The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-05-16
Two Dollars a Year.

.i"' eho shouii not Know hls present al /
dress. The forgery was so skillful, the
awkward appearance of the letter so ex
actly like those she had hitherto received
that the poor girl never for a moment
suspected any deception, all the less be.
cause Mr.. Vincent with q cunning fore
sigat, had always behaved TO her with
the utmost apparent kindness, and had
openly professed him self anxious for the
union of the two lovers rs soon rs Leon
ard should have attained his majority
The result was exactly what he had for
seen. Laura, after passing some days in
an agony of grief, had suddenly asked
Mr.. Vincent If he would provide her
with sufficient money to pay her passage
to America, and upon his refusal. had
disappeared from the house during the
night and never been heard Of since.
The old man, confident of the perfect
success of his strategem, rubbed his
hands in satisfaction, and turned his at
tention to other matters.
Meantime all was peace and comfort
in the little home in New England over
which Minnie Warren, now Mrs. Vim
cent, presided with all her natty ways.
Minnie herself scrupulously neat and
careful of her appearance, was resolved
that everything and everybody about
her should be no less irreproachable, and
he would indeed have been a happy
man whose wife was a better housekeep
er Leonard passed his DAYS in elegant
leisure, his easy nature hIttered to the
extreme by the atfectionate attentions of
his excellent little wife. 1t Is true that
he did occasionally revert in thought to
his old home. and to the memory of her
whom he had once fancied so dear TO
him; but his easy going philosophy was
at no loss to provide consolation for ire
mediable events; and it is probable that,
in such moments Of reflection, his train
of thought resulted in conclusions not so
far removed from those which his father
had made use Of 10 disappoint poor Lau-
ra's hopes.
1t was an afternoon in January. New
England weather had Of late been doing
its best to maintain its reputation for va
riability, and, whilst the streets were
still wet with the recent rain, the still
heavy sky which was striving to stint the
! daylight of few hours Of existence,
gave unmistakable warning of coming
snow storm Mrs. Vincent, who alb
horred gloom Of every kind, took the OPP
portunity to pull down the blinds and
light up the chandelier at an unusually
early hour.
"Now Leonard" said the charming
| little woman, at she sat down on low
stool at her husbands feet and crossed
her hands over his knees, edo, pray, put
aside that book and let me have little
of your society"
Leonard had been somewhat silent all
day, an unusual thing tor him, and had
! buried himself since morning in the
depths of some metaphysical novel.
Doubtless, as Mrs. Vincent had suggest
ed, the weather had something to do
with it, lie now threw aside his book
stretched himself, and yawnel some
what drearily.
"Well, Min" he replied, to tell you
the truth, | feel rather out of sorts.
Then, rs if sudden thought had
struck him, he stood up and took up the
newspaper that lay on the floor beside
! him. Turning to the advertisements of
amusements he read half aloud.
"Globe Theatre; Last night of 'The
| Wild man of the Prairie, '-bosh Va.
rety Theatre: 'Jem Thomp5on's Mar
yellous Impersonatous; Mss Williams
with hex favorile song, -pshaw! Theatre
| COmique Opera Boulie, -ah, that's bet
ter. La File de Madame Angot. What
do you say, Minnie2 Let US have an
evening at the theatre.
Minnie, who had New England girls
delight in the theatre, put on a demure
look, but didn't seem unfavorable.
| G.NVal T.onporJ II ...rt,it1,, - g,,,o
time since we have been, and
every well, then" broke in her hqa-
band. Lets get supper oyer, I'll just
90 order hack"
In due time arrangements were com
pleted, the hack arrived, and before very
long the pair was comfortably seated
directly in front of the stage, wishing for
the curtain to rise. In the meantime
| Minnie became the unconscious focus Of
many opera-glasses, as was usually the
case when she appeared in public. Leonard
had gradually been regaining his even
flow of spirits and by the time that the
orchestra commenced with the well known
delightful airs he Yves quite ready to en-
! JOY to is iuli the peculiar pleasure Of
the entertainment. All went splendidlv,
| The prima donna was a noted "star,
and entranced the house with her singing
Minnie was totally absorbed in the per-
! fOrmance, when she suddenly felt her
husband start. At the same time she
noticed a disturbance on the stage. What
was the matter? Oh it was nothing,
said the people next to her; only one of
the chorus who had tainted. Look they
were carrying her off the stage. Minnie
looked at Leonard and sen a pale, anx
ious look on k;s face that she had never
before seen there. Thinking nothing Of
the slight confusion before her, she laid
her hand on her husbands arm,
"What is the matter with you, Leon
ardY che whispered. Don't you feel
well?"
Nothing, nothing" he replied hastily.
cit was only for the moment And yet
would you mind it if we left the
theatre?"
Get us go at once. Give me my
shawl"
They rose from their places and left the
theatre, the performance going on as il
nothing had happened 20 disturb it.
! When they were outside Vincent seemed
to alter his mind.
Minnie, he said, his voice trembling
slightly. would you mind going home
alone? 1T was foolish to disturb your en-
joyInent. feel all right now; but it is
hardly worth while going back, and l
think will take the opportunity of going
to see friend in town whom | have often
promised to call on
At first she demonstrated, bat at length
az Leonard began to show signs of irrita-
ton, she pressed him no further, and left
him to return home.
Hitherto the threatened snow storm had
held back, but now white specks began to
dot the air, falling steadily. leonard