The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-01-11

enter his mind.
walter! / do believe you are
not listening to me. You are think.
ing of Georgia and the children
don't believe you heard what | said
was saying we must have long
rides every day while you are here
Shan't we ?D
II fear, Clare, there can't be many
days of it. | must be in London
again early on Wednesday morn
ing"
lon Wednesday never thought
Of such an idea. What in the wyld
broughtys u down, if you cannot stay
longer than that"
What in the world brought him
down THAT was just the question
he was asking himself. There was
nothing wrong with Clare-that was
perfectly evident; not a hidden
corner or thought, even in her cha
meleon nature-all was open as the
day. Ifit was only about exp red
leases and back rents, etc, it would
have been rs well if his mother had
written frankly and allowed him to
judge if such journey and loss OF
time were necessary. But he was
careful enough TO keep these
thoughts to himself, judicial train
ing having successfully over, ONE
the natural frankness Of his charac-
ter. He was saved the necessity of
making any reply to her last speech
by the sudden pulling up of the
ponies at the hall door.
take careIh laughed Clare as
she saw him almost overbalanced
by the shortness of the jerk. "Ah |,
there's mother. Have | not brought
him home in good time, mother /?
Just twenty-minutes from the sta
ton and the ponies going like lambs.
No. Walter; am not coming in at
present; | always drive them
around TO the stables myself;" and
off she drove leaving her brother
folded in the arms of his mother.
Il am so glad to see you, dear
Walter. / was so thankful to get
your letter this morning. 1t viii be
all right now you are come.n And
she led the way across the hall
into the small room generally
used by her and Clare when they
were alone.
"Has Clare said anything to you !?
Dear boy! | am so anxious, that |
can think of nothing else. Did
Clare tell you anything?"
''Clare!" replied he Then it is
Clare, after ALL Is it some new
whim?"
20, Walter, worse than any of her
other whims. She says she is going
to marry-to marry horrid man,
a vulgar, low kind of personI"
"Whew This is a new whim
with a vengeance. | thought she
had forsworn nlatrimory."
30, don't make fun, Walter. it is
too serious, and / am so anxious.
The more | say to her about it the
firmer she seems to be. ] do not
know what we are to do"
"Who is the man? Tell me all
about it and do not look 50 tragic,
you dear old mater. At all events
it is step in the right direction. A
life is more in her line than
a sisterhood would have been. But
who is the man?p
He is a cousin of Mrs. Monkton,
and a missionary in some mining
village. Clare met him last year,
when those revival meetings were
going on. ! find out now that it
was he who put that nonsense into
her head about joining a 'Sisterhood,
and devoting her life to nursing, etc.
He was down here lately, and | no.
ticed that great many letters
passed between them after he left,
but | never for moment thought
Of anything further. And then, a
few nights ago, she told me that she
had quite given up all idea for in
Urinary work, for a much more use
ful and extended life had been offer
ed her. And then it turned out
that when Mr.. Moffat was down
here he had got her to enter into a
with him."
80. only a halt engagement! We
,an easily settle half engagement.
I'm thankful it is no worse"
"But it is worsei That was only
1t first. She told me he had given
1er fortnight to make up her mind.
0f course he is marrying her for her
I'VE will let him know that she
g almost entirely dependent on you
md that you won't give her a
arthing beyond the sum my father
eft her, if she marries without your
consent. That will bring him to
I've little doubt"
"Yes; but the difficulty will be
With her; she will not give him
I'D. The worse and unsuitable such
/ marriage would be. the greater, |
verify believe, will be its attraction
or her. When will you speak to
ner about this?"
Il would rather that Clare should
open the subject on her own accord
o me. / will get her to come with
me when | smoke my cigar after
Inner, and see what | can make
IF her."
On finding himself, after dinner,
alone with his sister in the smoking
-oom, Walter began to realize the
difficulty of beginning subject
which she seemed to have no inten-
ion of introducing.
Glare" he suddenly began, 'do
you know you are improving very
much of late? You are rather a
rood looking young person now
am inclined to be proud of you"
"Thank you, Walter. Was l so
,ery plain before?" she retorted |
'aucily, with a light laugh
"No; | do not mean that. You
we're always handsome enough; but
ome how you strike me as being /
lifferent this time. 1t may he your
tyle of dressing, or the way you
year your hair; but there is a diff
erence, / am certain. You had
,etter come back with me for a lit