The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-12-05
Two Dollars a Year.

ny SOttly.
on care you communing with the spil
Of the sea, Miss India? The very wa
pit seem to have hushed their angry 70
n and cast their pure white caps
your feet with gentle murmur, as
n, in submission. Am / intrusive or "
in you bid me stay and share your throne
20 The beautiful eyes looked into his o,
Myth half startled expression, and J
= Clallr saw that the dreams in their star
9 dePthSS>were not broken, only intensif
' by the INSCRIPTION.
+ "You SURPRISED me- almost !'-witE
smile, at the saIisae time slipping the lett
g into her pocket. always forget m
self when come hers, and yet cal
4 keep away. There seeni6 to be a sort
affinity between me and thBaA ocean tt
Y athnity OF opposites, too, save inM the It'd
fow-rnfassssss lust like me; / wit
feel it. Somehow r~sseem to be rs
creation in thought and purpose when th
tide comes in.
cit is in now, Miss India" said Clair
earnestly, and taking advantage of your
mood, trusting your heart may be found
in unison with the hoW of the watres,
let me lay before you a subject upon
which have been longing to speak, but
dared not venture until now. All,
sweet one! do not tremble so. l know
you love me even as love, yesl adore
you. Is it not so, my In?"
''Hush Has it indeed come to this?'
The girl had sprung to her feet and
was glancing fearfully around with that
same hunted look in her great deep eyes
that Clair had noticed there before.
The young man sat still, gazing as in a
dream, and dreading to awake to the
reality.
81 would have spared you this pain, I"
India went on hastily. 'fWhen Mr..
Ellsworth left me, one short hour ago, /
breathed long sigh of relief that what l
had been expecting and trying to avert
in his case was over, trusting it might be
the last. God knows l have prayed to
be spared this last trial have watched
myself closely, guarded against the en-
couragement of any save friendly atten-
tions, and fatterod my vanity with
thoughts of success. find that l was
mistaken. Let me be plain now, 1t is
time. am to be married-ohl how I
loathe the road lin three weeks, to
gentleman who drew me into betrothal
contract when I was but child. 1 did
not know what was doing, and was, be-
sides, influenced by parental authority.
Since becoming of age / found my in
tended husbands attentions, and press
ing of his suit, very diSagreeable, finally
requesting release from my engagement.
This was refused. l have tried to cul.
tivate love; but the little god is willful
and flies from me. Prevailed upon at
last to name day for our union, re-
solved to have few weeks of rest and
quiet before taking upon myself VOWS
that are hateful because of their mockery;
and, as Aunty, and Myrtle, with several
other friends, were coming Grey
Sands, informing my future lord and
master that for one month at least was
bound to be my own mistress, and bid
ding him modest or interfere with my
pleasure at his peril, came with them.
Fate seemed to follow me. 1t was on
the sea shore at Long Branch, at ebb of
tide, that first met Marshall Endicott.
That was the first serious tidal-turn in
my young life. The tide was coming in
when you dawned upon my vision, bring
ing glow of love with you. But now I"
India paused sudoenIy, as SuadoW
fell across her white dress-the shadow
of tall stranger, who advanced toward
the two seated in the arm chair, with an
ger visible on every feature.
Clair Cornell sprang to his feet. His
face was ashen in its paleness, but his
voice was steady as he said coldly:
''Presuming that address Mr.. Endi-
colt, will say that although l love In
dia deeply and devOtedly-love her as
men seldom love-she is innocent of any
attempt either to win or encourage atten-
tions from me, or any other gentleman.
This is due her from me, and / give it,
not as right for you to demand-yOu
whom she never has loved-but merely
to shield her from needless censure. In.
dia"-turning toward her with a sweet,
sad smile-''seeI the tide is ebbing; /
go! Farewell, sweet ruler of my heart !"
and snatching her hand, fairly crushing
it in his agony, Clair Cornell quickly
laid it down and was gone.
Upon my word !" sneeringly remark
ed the dark stranger, standing with
folded arms, and looking down upon the
trembling girl as she sat gazing after
Clair's retreating form, this is a fine
piece of business to be sure High time
l was looking after my beautiful runa-
way"
F'Not another word"
Marshall Endicott recoiled few steps
as India staggered to her feet and raised
her eyes, full of whitening scorn to his
face. "You have done your worst, Mr.
Endicott. Heretofore have been not
only blind, but weak. At this moment
1 can see, and am strong. Your own ac-
ton has broken the last slender cord that
bound me to you. You knew the chain
was CALLING you took advantage of my
stern sense of honor to hold me to a
promise made in childhood, at a time
when / really did not know / had a
heart. Since coming no Grey Sands /
have taken my first lesson in love, al
though was an unwilling pupil, and,
until you came had kept my troth with
you. But you have now added insult to
injury, and place my foot upon the
never see your face again Col"
One glance into that beautiful dStNe.
mined face convinced Marshall that she
was in earnest; and, with a muttered
curse, he turned on his heel and strobe
away.
The hotel was in commoti0n when In
dia made her appearance. Frank Bis
worth had put out to sea in a slight row
boat, with look in his eyes that made
friends tremble for his reason. Clair
Cornell had ordered his luggage to fol-
low him, and gone off without word of
explanation. Eyes full of wonder and
inquiry followed midas every step. but
she made no sign; only, when alone with
her aunt in the silence of the night, she
pleaded with white lips:
Take me home; aunty! Please take
me home"