Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-20
AT GREAT COST.

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connected with him feared. He had
lived fifty odd years in the world, yet
people prophesied that he would yet be
subjugated at great cost.
Not that he was a brute or q tyrant.
He was generous with his dependents,
tender with his children, just with all
men. 1t was only when his Indignation
was aroused that he was terrible in its
uprising. Few dared to face it's volcanic
force.
Fortunately for the peace of the house.
hold, his two children, Leigh and
Claricc, were not like him. Both were
blonde, sunny and facile. The former
was abroad with party of artist
friends. The latter was ut home-hcr
fathers pride--the mistress Of his house,
and these two children had no mother
She had died nineteen years before, ut
Leigh's birth.
Clarice was two years her brothers
elder. Fair, graceful and good her
father promised himself great things Of
his only daughters beauty. Love and
wealth he had bestowed freely upon
her: rank and little should be hers when
she married, But for Clarice's marriage
no was not yet ready. She was far too
dear and necessary to his daily happi-
ness. Therefore, Clarice kept kcr secret
like the grave, that she loved her half
cousin Allan Larrimer-anOther genial
and sunny spirit.
These young people, congenial and I'M
spoiled, became committed to each other
because "gay youth loves gay youth"
before they realized all that their con-
fession of mutual affection involved {;
for Hartley Clino would not be likely to
consent to Clarice's marriage with Allan
Larrimer.
He was IN American, undisting1,ished,
and of moderate wealth, and it was the
desire of his heart that Clarice add for
eign title to her other graces. For this
reason he had invited Count Herman to
Mapleton. Count Herman was a Ger
man, fat and facetious. He was not tho
only titled man to whom Hartley Cline
had protfered his rare and costly wines,
but the counts good humor was particu-
larly agreeable to him, so that he found
it pleasant to imagine him ut some dis
tant day, his ally and son-in-law.
TO be sure, he was twenty years older
than Clarice, and she laughed at his TO
tundity, and cared nothing for his title,
but her father considered the match not
only possible, but probable, since he ap-
proved.
1t was happy summer, though
Clarice shook with terror when she
thought of her father discovering the
tender connection which she had formed.
For, fear rs she did promise to marry
Allan, she yet, with great sweetness,
freely confessed her love, and enjoyed
to the utmost tho stolen moments they
could spend together.
But when they could no longer meet
in lonely rustic places, by appointment.
from time to time, and Clarice could not
receive him with frequency at home, re-
greet dimmed her happy spirit. In vain
Allan expressed his willingness to face
her fathers anger; her panic of terror
at the suggestion quite disarmed him Of
his purpose.
Winter set in. For q time, only notes
passed between Clarice and Allan Lar
rimer.
Suddenly there came change. Leigh
was coming home.
eyes, my boy is coming home," said
Hartley Cline, rubbing his hands in
pride and joy. "What shall VIC do,
C}arice, to please himp
"What have you Thought of, papap
"a reception on tho night of his ar
rival. All his old friends here"
eyes, we will" she replied gladly.
Soinvitations were issued, orders given
and preparations commenced.
Hartley Cline had planned masked
party. It would be all tho merricr to
have Leigh surrounded by so many IN
known friends. He, the host, would
wear domino, and for a moment, at
least, defy Leigh's bright eyes to descry
him. Early in the evening all would nm
mask that Leigh might recognize his
congratulations.
When the household was the busiest,
Clarice stole away to her chamber, and
hastily wrote a note:
"ALLAN--We are expecting Leigh
home tonight and masked party of his
friends are invited to Mapleton to receive
him. This gives me an opportunity to see
You without causing any one to suspect
how glad ! shall be Of the meeting. ! was
getting to despair Of ever seeing you
again. Wear a tronbador's dress, with
the incloscd ribbon pinned to the sleeve.
Yon will find what you need at the cos
tuners, Scchrist. Come precisely ut
eight. Your OWN ClARIcE."
Inclosing knot of rose-pink ribbon in
the sheet, and dispatching the note byan
outside messenger, Clarice returned to
her task of arranging flowers for the
rooms with brighter eyes and warmer
cheeks. In the afternoon, note Of re-
Spouse was placed in her hand:
"MY DARLING CLARICE-I, too, have
been in despair of ever seeing you again.
For all my promise not to acquaint your
father with our love, have been almost
on the point of going to him, stating the
truth, and demanding right to see you.
But now l need do nothing to alarm you,
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