The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-03-28

perhaps, but / think l will leave it fl
May herself to tell, or your own eyes I
read"
, Why did John Westmacott start an
grow anxiously nervous for that new
and no other?
NAY, doctor" he remarked, ''remem
Der how long Ihave been away, and don
tantalizs me. What is it, Does it con
cern-concern May?"
Yes, Jack. She is engaged to b
married."
John Westmacott gripped the reiHs s.
sharply that the horse reared. 1t CAV
excuse for his temporary silence; thel
rather huskily came the interrogation
10 whom, doctor 2"
''Your friend, Thomas Mildmay"
"My friendw muttered the ex pupi
between his set teeth course him !?
Then aloud "how long has she been en-
gagged, DOCTOR"
"Only since you have been on you
voyage home, dear boy, or she woulC
have written to tell you. You will wisl
her joy.
81 do, and"--but under his breath
'fhim. He has robbed me of her."
ut was so. John Westmacott haC
come back to the home of his childhood
! the love of his YOUTH Ia those days he
termed her his little wife /; laughingly she
had accepted the title. In nothing had
he been more serious. During all his
absence, while fighting for that fortune
he had realized, amid care and trouble,
one idea had upheld him--the returning
to England and marrying MayW estleigh.
He had never doubted that she knew OF
and reciprocated his affection. He had
come back to find his happiness scattered
to the winds.
How he went through the evening that
ensued, he never knew. How he calmly
kissed the cheek May in all innocence
presented to "her brother;" how quietly
he listened to the story of the holly
Dough; and how he took Thomas Mild
mays hand, WAS mystery he never I'M
raveled. All seemed the act of another
person, not himself. Only when he
found himself unexpectedly alone with
May, just before leaving, did he lose his
selfcontrol. Flinging out his hands to-
wards her, he cried bitterly;
"May, why have you thus deceived
me? You knew loved you. Why did
you not warn me of this? Why let me
return to bs so cruelty disappointed?
Why of all men did you select Thomas
Miltlmay, who knew my secret? He is
crafty coward to have won you from
me; but, by Heaven, he shall rue his
treachery"
'Jack?" exclaimed the girl, pale and
alarmed, "what do you mean ?"
THAT love you, May; have always
loved you-must love you to my dying
hour"
Before she had OWNED his intent, he
had taken her in his arms, pressing a
kiss on her forehead then he had gone,
and the girl, full of grief, dropped weep
ing on chair. A voice aroused her.
Locking up she beheld Thomas Mild
mar by her side. His face was very
white, his brows contracted, his lips com
pressed.
.May," he said hoarsely, 81 have
heard every word. l was yonler," point
ing to the conservatory. "What is all
this? What does he mean by your de-
ceiWng him ?"
'sTom, | know no more than you
unless he has taken childish joke in
seriousness. Papa shall set him right. !"
mo; he has called me coward, ac-
cQsed me of worse. The task must be
mine, and the explanation and apology
must be made tonight"
He moved away. She tried to stay
him, but for once he was dead to her
voice The outer door banged, and,
stridmg over the snow, Thomas Mildmay,
followed John Westmacott, who, with
peisistency for which an old tutor
could not account, refused bed at
the retory, and had started for the vii
lage.
The snow had ceased, but tempest of
wind had arisen; the leafess trees seemed
/ like vands before it, and the waves were
heard breaking in bursts like thunder
! upon the shore, not mile distant. The
sky vas clear and drear, only the earth
was White. A mountain stream, which,
when the rains or SHOWS came, sYelled
into the dimensions of a river, inter
sectel the road leading from the rectory
to the village, and on this night it rushed
and eddied in whirling foam between its
hanks and the sea. Spanning its flood
was rustic bridge, about WHICH grew a
few frs and larches.
It was here that Thomas Mildmay
overlook John Westmacott What
passed between them we need not min
utely recount. 1t was accusation aud
refuhtion first, speedily followed by an
cry words, blended with threats. Then
there was g blow, a sharp, short struggle,
and one man quilted the spot, while the
other laid on the rivers bank, with his
face on the snow, motionless and still, =
by his side spray of the holly-branch
May Westleigh that morning had gath
cred
CHATTER III.