Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-12-19
CHAPTER III.

could endure, and rellnqulshed the eff
fort in despair. To my sister I ven
tured to tell the truth, and she wept
bitterly, not for herself, but for our only
parent, whom she assured me would in
evitably expire on hearing the news.
SIS there nothing on earth that you
can do, Edward, to prevent this?"
| Yes"
"And won't you do III"
II cannot bring my mind to it."
els it dishonest"
''No-o; l don't know that it is, but
very repugnant to my feelings"
Il am sure | would do anything for
mother"
"Would you marry the man you alb
hor?"
''To save mothers life-yes."
"Well, then, will not be outdone by
you in flial Affection"
'What do you mean Edward?"
II will tell you tomorrow. In the
meantime, cheer up. I will save
mother and you, but at great sacrifice
heaven only knows how great"
| My sister flung her arms about my
neck, and kissed me affectionately, call
ed me by many endearing names, and
[ felt as if l almost deserved them, ex-
aggerated as they were.
| communicated my decision to my
lawyer the next day, telling him that
since [ could not marry for love, Iwould
marry for hate. He uttered a sort of
grunt, and replied:
"Few marriages begin in that way;
but with too manly love is merged in
antipathy as soon as the honeymoon is
well over. Your prospect Of connubial
happiness is the brighter, as it cannot
change but for the better. If you knew
the lady as well as [ do you would en-
terrain no misgivings on the subject"
On the second day after the interview
[ received Mrs. Barrington's card, and a
written request from nv lawyer that [
would call upon her without delay, as
he had settled the preliminaries in the
most satisfactory manner. | did not
fly on the wings Of love to the stately
mansion of my bride elect, but stalked
thither like man who had volunteered
to be hanged. On my arrival [ was
ushered into handsome drawing room,
into which I was kept waiting for about
a quarter of an hour, when, at last the
| oDpGdI Ou6 ul(l I1OG lOUk ldI1U-
sOmer than when [ had met her on the
stairs leading to my lawyers Office
On the contrary the relation she now
stood in with respect to nayself, and the
finery she had piled upon her person
rendered her, in my eyes, more hideous
than ever, responded to her saluta-
ton, and remained silent for few mo-
ments. She appeared DESTROYS Of man
lfestlng q certain measure of maidenly
coyness, and / was disposed to al
low her all the leisure she required for
the performance Of the part. When
she had enacted the role to her satisfac-
ton, and lost little patience, she open
ed upon me with the voice of dying
screech owl, that made me shudder:
"Well, Mr.. Ingleton, the object of
your visit is, presume"
Yes, madam, it is as you say, to
propose for your hand and heart; they
are conventionally supposed to go to-
gether-"
"My hand and hearth" she exclaim-
ed, laughing.
Momus, god of mirth, what laugh
it was! A ruined hurdy-gurdy, a
maniac's scream, and the serenade of a
starving cat combined were music to it.
Yes, madam; and does this appear
SO absurd to you?"
Extravagantly So"
"My lawyer has been authorized by
me to make formal proposition, which
he has given me to understand has been
favorably received. Has he deceived
me?"
" Not at all; but you have made a
slight mistake in the person;
care you not Mrs. Darlington p
That Is my name, but [ presume
you refer to my niece"
"This is very ridiculous. Shall
nave the pleasure of seeing the right
lady?'
I'm moment. She sent me to pre-
pare you for her coming"
g do not see the necessity"
:" | presume not. / will explain, al
though the subject is delicate one to
handle. A better hearted girl than my
niece Clara never lived, but she has
some personal defects which, perhaps,
only the eye of affection can overlook.
| mean to say, for instance, she doesn't
enjoy the same personal advantages as
myself"
l looked at the speaker a moment in
amazement. and an involuntary groan
escaped my lips.
1T cannot be possible. Is she de-
formed?"
"0h, no; she is as perfectly shaped
as myself"
'Indeed! What is it, then ?"
"a slight obliquity of vision, which
adds pulling and peculiar expression
to her eyes. Her hair is of that color
against which there is very unmerited
popular prejudice, but, for myself, I
think L never saw finer or more bril-
liant red. With these exceptions, there
exists strong family likeness between
US, especially as respects the width of
the mouth. the roundness and height of
t the shoulders and the size of the feet"
What an image ofhorror was conjured
up before me
Say no more p I exclaimed wildly.
''Thislsuspense is to dreadful. Let me
see the woman herself, though the sight
of her Kill me-"
Then turn and lcok upon thy death ~
cried sweet voice behind me, IN a mock
tragic tone, followed by silvery ring of
laughter.
turned, and, to my inexpressible de-
| light, beheld my adored black-eyed
beauty!
"And you-you are"
Not Miss Eastburn, that was my
: maiden name, but Clara harrington,
, widow"
| fell at her feet, half disposed to wor-
ship her, covered her hand with kisses,
and, finding no resistance offered,
sprang to my feet and clasped her in
my arms.
CLARA Darlington, will you become
i, TIa-,