The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-22

this our nappy ieuhioh' Ni'Sh vi" my i'"
; wander back to the oldcn days when we play
ed together in childhoods innocence, or ira
e versed yon green pasture What has become
!, Iof your governcss, Miss Fleetwood: suppose
|you have grown beyond her jurisdiction"
"She has gone back North to spend the sum
: liner; and Oh, how much miss her. 1t seem
ed as if my last friend had gone when she left
| have no company now, except an occasional
visit from Allie. who is still attending school
Papa is away most of the time; 50 | get 50
Lonesome at times that | can only resort to
lreading or prac,icing some new piece OF
music"
please play some of the old pieces you used
to play when we spent the pleasant evenings
together after the tolSome school hours were
lover"
Never did music sound so sweetly to his ear
as her voice on that lovely evening as it rolled
in full, vet gentle tones Memories of bygone
ldaysscame looming in fairy-like FORM refresh
ling in his mind that glorious day when he
stood in boyish pride with her hand in his
and plighted the solemn pledges which bind
two into one As her fingers ran up and down
the ivory keys, the little opal ring, which still
bore the seal of their engagement glistcned in
the lamp rays. After asking about different
friends and discussing the different changes,
he proposed stroll.
Where shall we go:" she replied, at the
same time taking his arm and starting toward
the door.
"To Eagle bluff, by all means, for it still is
sacred to me in its sublime grandeur
The yet crescent moon was shining in silvery
whiteness upon long beltot clouds stretching
| in fantastic shapes across the western horizon.
As they neared the ancient cliff with its rug.
ced sides. whose turretlike head had long
been the home of the king of birds, Clara
seemed happy To meet long absent friend
was a pleasure, but to stand by him whom she
loved and udored, and to whom she had trotf-
ed her heart and entrusted her LIES happiness,
was bliss At the base Of the gigantic precl-
pice burst forth clear, cool spring, at whose
brink they had often, in childhood's hour,
slaked their thirst; and there, too, upon the
rock .hewn seat. when maturer years had come,
with hearts moved by loves first impulses,
they had pledged their lives to each other. a
little further down on the bank of the rivulet
was the family graveyard, In plain view of
them among the rest rose a tall marble shaft
to mark the place where Clara's mother rested
A luxuriant jessamine, planted and trained by
her own hand, twined its tendrils about the
railing, perfuming the atmosphere around
The snowy white tomb, with its unfading in
scription. reminded Clara Of the loved form
which lay sleeping SO cold and silently be-
meath the sod, and her eyes dimmed with tears
while bordering in her mind why she should
he denied mothers love so carly But the
emotion soon passed away in the realization
of the presence of one who was more to her
than parent. Seating themselves upon the
stone step, which had outweathered the chang
ing eras of time, he gently encirced her with
his arm, while she placed one hand in his
Dear Edward have long wanted an inter
view with you about our engagement, and |
am happy, thrice happy, that this lovely night
offers such favorable opportunity, at this
spot made sacred by sweet associations. You
remember when here we pledged our lives TO
each other, it was to be a deep secret, and from
that day to this no being, however faithful to
me- has heard of the solemn promise. Now
papa suspects the engagement, and | am conf
dent he will never consent to its consumma-
ton; and what to do | don't know-please tell
me If my foreboding proves true, my happi-
ness is over, and an ill.guidcd fate will turn
my destiny as far from you as the blue vault
of heaven is above
Don't borrow trouble before it comes, my lit
little darling" spoke Edward as he kissed
away the shade of doubt that settled about her
brow. You climb mountains before reaching
them, and you will always find anticipated
troubles worse than real ones. You have new
or consulted your father as TO his willingness
in the matter, and even if you had and your
predictions were true, will ever prove faith
full to you, even at the sacrifice of friends, for
tune or fame,-yes, the world may go with all
It's fascinating alurements, can but lisp your
name welded as my own. 1t is for yoa live,
and without you sad would be my lot indeed"
The last words sank deep within Clara's
heart, and so revived her spirits that she re-
solved from that time on TO marry Edward AL.
ston let come what would and before quitting
the spot they agreed she should confess the
love she bore him to her father, though it was
"A fearful ordeal for her delicate nature to pass
through. Knowing full well every turn and
minute crook in her fathers tempcrament,-oi
his iron will which ialcrcd not at tender
scenes, and above all kis extreme anxiety to
see her wed a gentleman moving in Weather
and more aristocratic sphere than her lover
she could but shudder at thought of the inter
view But stimulated by Edwards presence
and the faint hope of gaining the desired re-
lqucst she returned with a stronger faith than