The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-03-24
THE FAIR CLIENT,

10 marry mat hOrrld Mrs. Dayton! What shall
we do?" said Alice Clinton as she ran into
Mrs. Somers' breakfast room one bright
summer morning, followed by her younger
brother and sister. wont you speak to
father, Cousin Carrier" continued she,
coaxingly. "You know YOU have more in
tluence with him than any one else. :"
eyes, do-won't you?" chimed in George.
awe don't dare to speak to him about it.
That dreadful woman! never could en-
dure her. am sure we can never stay at
home if she comes. I will come and live
with YOU"
And SO will l." sobbea little Mary, cry
ing out of pure sympathy for her brother
and sister.
''What is the matter?" asked Mrs. Son.
ers. HAS anything happened lately? Only
last week your father told me that the re-
port of his intended marriage was false. It
seems to me you alarm yourselves unneces-
sarily."
Lob, no." replied Alice, fair girl of
sixteen; "she is coming here next week,
and I heard father tell Uncle John this
morning that he hoped his house would be
Il little more cheerful before long. for he
thought of bringing home bright presiding
genius. Those were his very Words" and
Alice leaned her head ON Mrs. Somers'
shoulder and sobbed bitterly.
well, we'll, said Mrs Somers, at last
overcome by their united tears and en-
treaties, II will exert all my influence in
your favor, but I am afraid it will be use
less when opposedby Mrs. Dayton's charms.
How did your father become so infatuated
by IL woman he once disliked SO excessive
ly?"
ooh, said George. bluntly, ''she fatter-
ed him so much I heard her tell him that
he was one of the finest looking men she
ever saw; and she called him SO stately, and
then she looked at Mrs. Dale and laughed,
but father did not see her"
"Stay! that reminds ne, exclaimed Mrs.
Soners, II have an idea in my mind; but
fear it will hardly be right to act upon it."
''Oh, yes,' said Alice, raising her blue
eyes, filed with tears; anything would be
right; it seems to me. Pray do al thatyou
''Well, dearest, dry your tears and go
home, and will think about it, said Mrs.
Somers, kissing her brow. ''rhere, see
your father coming; run home through the
garden and I will speak with him.
And Mrs. Somers stepped into the little
grassplat in front Of her house and called
to Mr. Clinton, who readily obeyedher sum-
mons, for he had been waiting for an op-
portunity of informing his old ward and
favorite of his determination, and of justify
ing himself in her eyes for what he feared
she would consider rash step.
Long and earnest was the conversation.
She recalled to his mind the dislike form
erly existing between himself and his now
worshipped Mrs. Dayton; asked him if he
had forgotten that he had once thought her
so heartless and worldly that he had forbid
den his wife to visit her, and reminded him
of a conversation he had overheard between
Mrs. Dayton and one Of her friends in which
he was ridiculed numerically as almost to
produce an open quarrel. But it was all to
no effect. He listened with undisguised
impotence, and said that she had been very
much misunderstood; she had explained
everything to him, and in village like
theirs so many unfounded rumors were
flying about that he thought person Of
sense should pay no attention to them. For
his part, his determination was taken, and
once formed, Mrs. Somers ought to know
it was seldom changed. He had studied
Mrs. Dayton's character with great attention,
and the more intimately he knew her the
more he saw to love. She had owned to
him that she was formerly very much preju-
deed, he might say he was sure-she thought
favorably of him; and Mr.. Clinton rose to
go.
Promise ne one thing, said Mrs. Som
ers, who could scarcely repress smile at
the Malvolio- like conceit Of her old guard
ian-''promise me that if I can prove to
you that her opinion Of you is the same
now as when you heard that conversation,
that you will discontinue your addresses?"
II may safely promise that, think. said
Mr.. Clinton, smiling. "Good morning."
and his slow step was soon heard on the
gravel walk in front of the house.
Mrs. Somers stood for moment in deep
though and then threw on hastily her bon
net and shawl, and calling pet Fidele, took
her way to Mrs. Dale's, q careless, light
hearted, fashionable woman, who seemed to
live only for the sake of amusing and being
amused. She had been an old school
companion and playmate of Mrs. Dayton,
and as her lively and piquant manner Of
talking and writing pleased Mrs. Dale, they
had been constant correspondents for many
years, and called themselves great friends.
But Mrs. Dale considered her letters far
too good to enjoy alone, and as Mrs. Somers
was favorite of hers, she often brought
them to read to her-never seeming to
think or care that she was betlaying her
dearest friends confidence, or laying
open her most secret motives to the eye Of
one who, to say the least, would not regard
them favorably. 1t was in search of this
very packet Of letters that Mrs. Somers had
gone, and having easily obtained them, she
turned her steps towards Mr.. Clintons
Office, not without q little trepidation and
sinking Of the heart, for the part she
had taken on herself was a most unpleas-
ant one. To draw from under man the
pedestal on which he had been placed, and
to make him feel that the hand which had
elevated him had acted traitors part, and
while pretending to desire his esteem, had
been seeking only her own comfort, might
produce effects more disagreable than she
was prepared to encounter. Besides, she
had some qualms of conscience, which she
sti1ed as they rose, about the Propriety of
betraying the private correspondence of any