Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-04-26

muttered he between his teeth. "This
must be that Russian Prince he was
! telling me about, who was so handsome
and accomplished, and such q scoundrel.
I wish could get hold of him and ask
him what the deuce he means by intro
ducing him of all men TO Clara" But
Fred. was nowhere TO be found; and
Jack was just considering the feasibili-
ty of presenting q revolver at the head
Of Clara's partner and demanding her
immediate surrender, when they both
appeared, approaching the corner where
Mrs. Hall and Jack were seated.
This is my mother. Mr.. D'Aumen,
and this is Mr. Henley" said Clara,
quite oblivious of all Jacks angry man
ifestations. She seemed TO have no
eyes but for the gallant stranger, who
bowed and smiled with graceful courte-
sy, and addressed few pleasant words
to Mrs. Hall.
Pardon me, venerable madam"
said he, speaking English with a most
fascinating accent and turn of phrase,
"that | keep mademoiselle your daugh-
ter so long away. See! bring her
again all safe back" he added, turning
to Clara with agay smile. "And made
moiselle has been very kind" he con-
tinued; "she promise you all come to
my house TO stay so long you are here;
yes, you find it more pleasant than
where you are;' and then, with another
comprehensive bow and smile. he turned
away.
"Isn't he gloriousp" sighed Clara,
sinking down by Jack and clasping her
hands. There may have been the least
touch of malice in the fervor she put in
her tone in saying this; at any rate, it
infuriatcd poor Jack.
"He's an impertinent-puppy, in my
opinion" exclaimed he, with difficulty
restraining yet more opprobrious
epithet.
Clara looked positively magnificent
as she drew herself up, with flashing
eyes and glowing cheeks.
81 shall know better than to ask VOu
for an opinion of gentleman another
time" she said. And, not vouchsafng
| him another word, she turned to Mrs.
Hall, and launched into voluminous
explanations. "Mr. Wilmore intro
duced us, mother dear; he said he knew
| I'd find him the most agreeable man
| in the room, and that he--think of
it!-was dying to know me. 1t ap-
pears he's under sort of inc0gnitO,
you see, and only allows himself
to be called Mr.; but from what l
was able to draw out of Mr.. Wilmore
he evidently knew much more than
he was willing to tell-he must be enor-
mOusly wealthy, and of the very highest
rank. Why, if you will believe it, he
owns the whole city of Moscow! Yes,
he does really; Mr. Wilmore told me
That, at least, and gave me his word of
honor for it. And he--the Prince
told me himself that he owned the
largest house in town, and gave us all
a pressing invitation to come and stay
there; he says he's particularly fond of
Americans, and has often had them
stay with him when in the town"
"Very kind of him indeed, dear, ="
murmured Mrs. Hall; but-ought we
to accept such an invitation? Jack
dear, what do you thinkP'
"You may go if you please" said
Jack, with all the majesty of despair.
o. certainly shall not"
At this rebuff Mrs. Hall Immediately
collapsed. and Clara became even more
inaccessibly naughty than before. An
unusual number of emotions were at
work in her heart this evening. Away
down at the bottom there was soft
place for Jack, but fear this relenting
was partly due to the fact that she real
ly felt herself more than a little capti-
vated by the dashing young nobleman.
His beauty, address, winning manners,
and last, but, imagine, not quite
least, his high rank, combined to rem
der him paragon in her eyes. And
then Jack was so cross and sulky, SC
different from-from what he used tc
bel
Jack meanwhile felt that the time
had come for final explanation with
Clara. He had no doubt now of his
sentiments toward her, but he had the
greatest-Or, more correctly, very little
as regarded hers toward him. This
very night it should be settled one way
or the other.
Clara" said he, in low voice, as
soon as their carriage was on its way
homeward, "do you mean to accept
this-man's invitation?''
"Why not?" retorted Clara, all the
more boldly from secret sense OF
weakness.
"You know your father left you in
my charge" continued Jack, "anG
told me to keep you out of danger"
"And who was it,, inquired Clara
demurely-"who proposed coming
here?"
Jack had no parry ready for thi,
thrust. In his confusion, he said the
only other entirely wrong thing that re,
mained TO be saId
81 should have thought, at least
you would know better than to be on
such terms with foreign nobleman.
You must know they are either ad
venturers or scoun-'
"Please to remember interrupted
Clara, quietly, "that you yourself tolC
me they were a jolly set of fellows,
and Just the kind for me to be ac.
quainted with I've only followed
your advice, you see."
Poor Jack! he hadn't leg to stand
on. "Pve been selfish fool" said he
II see it now; but try to forgive me-
Clara"-his voice became little husky
=" for care more for your safety and
happiness than anything else in thi:
world"
Now, when he said this, he had un.
Willingly struck the strongest possible
blow in his own behalf. Clara, though
she had made out such a good case,
was far from feeling blameless. She
knew well enough that her conduct re.
quired forgiveness quite as much as
Jacks. Indeed, her suspicious about
him had entirely lacked confirmation
her imagined rival turned out imagina.
ry, in fact So, when Jack took this
tone toward her, she could not help
feeling rather mean and small, and
longing to jump into his arms and kiss
him. But Jack, the dolt, was far toe
stupid to see his advantage, much less
profit by it. Instead of that, he spoiled
it at all by laundering out: at isn't
often | ask forgiveness, Clara"
"Really. Jack ''replied Clara .bInsnue.