The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-10-29

: The lads mouth was tremulous wit
e sympathy.
5 Mr.. Westbrook has sent me with tn
note, Mr.. White. Is there any an
wer ?"
Yes" he replied, tearing the pape
into atoms, s'there is Mr.. Westbroo
wishes to see me- Tell him we shal
not meet again until he is prepared t
stand up in that Court House and pra
to be allowed to proclaim my innocenc
in tones as loud as those which he use
to-day in declaring my guilt.
The lad left him. The Septembe
sun was setting redly behind a familia
belt of woods which fringed the furthe
bank of the river as he continued hi
moody walk. He had held on for miles
needless of the direction he took an,
now he aWoke from his fit of passionat,
bitterness to find himself on spot tha
had often been hallowed by the presenc,
OF the girl he loved. What did sh,
think of him?
Harry J"
Fanny =
| In those two words all was expressed
In that fierce embrace doubt was slain.
60 Harold, | have followed YOU fol
hours, fearing to speak, you looked Sc
pale and changed !"
II am changed. They have not SEM
me to prison, Fan, but the prison taint
is on me. Why don't you shrink from
| the moral leper, as the rest of them have
done ?"
"Because"-and it seemed to him as
though her voice had never thrilled
with such sweetness before-'I know
you"
''And you believe
THAT all will be righted yet. can
wait, dear-if you will let me. You
were never more precious to me than
you are at this moment"
"Miss Westbrook- Fanny
this is no place for you"
Harold and she had not heard the
footsteps. 1t was Blanchard and her
brother who had approached unnoticed.
F'And no place for you either" said
White to Blanchard
"Faugh," replied that worthy, 81
have no words to waste on such as you,
sir. am here to perfom a duty"
"Scoundrel!" Harold began, at the
same time raising his hand. She
touched him, and he was still
"Sir, she said, 81 am mistress of my
own actions. If I chose to accompany
my brother, it is because l choose!
Harold, goodbye Come what may,
my faith will not falter, my love never
change"
The last four words were murmured.
As she shaped them she reached for
ward and kissed him before her brother,
whose surprise at her defiant attitude
was unspeakable.
They parted and went their several
ways.
The charge against Harold White of
embezzlement, and the result of it, pro-
duced wonder that lasted much longer
than the proverbial nine days. His
departure, the day after the hearing,
no one knew whittier, had the effect of
increasing the number and sympathy of
his friends. 1t was generally admitted
that his defence had been weak-incom
prehensibly weak. But who knew
He might have had his own invincible
reasons for not making it stronger.
Why had the brother of his affianced,
(for she was his affianced in all but an
open and formal declaration of the fact)
foEcR With bnh him 50 suddenly? Until
were inseparable. Depend upon it, the
West Indian was at the bottom of it.
In this fashion the gossips of Single
bridge discussed the events which had
ed to Harold Whites downfall and
departure.
Three months had elaped, and not a
word had been heard of or from Harold
White unless, the female gossips
suggested, he had written to Miss
Westbrook, which considering his de-
parture, he was hardly likely to have
done. For once, however, they were
out in their calculations. He had
written her a letter, in which these
words occurred
eff l thought, darling, that you
would be happier to be rid of me for
good and ali, our bond should be dis
solved. 1t is your love for the simple
faith in me that sweetens my life, and
keeps me steadfast in my determination
to undo the miserable wrong from which
| suffer. They shall right me yet.
81 have borrowed for the present
another name-my mothers before her
but the people with whom |
are acquainted with my history. l
must try, dear, to rub on without the
which your letters would
bestOW. 1t is better that we should
seem to have parted forever. In the
good time we shall meet-and then !"
1t puzzled the well-informed Single
bridge to hear Fanny Westbrook's cheer
full words, to note her placid brow and
bright manner. She never could have
thought much of that Harold White,
you know, or she would have manifest
ed some regret at his misfortunes.
Blanchard, too, was mystifed by her.
What did it portend? Had she resign
ed all hopes of being restored to the
lover whom he had so effectually helped
to disgrace and Danish Was the
course clear at last? He would see.
His impetuous love for the sunny-haired,
girl, love which sprang
into existence the moment they met,
had grown nightly since the going of
White. He would put an end to this
He would face his fate.
IAN interview with me ?" replied
Fanny to his blandly profered request;
Certainly, Mr.. Blanchard" Her tone
was provoklngly even
''And, if you please, let it take place
now. Pray be seated"
If she had only been embarrassed.
''Miss Westbrook, I-I-fear that the
which I made upon you the
day of that unfortunate rencontre by
the riverside was not favorable. L"
Pray, proceed, sir, she remarked in
icy tones.
"Well, then-allow me-you cannot
surely have remained firm in the reso-
luton you then expressed-to cleave
to"
''Mr. Blanchard, I will assist you.
You apparently wish to say that | must
have ceased to love Harold White. Is
that so p
Miss Observation-Disclosures
me do. He is all unworthy Of you.