The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-10-09
He contd face his fate

Mr.. Blanchard Her tone WAS provokingiy
even.
And, il yon please, let it take place now.
Pray be seated"
II she had only been em barassed.
| Miss Westhrook, I-I-iear that the inn
/ preston which l have made upon you to-
day OF that unfortunate TeHcontre by the
/ riverside was not favorable. -
Pray, proceed SIR" she remarked in icy
/ tones.
s'Weli, then-allow me-you canot surely
have rem aimed nrm in the resolution you
/ then expre>sed-to clcave to-
Mr.. Blanchard, | will assist you. You
/ apparently wish 20 say that | must have
ceased TO love Harold White? Is this 500"
! Miss WestbroOk-F Fanny pardon ne; l
/ 10. lie is all unworthy # you, Oh, If
| YOU did but know the depth OF my love tor
YOU
stop, Sir. Blanchard said she rising
! from her chair, and moving slowly toward
/ the door. Let US understand each other.
/ Whether or not Harold White holds the
/ place in my heart which he once did con-
/ Germs me and me only. The honor you
| have done me Mr.. Blanchard--call it by
1 what tender name You please--I deSpiSe.
/ ~. Blanchard, know you.'
/ stop, Miss Westbrook - he exclaimed,
making one step forward and barring her
way 10 the door, 'aud hearken 10 me. You
/ have thrown the gage. Very well, l accept
il. It was | who drove Harold White from
~ingl-bgid9e All. YOU can be in pressed. 1
I
my demands. Now, Miss Westbrook. know
me!''
Her face was very white As she swept
proudlv past the est Indian. but it was
not the whiteness of fear. They measured
swords with their eyes-how clear and
searching hers were and parted.
Next day Fanny Westbrook was missing
| from SiHglebriIge.
/ been daughterless. Fanny was sought for
far and near, but without avail. Augustus
/ had, 70 quote the idIomatic expression of
| Lhat congenial companion already referred
10, "gOne clear to the bad OF all his
| former chums, Blanchard was the sole pos
SCISSOR OF u knowledge of the young scape-
| grace's whereabouts. As for the West In
/ dian, he seemed to have entirely relinquish
ed all intentiOn of returning to Jamaica
/ However. we must for the present leave
! Singlebridge and make our way TO the
| Theatre Royal, EasthamptOn. The house is
/ crowed by the admirers OF the leading lady
/ whose benefit night it is.
Old FussytCu, the e-doorkeeper. is at
/ this moment in a state of mind bordering
/ on despair. He dare not for the life of him
| leave his post. and he has just learned that
/ a stranger has succeed in reaching the stage
| under the cover of an audacious super. If
| that should come to the knowledge of Mr..
Somerset Beauchamp the manager, he
/ (FussytOn) will to Il certainty be dismissed
on the spot.
/ Take a note to Miss Harebel. sir Could
! NOT 40 IL. 1t , against OFUeTSs SIT.
| The Speaker is a call-boy. His tempter is
Mr. Blanchard.
'sVery well. sir, If you are an old friend,
! | suppose it will be all right"
/ Induced to commit Il breach of discipline
/ by the bestOwal of a rather potent bride,
the call boy disappears behind pile of
! scenery, and is presently heard in alterca-
/ ton with Miss Harebells dresser.
! What do you want? Miss Rarebell is
not "A beginner She is not on until the
/
| Il know that Mrs. Cummins, l want to
! speak to you. Open the door.
| Blanchard heard no more. A whispered
| conversation between the leading lady's
dresser and the call-bOy was Immediately
! succeeded by the temperance of that pre-
| cDcious youth, who said: "MiSs Hare bell
/ will meet you alter the performance at her
hotel, the George. She has private apart
ments there, All you have to do is to send
in your name. And now, sir, do clear out
of this. How you got in | don't know. II
| Mr.. Bowshang was to stag you, wouldn't
there be a shine neither"
Meantime his note had produced a start
! ling effect upon Miss Harebell, 1t ran thus !:
''At last L find you. In Miss Harebell,
have recognized Fanny Westbrook. A the
peril of those nearest and dearest to you see
me tonight. | am desperate"
''Cummins,' said she, ''lock that door.
/ ! ou did tfOr the best to get rid of him. 1t
/ il always convenient to decline receiving a
visitor at ones hotel; but | will see him.
! Finish my hair and then find Mr. Beau
champ. L would speak with him before l
go on
Blanchard had again curiously underval-
ued the strength of his lovely opponent.
She saw the manager, and exchanged
/ with him a few whispered words. He
grasped her hand warmly by way of en-
phasizing his chivalric intentions in her
cause.
Since that day, more than twelve months
previously, that Miss Westbrook had merged
49,.
/ tress, Miss Harebell, Fanny had play
/ many parts both on and off the stage. On
this particular night she eXcelled herself.
The applause of her crowd of admirers was
what would have been term ed in state par
lance ''teTritic.' Such was the electric
force of her acting that it ca ried all before
it. Was she playing up detiantly to Blanch-
ard ? Perhaps.
On the conclusion of the play she, laden
with bouquets, retired to her dressing room
and in few minutes had resumed, with the
aid OF attentive Mrs. Cummings, the attire
of ordinary life.
In the space of few minutes Miss Glare
heIlH was proceeding unnoticed, save by a
group OF her youthful id01ators who sur
rounded the pit-dOOr, under the convoy of
Mr.. Beauchamp, to her apartments at the
George.
Before ascending the staircase which led
to her rooms, she informed the maid-ser-
want that probably a gentleman would call
upon her. 1t he did she was to show him
up, after having privately informed Mr..
Beauchamp, who would wait for the news
in the bar parlor, of her visitors arrival.
Mr.. Beauchamp, whose face beamed with
complacent delight. nodded his approval of
this arrangement. Observed Fanny to him ::
Now Mr.. Beauchamp, | shall leave you
to your devices there she INDUCED in the
tiniest ripple of laughterl-your devises,
mind
Very well, my dear, they shall be ready,
if wanted
And he"
Everything is ready, Miss Harebell. and
every body. Let that suffice ye."
Seated in her snug little room, Fanny
dreamiy awaited the coming of Ter ancient
pc. seeufor. She had not to wait long.
"Mr. Blanchard, m" announced the maid
servant, and thereupon ushered that gentle
man in
Miss WestbroOk rose and acknowledged
his elaborate bow with a silence that was
full of soornful eloQuence. She then re-
sumed her seat.
MISS Westbrook, can you divine why
am here 20
y eS.H
''Oh, you can! You are frank After
all, why should you not be? We can spare
each other the recital OF a long preface of
dull retrospection. After a long and pain
ful search | have found you-no matter
how"
81 know how she calmly interposed.
t'Ah.' he exclaimed, perhaps yon would
not mlhu ehllgntenln2 me- his tones
were sneering. Her perfect equanimity
put him about.
Not at all. You got the inform alton
from my brother.'
Even so. And-your brother? Has he
informed you also that he is just as COM
pletely in my power as was another person
of our acquaintance more than year since
Did he tell you there is ia this bundle OF
papers that which would give him penal
servitude il / choose to put the law in OPP
Grafton? Did he"
NO, Mr.. Blanchard, he did not" A tear
had stolen down her cheek at the mention
Of Harold's name; but now that she con-
fFonted the West Indian her eyes blaZed