Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-24
NO. 256.
Gales ano Skettbes.
CLARISSA'S CHOICE.
Continued from Yesterday

|
ously.
Anything more ?'' turning sharply;
''not disappointment in love, surely
II is an mpertinence even to imagine it."
II may as well tell you about it, says
old Hyde, who adores the sound Of his
own voice, and is beginning to enjoy HIM
selfintensely. "All the world here knows
the story. so as you are sure to hear it
from some quarter, sooner or later, shan't
be breaking confidence by telling you.
And you may as we'll hear true version
of 1t. You made a good guess; it was an
unhappy love affair
He had bad taste. whoever he was,"
says Dugdale, with family unpleasant
ring in his tone. He has already begun
to feel an interest in his lovely tenant, and
when a man feels an interest in woman,
however slight, he takes it badly when he
is told she, in her turn, has felt an interest
in some foreign quarter.
"You know Sir Wilfred Haughton
Well, he was the man. They were en-
gagged to be married about three years
ago; everything was arranged; never
was there fellow so much in love, as we
thought, when suddenly cousin of
Clarissa came on the scene. Apretty girl,
| am bound to say. but bad, sir, bad to the
hearts core. There was something fetch
ing about her, suppose. because every
man in the neighborhood Except myself,
Dudgale. am proud to say) made an ass
of himself about her. But she laid her
plans cleverly, and never ceased till she
had wiled Haughton from his allegiance,
and verify believe, broke Clarissa's
heart. She has never held up her head
since. Fairly crushed she was, and all
for most unworthy object as I cannot
help thinking him.
"You put it mildly. A man who could
be guilty of such an act must be termed
an unmitigated blackguard," says Dug
dale. calmly knocking the ash off his
cigar.
$50 l think But the cream of the joke
is to follow Madame Violet having made
her little game, and cajoled Haughton to
the top of her bent, coolly threw him over
at the last moment, and married q city
man with no birth TO mention, but unlim-
tied coin.''
Served him right, viciously. II knew
him slightly, but can't say fancied him
weak, it seemed to me. and self-opiniona-
ted. He has been abroad for some time"
''Fit of the spleens. They say he is
coming home at the end of the month, so
dare say he has got over it,
"IIow will Miss Carew like his being
in the neighborhood again. ?"
''She is very game" says the Major;
proud, you know. and that-she won't
show what she really feels. Perhaps his
coming will cure her effectually, and set
tie matters forever"
..You mean, she will probably accept
him second time p''
"Accept him! Nonsense. sir, she will
reject him. and that with scorn-with
scorn!'' says the Major, flushing with in
dignation.
A month renders the Carews very init
mate with their landlord--which is hardly
to be wondered at, rs scarcely day pas
ses without his coming to Weston avOwed-
ly to sit with George, but in reality to see
Clarissa
Now. he does not even care to conceal
from himself the fact that his early adm-
ration for her has deepened into love.
Yet his attachment causes him only unhap-
piness. having in it all the elements of dis
appointment to come. Clarrissa, appar-
emily, being utterly Indifferent to it. She
is very sweet, very gentle, and treats him
with all the kind familiarity OF sister.
but even he cannot deceive himself into
the belief that there is anything sentiment
tai in her regard
One evening towards the close of this
month, Dugdale happens to be dining at
the lodge. He has dined there often Of
late, young Carew having taken an enor-
nous fancy to him. being indeed. almost
w-spirited when he was out of his sight.
All through dinner Clarrissa has
been singularly distraite and meditative;
there is Il far-off look in her clear gray
eyes. her lover is quick to mark.
Strolling in the garden with her, later on.
through the warm, sweet, wooing July
air, he suddenly breaks the long silence
by saying:
GLOW quiet YOU are this evening. Has
anything vexed you-disturbed you?''
''IIave betrayed myself even to you?r
she says with smile, and rare faint
blush. 'No-yes-I confess it; | should
not be disturbed, but | amin that lies
nv self-contempt. 1t makes me angry
with myself to know that l am annoyed.
but cannot help it. | heard to-day Sir
Wilfred IIaughten is coming home to-
morrow" Her voice has fallen slightly.
| "Yes, know" He has turned his face
away from hers.
..Of course YOU have heard all that old
story she says quite calmly, but with
another blush so vivid as to bring tears to
her eyes. ut seems very old now.
Every one knows it. that thougt was very
bitter to me Just at first, but now scarce
ly seem to mind it, and you are so good a
friend can speak to you about IT, 1t is
very dsheartening, is it not" with little
constrained laugh, "that after all ones in
ward lectures, one should find ones self
rs far from Indifference as everp"
Mistaking her meaning altogether, he
winces perceptibly.
docs his coming distress you ?'
YES" slowly 1T distresses me and
yet cannot say whether it makes me glad
or sorry. After all. he was an old friend.
before-before anything foolish occurred
between u.s. do not forget that"
..No doubt he has. long ere this, repent
ed his crowning-nay. his whole act Of
folly" They have got down to the wick
ct gate by this time. that leads into the
haggard, and he. leaning his arms upon
it, continues, always with his eyes turned
from hers. ''What if he is coming home
hacause the first and hest love Ia still