The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1881-02-18


propriety by his jealous suspicious.
He asked her pardon, and when they
parted he was much happier than he
had been for days.
Another six weeks few by and in that
time what changes had come about.
The French lessons were SO frequent,
that if Arnold Carew saw Clara Moore
for an hour in the whole week, he was
a lucky fellow.
4 And what were Clara's real feelings
at this time? Alas she had grown in
fatuated with Mr.. Cox. She believed
that he had grown really fond of her.
Perhaps he was In kind of way. The
French lessons had led to something so
very like ve-making that it would have
taken very clever analyst to have told
the difference. And, naturally, as her
feelings strengthened for her French
master, they declined for Arnold Carew
Francis Cox was better teacher of
love than of French.
Heaven help her Infatuated crea-
ture that she was, she believed it pos
sible that this wealthy young scion Of
good family might make her his wife.
Over and over again he seemed on the
point of asking her to be his wife,
Sweet honeyed words were they that he
whispered in her willing ear; beautiful
pictures Of what married life should be
he drew in flowing speech.
He had few letters; but twice week
he received an epistle directed in a
lady's handwriting. This had excited
Clara's jealousy. Yes, it had come to
that, she was jealous of him.
But ready lie satisfied her on that
head.
1 "Surely," he said, "a fellow can cor
respond with his sister,
That had been sufficient to satisfy her.
4 One evening, however, matters ar
rived at climax
She had received a note from Arnold,
saying that he must see her that night
without fail. She met him in the usual
place Of meeting. He looked very
white and angry.
Clara" he said, IT will stand this
no longer. You either give up the So
ciety of this lodger, or you give up me"
What do you mean y said Clara.
I mean what say" answered Ar
mold. g No one can serve two mastere-
neither can woman be true to two
lovers
Il "I'm not going to be domineered
over by any man, said Clara
g You will have to do one thing or the
other in this case" answered Arnold
Carew.
Don't try and bully me, cried
Clara, flushing up.
Tn not bullying you. It is useless
to try and eyade my determination,
CLARA. Which are you going to do {?
Give up these so-called French lessons,
or give me up p
& / certainly shall not give up my
French, she answered.
Then goodbye " answered Arnold,
and without waiting for an answer In
deed, without affording her time to an
swer he strobe away into the darkness.
When she had started to meet him
/ the wish had been in her heart that she
might find an excuse to cast her lover
off; but now that he had taken the mi
tiative and had sternly and abruptly
/ quilted her, leaving her in maiden
meditation fancy free, she experienced
very different sensations towhat she had
anticipated.
The tears rushed to her eyes, but she
suppressed them, and hurried home
ward.
II wish with all my heart" she
said, 'sthat Francis Cox would ask me
this very night to be his wife,"
When she reached home she found
that Francis Cox was absent
/ On the table of his sitting room lay
an open letter, In what Clara believed
to be, from what he had told her
previously, his sisters handwriting.
Most young ladies are inquisitive,
and Clara Moore was no exception to
the rule. She picked the letter up
and read it.
She had not perused three sentences
before she felt convinced it was from
sweetheart. A full perusal confirmed
her suspicious beyond all doubt.
ssAnd SO" she exclaimed, mentally,
her cheeks burning with Indignation
and shame, "and SO he has deceived
me-"
4 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 the room.
"Ahw he exclaimed, styou have got
back early
" Rather, she replied, coldly.
" You seem out of sorts, my wild
4 flower "a name he had given her.
!" What is the natter"
g You shouldn't leave your sisters
letters about, answered Clara, bitterly
Francis Cox colored up to the roots of
his hair.
.I hope" he said, with composure,
g you are not so dishonorable as TO read
my letters without my sanction p
ssQuite dishonorable enough" an
sWered Clara. g You are nice person
to speak of my dishonor; you have de-
ceived me foully"
Then with many tears Clara poured
forth her wrongs.
You told me your only correspond
ent was your sister, she sobbed; g and
all the while it was your sweetheart,
who is dying for the winter to come,
when you are to be married And yet
you could lead me on, and pretend to be
fond of nae, and teach me to grow fond
of you, and-oh, you are worse than
cruel, worse than cruel
Here Clara Moore broke down in an
agony of tears. Mr.. Cox looked at her
with an expression Of mingled annoy
ance and compassion.
8 Haw" he said at last, assuming that
air of affectation which he had ceased
to adopt when making love to the un-
happy village belle, g Haw! you are too
severe. Tn sure never intended to lead
You to imagine I was seriously in love-.
IF you've made that mistake I'm awfully
sorry, I'm sure; but, Of course, you
know, you never could have imagined
s + had any idea of marrying you y
II you didn't mean that what right
had you to pretend to care for me ~
cried Clara You did everything but
ask me to be your wife. =
And, knowing our relative positions,
answered Francis Cox, you could not
in your senses have supposed I should
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