The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-10-26

tHab age, WnenNGnougn woman IN Stat-
ure, her heart had not lost the sacred |
innocence of early childhood, and all |
that her blue eyes saw she believed in
fully and truly Her reverie was inter-
rupted
"Clare," said Dora's voice, 81 have
discovered a treasure Mr.. Stanley
sings, and his voice is tenor; SO my
duties need not be consigned, as feared,
to Oblivion for the Summer. Please
play the accompaniment to ssMy Queen"
and we will rayish the listening ear of |
night !"
Glare had often before played for
Dora's duets, but with Donald Grey as
a tenor A sad thought of him filed
her mind as she turned to the piano
again and commenced the prelude; but
all emotion save that of pleasure van
ished as the full rich tones rang out
upon the air One song followed an
other. Then Mr. Stanley said to Clare,
II am sure you sing. VIII you not
favor usl"
just as unhesitatingly as she had
played for Dora, Clare struck few
weird chords, and began plaintive lit
tie ballad in minor key. The words
were not remarkable, and the soft, girl
ish voice was evidently uncultivated.
Still there was thrill of intense feel
| ing vibrating through the sweet, tremu-
lous tones which touched Irwin strangely,
and sunden desire sprang into his
heart to sound the heights and depths of
what he knew by intuition was q noble,
loving nature, Dora's coquetries had
amused him as world the whims of
merry child; but Glaze, with her strangely
quiet ways, and large, questioning,
thoughtful eyes, would be the supremely
interesting study to him through the
Summer, which stretched out before
them her fair and fertile fields.
1t soon became evident to Dora that
Glare was the favorite, and she laugh
ingly told her that she had spoiled her
intended fun; but she would forgive her
unless she married him, ''for you'd have
to wait never ending time before he
could earn home for you, and you
would be old and gray. and that would
never answer, my pet, with kiss to
enforce her wisdom. Then she went her
way, humming merry little song.
Meanwhile Clare's heart was full to
the brim with joy; and when Irwin
asked her In his deep, rich tones to
promise to be his Gown wee wife" some
where in that fairy future which was so
swiftly approaching, she wrote home a
loving little note to her mother, not
doubling that the answer would be fav-
orable. She was disappointed when it
came.
''My own darling" ran the letter, 81
am sorry not to be able to say yes to
your pleading but / have never ex-
planned to you that in all probability
; your future is already decided If you
do not marry your cousin Edmund
who is even now in New York to con
fer with you on the matter-you will
both lose the fortune left, with that con-
tingence by your fathers uncle, Jonas.
If you do not carry out his wishes by
thus uniting two branches of the family,
. the property will go to the children of
another relative who lives, / believe, in
Australia. So, my pet, come home at
once, and meet your cousin before you
shall decide. You shall not be coerced,
however, into taking any step which
might cause future unhappiness, for nc
) one could more ardently wish you to go
through life without a single sorrow
than e'Your loving mother,
JANET CARRUTHERs.
Glare read the letter to Irwin He
looked at her searchingly for a moment.
Then he said:
"It would be hard to lose fortune,
Glare"
Glare gave him reproachful, Won
dering glance, and her blue eyes filed
with tears. Irwin continued hastily:
81 do not mean that you care for
money, darling. / was only speaking
according to the world peoples wisdom.
have never told you about my circum-
stances! You do not know whether ]
can offer you comfortable home or not.
Clare answered simply:
81 know that you are not rich, Irwin;
for Samantha told Dora and me how
much you wrote, and Dora said you
must be lawyers clerk, and that they
were always poor; but (brightly) we do
not care for wealth, and we need not
marry for long, long time, SO that you
will have chance to earn some money.
You know we love each other SO faith
fully we could not help being as happy
as two little birds.
Irwin smiled
"You are real comforter, Glare.
Well, as your mother says, you must
see your cousin; and what if"
Clare's little hand was upon his
mouth.
81 know what you are going to say,
and it hurts me" she said, gravely; Il
can never love any one else"
Edmund Byrne was fine, manly fell
low. He had been born and educated
in Germany, so Clare and he were
strangers. The conversation turned at
once upon the will, whose provisions
had been as much of surpsise to him
as to his cousin Glare said at once:
II like you, cousin Edmund, and we
must be great friends; for you are the
only relative of my dear fathers have
ever met; but cannot be your wife. 1
love another with all my heart"
.You have taken great responsibility
from my shoulders, cousin, answered the
young man, heartily; ''for / too love,
and am betfothed to the dearest lit
tie girl in the world, and how to weather
the storm would surely have drawn
about my ears with my whole family, if
had refused to marry you, know not
As it is, your frankness viii take the
blame away from me- AS for the
money. 7 am we'll enough off without it