Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-04

NE; snail tell you no more ABOUT her, except
70 say she was as good as she was beautiful.
To do DiOden JUSTICE = dealt very fairly with
her as far as educat went No expense was
spared; she had the b. Il masters tor everything
But she was never permitted 10 60 into society
To be sure, he used TO have some female rala-
ttves OF his own or OF Mrs. Dlcden's from time
to time to stay at his little villa in Brixton but
as neither he nor his wife was very we'll CON
nected tt Is doubtful whether their society was
any advantage to his ward. One OF the few
young men she ever saw was Dibden's son. now
ABOUT 80 years OF age, and as il!-favored fellow
as one might meet between Charing Cross and
the Bank, and as rude and coarse in manner as
he was unpleasant In cOuntenance Nor had he
even the cieverness OF his father to make up for
DIS moral and personal deficiencies When l
say he was about the only acquaintance OF the
male sex that she had mean he was the only
one openly acknowledged; for She had-won-
derful how nature asserts her prerogative-
another that no one knew OF but herself and
him, to whom she had surrendered ali the affec-
tlon OF a pure and loving heart-and no Diane to
womanh0od she began to feel the irksomeness
or her position, and she naturally enough at
tached herself to the first friend she met VINO
mao tastes and feelings fn common with her.
~ ear after year she felt growing dislike to
her guardian and his family, who continually
remii ded her of the legal authority he pos
sessed. However, she remained very passive
h hnui tne 1--we Twenty mrs. anniversary of her
oy demanding to hear the contents OF her
fathers Will At first he refused; but she In
sisted. I am of age to-day, Mr. Dioden,' she
said, and my own mistress. You are now only
guardian of my money. l require to hear the
contents OF my fathers Will; know you have
copy"
ION hearing it she only said: -Four years
more and walked cut OF the loom.
About this time young Dtbden commenced
annoying her with his attentions, proving to
her, what she had already suspected. that TO &C.
cure her hand and fortune for stephen had been
the plot OF the worthy pair. She did not, how
ever, feel any uneasiness; but from time to time
she was subjected to much that was trying aud
vexatfous; until at last matters were brought
to crisis by Stephen Dibden Offering mar
riage-telling her at the same time he hoped
TO be able TO get hi 8 fathers consent. She
stared at him some seconds before She replied.
and then said: Marry you! Get your fathers
consent! Are you mad, Dir Dtbden? You tor
get your place; and she walked calmly out OF
the room.
''At this time, she had not actually engaged
herself, but doubtless the circumstance pre-
clpltated matters; for, the first time after THIS
that she met George Hamilton, she told him
OF her annoyance, and then burst into tears
Now. John, II a nice girl to whom you had
paid little regular attention, but OF whose
mind you were not quite certain, suddenly
burst into tears as she tells you OF her troubles.
and, SO to speak, throws herself On your pro.
lection, what 90 you think you would do?
why, ten 10 One I'll be bound you would do ey-
acuy what George Hamilton did-offer her
your hand and heart On the spot; and the same
odd5 that, Ike him, you would be accepted.
SO George Hamilton went back to his lodgings
that evening as happy as king, the affiancei
husband of Clara Briefly. '''' ''-'i ''A
But nave not told you who George Hamilton
was. Wen, he was DiDdenS head clerk: and q
Hrst-rate one he was. He had been bound as an
art1cled pupil in another house, but Just as his
apprenticeship was up his father died; and he
had not the means to prosecute his profesS,nn
and was indeed thrown on his own resourcesa
London is not, as you know, place Tor an hon
est man to live without the means Of paying h 8
Nay S ana SO Hamilton found and accordingly
was IN the Office CT D1bden, Knollys and Dibien
at the munihcent salary Of ninety pounds a
year. However, they soon found that they had
man ABOVE the common: and In order tn at
they might not lose him. they gave
MIN MIN a progressive. salary, which at this
time had reached one hundred and
gentleman in every sense of the Word-the
son OF retired officer, who had nothing to leave
M MN put gentle blood an honorable name and
was ABOUT twenty-five years of age and fine
handsome young fellow. 1t was by the merest
chance that he had ever met Clara Briefly, as
formidable rival to Stephen should be kent
out OF the way. However, his Introduction TO
Inc girl happened In this wise. One day old
DlDden was unwell, and Stephen had gone
out OF town, when a letter was brought to
the office requiring immediate attentfonNt6e
contents Of which Hamilton did not feel 1usti-
n neI In deanng with without seeing his prlncl-
pal; anu 1or bhlS purpose he repaired to DID.
GenS private residence. he was about to ring
Inc Dell when the door was opened by MISS
Brlerly VINO was just going out. Hamilton
drew back, to let her pass, at first surprising
she was visitor leaving the house, Wonder.
ing at the same time that the DiOdens should
nave an acgnantance Of SO elegant and aristo-
cratlc an appearance. He was not, therefore, a
little surprised when ne was asked by a soft
sweet voice, If he was being attended to:
Wnlcn was In nowiSe 'aDated when she asked
MIN 10, ana said she would send servant to
Charming girl" he said to himself, az she
went away. And then sudden thought struck
him. The ward.
Now, II George had been a commonplace
young man, she would have passed the nall
and gone out without minding hun: such, how
ever, was BY no means the case: and as the
sifi gave range TO her thoughts she was fam to
ADMIT that she had never seen any one who i'm.
pressed her so much at first sight. Yes: clara
BrieIiy was In love-had fallen in love at a
glance. Not that she Acknowledged such a
state OF things to herself she only kept think
Ing and thinking about him day after day-he
was sucn contrast to stephen, DlDden.
LAS for George Hamilton, he did not wait
to anaiyZe his feelings; that first slight rencon
IRE did 1t; and before he got back to the Office
ne naQ DULL himself castle. wherein he had
WORKED himself into Dlbden's favor and be-
charge.
Now, John, am not going to enter into
the details OF romantic love affair-you know
what love can do-they met and met again, ana
learned each others history; and at last, as
love. - wi -'''
. must take another jump over time Miss
6rlerly Is now In her twenty fifth year, and
george damlton just twenty nine. They had
sept theif secret; and it wanted but a few
months months when all the world would know &C.
Ihelr course OF true love had run smooth
en'ough as Iar as they were concerned them
s1nes ior tnough they saw but little OF each
ooneI inc thought OF her future ha opiness com
aoited cara under every vexat1on and annoy
anI g. rev more months she would saw
rant ~ HSo vi NY W
Alas! how true 1t Is that no one can foil
What DAY may bring forth! Before those raw
nontns mad elapsed Dibden had got ho;d ot
tneII secret. or course he stormed and roVed
Inc more, as he felt his power was ehntnr
IaSt. He tried persuasion. reproaches thraaIs
-Dut TO no purpose; Georges observation-disclosures
no bounds. 'oi Ane"
AT this juneture circumstance occurra,
which completely changed the ASPECT OF AFFAIR."
one day, Immediately after an Intervals with
DiDden, and while George was still a good deal
excited by What had passed between them q
stranger came up to the counter and asked tn
be favored With change for q ten-pound note
he was respectable looking gentleman. well
advanced IN years: and as George was the only
one OF the clerks who happened to be In the
counting house at the time he attended To him
In the Office cash box there were two five.
pound notes and two or three half sovere1gns:
ana as the stranger was anxious to have the
han OF bis money In gold, and there was not
enough In the box, George opened his desk, and
TOOK therefrOm five SoVereignS which he had
mat morning placed there with which to paw