The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-04-14


anticipated.
The tears rushed TO her Dyes, bu,
she supptesse d them, aui hurried
homeward.
81 wish with all my heart she
said, ''that Francis Cox would ask
mo this very night to be his wife"
When she reached home she
found that Francis Cox was absent.
On the table of bis sitting roo u
lay an open letter, in what Clara be-
lieved to be from what he la toll
her previously, his sisters hanl-
writing.
Most young alies are iulniSitivc.
and Clara Moore was no exception to
the rule. She picked tho letter up
and read it.
She had not perused three senten-
ces before she fDlt convinced il was
from sweetheart. A full pcrusal
confirmed her suspicious beyond all
doubt.
And so,' she exclaimed, mental
ly, her cheeks burning with indigna-
ton aud shame, "aud 30 ho has do.
ceived me-
The room seemed TO swim round
with her. She felt sick and faint
She heard the street door open, and
she composed herself with great
effort.
Francis Cox entered tho room
"Ah !" be exclaimed, "you have
got back early"
Rather she replied, colily
You seem out of sorts, nv vii |
flower'--a name be had given her.
What is the matter p
"You shouldn't leave your sisters
letters about answered Clara, bit.
terly.
Fraucis Cox colored up to the roots
Of his hair.
ii hope he said, with compos.
ure, you are not so disbonorable as
to read my letters without my sane
ton p
"Qnite dishonorable enough au-
swered Clara. "Yuu are nice per-
son to speak Of my di,horor you
have deceived me fJally.'
Then with many tears Clara pour
ed forth her wrongs.
You told me your only cores.
pondent was your sister," she sob
bed and all the while il was your
sweetheart, who is ding for the
winter to come, when you are to be
married. Aud yet you conll lead
me on, and preteut TO bs fond Of me,
and teach me to grow fond Of you.
and-oh, yon are worse than cruel,
worse than cruel"
Here Clara Moore brok down in
an agony of tears. Mr.. Cox looked
at her with an expression of min. .led
annoyance and compassion.
"Haw !" he said at Inst. assuming
that air OF affectation which he ha
ceased to adopt when making love
to the unhappy village belle, Haw !!
yor are too severe, lm sure never
intended to lead you to imagine !
was seriously tin love. Ii you've
made that mistake I'm au fully sor-
ry, I'm sure but, OF course, you
know. you never could have imaSin-
ed l had any iiea Of marrying yon!'
If you didn't mean that what
right had you to pretend to care for
me ?" cried Clara. "iou did every-
thing but ask me to be your wife.
"And, knowing our relative posi-
tions," answered Francis Cox. "you
could not in your senses have sup
posed sh,u d ever z ! as far aS that,
Ii was merely a harmless Irritation
to while away the dull hours, moth
ing more,
"You coward !" exclaimed Clara
Moore and, casting look of con-
tempt ut Mr.. Cox, she quilted the
reom. Shame and indignation fillei
her heart. To think she had allow-
ed this man to make nero play
thing of Ter to think she had cru
ely negl ected the nobleminded Ar
mold Carew for the sake Of an emp
ty-headed, heartless fop, For tue
time being poor Clara Moore was
insane. She rushed from tho house
into the darknese Of the night aud
made her way TO the river. Why
shonld she not end it there She
had lost Arnold she had been ji-t
cd AMI sneerel at by the 6ne gentle
man lodger she would he the laugh
OF the village. Had she committed an