The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-07-27
CHAPTER XVIII.
MISS VAN Duy.,E GROWS N FAvOR.


Clarice Suydam had changed her place of
residence, and she was now living in a cosy
house on Patchen Place. The unfortunate
Clarence was not forgotten in the arrange
ment of the sitting-room of this new demi-
/ ollie, although the artists materials were put
| away by tender, reyerent hands. Over the
! fireplace hung q portrait of the dead man,
draped in mourning black.
! A bright fire burned in the CRATE, and
/ gave to the room q cheerful warmth.
Near window sat Clarice Suydam, sew
ing. Now and then tear glistened upon
| her eyelids and fell upon her hand. Beside
the grateful fire, her dainty feet resting on
q low stool, and her head imbedded in the
| luxurious depths of large armchair, re-
| clined Miss Celeste Van Duyne, the hand
some woman whom James Dalton had res
cued from a life of misery.
For almost an hour, on the day of which
! we write, these two women sat in Clarlce
| Suydam's sitting engrossed in thought,
and to the thoughts of one imagination had
lent airy wings.
Miss Van Duyne's eyes were fixed upon
| the portrait over the mantel.
At last she broke the long silence,
'Aliss s4ydam," she said, ''nay ask q
| question:
Certainly, Miss Van Duyne." replied
| Clarice, without lifting her head.
''You have been very kind to poor, unde-
serving me, Miss Suydam, and do not want
to be impertinent; but will you tell me
whose portrait that is?'
at is the portrait of my dead cousin, Miss
| Van Duyne."
"Please call me Celeste" pleaded the
young Wpman ''He was handsome" ahe
! said-''Very handsome"
cav, he was handsome" said Clarice,
somewhat bitterly-'had he not been, he
might to-day be alive. Beauty is sometimes
| a curseg EE
Miss Van Duyne withdrew her attention
| from the picture and turned an aStonlsne0
! look upon Miss Suydam.
| HHQW did his features prove q cursor
ga wealthy lady pretended to fall IN love
with him, but she proved false because no
was not wealthy also, and he
Clarice paused and resumed her work.
''And what was the result?"
she diedP'
'.Oh, how sadr' exclaimed Miss Van
Duyne. "Died of broken hearth
| Again silence reigned in the room.
! The beautiful Miss Van Duype toyed idly
with the fringe on the arm of her chair.
Presently the silence was again broken by
| her inquiry:
| ssWere YOU ever in love, Miss SuydamF
! All, excuse meI' she said, hastily, as if re-
! penting the rude question.
HOnoe," replied Clarice, with faint
smile, and then she turned her face toward
the window.
'aOncep' echoed Miss Van Duype, ''Yoq
should never love but once, beg your
| papdonj see I have stupidity blHndeFed
! upon O subject which gives you pain.
| She directed her attention to the portrait
again.
sDo you know" she said, TREMENDOUSLY,
'T have been longing to tell you secret.
| and ask your advice as to what shall dol
1 seem to be happy, but I am unutterabIy
wFetGhed,"
Miss Van Duyne covered her face with her
hands and burst into tears.
Clarice rose from her seat and walked
over to the young woman's chair. Leaning
over the back of it, she stroked the sobbing
womans forehead and babe her confde her
troubles to her keeping, and if she could do
aught to assist her she would.
Miss Van Duyne, still hiding her face in
her hands, broke out: @
II am SO unhappy! Your friend, Mr..
Dalton, has been very kind to me, and you
are like sister, but cannot escape the
stigma of my former life. I am forced to
remain indoors; but, if I were free to go into
society, I should soon be frowned upon,
were my character to become known, al
though / really have not myself been
vicious-you believe that have not?"
81 have no right to disbelieve you, &C.
leste," said Clarice, gently. "The fact of
your leaving your evil companions is evil
dence that you hate crime"
'.BleSs YOU for that assurancep sighed the
IUVuIy Creature. -'Ouuge, Lnen, she a0deIA
''of how bemoan my unfortunate love-"
'Love!" ##.
''Yes, Miss Suydam, am deeply enam-
Ored of gentleman whose love fear do
not possess, and who, if he did reciprocate
my affection, would not take me to his heart
should tell him the history of my life"
care you sure he would not2" asked Clar-
ice.
CONTINUED.