid with suffering, shOne
the face OF Claudia WAyte, tnAt even
John Chaplin lost his judgment as he
looked on her, and his effort to mend
matters was dreadful blunder.
Indeed, 1t is not true, Mr.. BaseOm;
my father told me only last night
that he had decided not to marry
her.
Shall I walk back with you p was
Mr.. Baseom's quiet reply; but the
words were followed bY sti1sd
scream, aud John exclaimed /:
'BaseOm, she has tainted. We
unust carry her into tue house."
It was John himself VINO picked |
her up, just as 3 man in \. rough |
clothing came bounding across the |
road.
Into the house and into the parlor,
and the door swung wide behind |
them, for the man in rough clothing /
followed, and behind him ths form |
Of an elderly woman.
Come, Bascom, we are too many
exclaimed John, and, in an, Instant !
more, claudia was slowly recovering |
her senses, while her mother and |
poor Joe Roberts knelt beside the
sofa.
'If you understand it all, Mr..
Bascom, it's q good deal more than / !
ean,' said John, as the two walked |
iOwn the road TO the village.
Il only understand one thing said |
Mr.. Bascom, my own eyes and her |
own tongue have told me that have |
made q fearfully narrow escape. |
Anything else you know, and care to |
tell me, I will be glad to hear some |
other time. Just now, think will |
Please consider the house your
own,' said John, cordially, as Tn ey |
passed through the door, bat BIseom i
without a word.
Up and down the parlor what /
could John Chaplin bs about
No wonder Lucy Ferrer was trOub- 4
led again, in spite Of the last even
ing's peace and strength, but she was
not afraid Of John new, -.-.-
She hesitated one moment at the
door, but there was 3 light On the 4
young mans face that seemed to
draw her nearer, and there was the
last trace Of trems!e in her voice as
she askd him /:
%, John, what Is It you don't
look as # it could bs bad
But the strong masterful arm had
out anu closed gently around
her, and now they were standing by
the south window, that locked out to-
ward the naples on the knoll.
do VOC see the new house, Lucy %
"A little OF it," sne whispered.
1T will be mine when It is flushed.
Will you come aud live in IL with
me p
'Of course she said, while q great,
delicious shIvering seemed creeping
over her we are all TO live there
4 mean, Lucy, will you be the mis-
sress Of 1t q? Viii you be my wife y
The sound of his voice put her IN
mind Of the evening before, when she
lad thought there was something
holy in IL, but all she could say was
%, John John Can It possibly be
rue?
why not, Lucy p
%, John, 1 must have made such q
L Thought h
Just then they heard the Squire's
voice in the back room, and the
young mans arm closed around her
With so grand q sense OF manly
strength.
Come, Lucy.
A doWneast and q gloomy man Wss !
ne burly Squire, IS bis SOD marched
I'D in front Of him so joyOusly. with
nat slight and girlish figure half !
,lasDed; half clibging 10 him.
Father, Lucy and I have favor to
SIX ,
The Squire looked at them like a !
nan half walked from sleep as be ex-
,laimed
What's tnat, my boy 2
'Ws' We decided that we'd rather be /
married here IN the old house, and Z
hen, when the new ones finished,
We want you to come there and live
With u.s. f.,
Lucy was sObbing on Johns shOuI- :
Ter now almost bysterieally, but the
squire shouted
you and Lucy Is that it Thank )
he Lord Why, ifli be jest the same q
Id b Jne. Bus PIi divide with We,
est the same
A very little while before that the e
yes Of Claudia Wayte had slowly
eOpened on the bright spring MORN
ng which had darkened for her so 2
No wonder, however, that = =
be closed them again for a moment, 5
o forbiddin2ly stern was the mothers [
ace.
what does it all mean, Claudia ?
Zoe Roberts, leave the room !
No, mother, murmured the beau 5
iful girl, IS she raised hersslf on one Z
rm, 'let Joe stay. He's al have ,
eGG nOw. You won't desert me, will c
-ou Joe p
NO, Cizudy, replied Joe, slowly
iassing ons hand aecOs5 his fjre- {
Iead, 4 won't dssart ye. gave ye {
n mad, but gave iJ free I didn't