The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-12-17


and l should have put him out of my
heart and memory"
Eyes, think you would, Eloise.
have let some other man make a fool o.
you the second time. l have a differ
ent nature / did not cease to suffer
for James Early for five years, but hav
ing conquered that weakness | never
permitted myself to care for any other
man."
but you were rich and handsome
Did no one else care for your"
Miss Ethel smiled queerly, and aftel
slight hesitation, said, YES"
"Who was it, Auntie ?"
Colonel Powell"
"Oh, Aunt So you wanted me to dc
thing YOU would not do yourself"
Eyes, dear. You wanted to marry
/ did not When | was twenty years OF
age, if had wanted to marry at all,
should have married for wealth anC
position. Colonel Powell can give hi:
wife these advantages.
care you still in love with this Mr.
Early's memory?"
"No, / am not. If l should meet
him to-day, do not think l should care
to speak to him"
lis he aliveY
Il suppose so. heard of his mar
riage ten years ago"
Poor Auntie!"
Don't pity me child. am to be
congratulated. If it had not been for
my dear fathers opposition, should
have married for love, given my for
tune and my life into the keeping of a
selfish, tickle MANN fact, made just
such fool of myself as you are about
to make"
Aunt, do you really think that
Harry would forget me in few weeks
or months y
''Of course he would"
81 will try him."
"You will act very wisely to do so,
Eloise, am glad have told you my
sad little story; it may make you at
least look before you leap. Where does
Harry generally leave your"
''On the little bridge just outside the
Place"
''Do not say farewell there. Lovers
who part over running water never meet
again Give him every lawful chance.
You may bring him into the Park to-
night"
So few hours afterward there was a
very bitter parting under the oaks in
Bruce Park Eloise was almost shock
ed when it was over In her heart she
had only intended to Brighten Harry,
but her lover had taken the proposal too
seriously, and things had been said that
she could not unsay. At first, indeed,
Harry had laughed at Miss Ethels
doubts of him, and his laughter had
provoked EIoise She did not like the
thing treated as joke. cit was a very
serious matter, and she did not see how
Harry could laugh at the idea of not
seeing her for eleven months"
For eleven months was the time she
had fixed upon as the limit of her lovers
probation. In eleven months she would
be of age and could claim her small for
tune If Harry was true to her, she
would then be willing to begin life with
him on four thousand dollars. Besides
she had shrewd idea that if she humOr
ed her Aunt thus far, Miss Ethel would
not withdraw her favor.
Harry was indignant at all such pru-
Dental considerations He spoke very
unexpectedly of Bruce Park, and de-
clared he would not say Thank you for
every acre of it, and the old wooden
mansion thrown in, and that eleven
months was an eternity; they might
just as well say good-by forever.
Then Eloise argued that sit was very
well for him to talk of living on two
thousand dollars year and each others
love. Men could get society, and have
people speak decently of them, even if
they could only afford one new suit in
twelve months; but woman's friends
depended on the condition of her ward
robe, and she wondered if even Harry's
love could stand shabby, old-fashioned
dress and one-huttOn kid gloves"
Harry ''was sure she would make any
dress look elegant" and Eloise said an
so too. So the end was Harry babe her
farewell" till the 5th of the following
June, and that with many tears and
protestations they finally began their
self-imposed trial of each others fidelity.
The next mornings papers announced
the sudden departure of Mr.. Harry
Torrens for New York on business of
importance likely to detain him some
months, and Eloise was angry enough at
the information. She had hoped Harry
would try again to convince her of the
'sfolIv of parting" and she was deter
mined at this interview to be convinced.
For some weeks Miss Ethel did not
have very happy time. Eloise wan
dered in the park, or about the big silent
house and was not at all cheerful COM
pany. At first Harry's letters were SO
long and frequent that a great deal of
her time was satisfactorily employed in
answering them. But by degrees they
grew both shorter and less frequent, and
toward the beginning of the winter they
stopped altogether.
The two women looked sadly in each
others face at the empty post box every
morning, and Miss Ethel had her will
made these days, and left her niece all
she had, az some compensation. But
yet often when she saw the sad face
which had once been so bright and pref
ty, she halfreproached herself, and won
dered whether, if ignorance is bliss, if
it be not folly to be wise.
One day toward spring-a bright
warm day for the Eloise, who
had now long ceased even hoping for a
letter, was walking slowly up and down
the great hall dividing the large draw
ing room and the late Mr.. Bruce's libra
ry from the rest of the house. These
rooms were seldom opened, and still
more seldom used. Eloise only remem-
bered two or three grand occasions on
which they had been used for great en-
tertainments, the last being that which
introduced her into society two years
previously,
A sudden fancy seized her; she would
throw back the closed blinds and let the
spring sunshine into the dark rooms.
Besides, there were all kinds of curious
ornaments there, and a great many books;
to examine them would pleasantly pass
a few hours. Miss Ethel readily agreed