The Republican journal., 1882-08-10

an idiot he had been.
He tried to get chance to speak to
Clara that very evening. But there was
music, Clara at the piano, and Mr.. Brad
shaw selecting her songs. And Clara
was going the next day for a visit of a
few days only, just out of town. He
knew Mrs. Bruce, and could visit Clara
there. But MIR. Bradshaw now knew
Mrs Bruce. too; he was at that moment
talking with her, and accepting her in
vitation to come and call while Clara
should be staying with her
Louis was eNaspcrated. What bust
ness had she to ask this Englishman,
whom nobody knew anything about, to
come and see her.
At the last moment, he did get a chance
to speak to Clara not a very good chance,
for there was Oscar Calyerly close by,
picking up the counters of a game they
had been playing, and could tell how
much he was listening.
"There'S something | want to say to
you he managed to say.
''Iou'll come out to Carries, of course -
said Clara.
''les, but | can't come Tomorrow
night he answered. "Theres that
plaguy meeting must go to at Franks.
But III write YOU"
"All right said Clara, with deep
flush in her check She watched him us
lie went down the stairs. He did not
turn back. She did not think she should
ever see him again, yet she hurried for
ward to see lis very last turn on the
stairs. Her head was little dizzy. she
hardly understood what Mr. Bradshaw
was saying to her.
Her mother noticed she was looking
pale, when their guests had gone, and
She said You look tired, do 90 to bed,
Clara, You'll have all Your packing to do
in the morning"
That very evening Louis wrote his let
ter; that is. he wrote two or three long
ones, and then he burned them M. III
them he had devoted more than Il page
to giving his opinion Of Mr.. Bradshaw.
But be decided these We're not to the point,
and determined upon shorter one He
scarcely believed any note was necessary,
he wrote. Clara must know what he
meant and felt. But perhaps that was
the trouble, perhaps She had seen too
much of him, really to care for him. She
was SO used to him that there was no
novelty about him, as there might be
about the Engishman but no, he had
determined Mr.. Bradshaw should not
get into this note, so he scratched out
'En4lishman," and put somebody else
Iie begged Clara to answer him directly.
II the answer was to be mo" the fewer
words the better, and the quicker. Of
course i was not her fault, if she could
not love him, it was his, and she needn't
apologize. lie would rather not have
her sorry for him, and She need not say
so.
He mailed his note that very night,
Tie had previously calculated when he
could have an answer She would re-
ceve it before noon, the next day, and
could get an answer to him hy the last
afternoon mail. But this would be very
close she might not be able to send Oft
letter to the pOst-ot1ice that afternoon.
But then she might send an answer 10y
one Of her brothers, Jack or Ned, who
would Very likely be there spending the
evening. So all that afternoon there was
some hope of a letter. Nothing came 10y
the late mail at the post Office. He hnr-
>,
no one had left any letter for him He
passed a sleepless night, not Q hopeless
one. It was encouraging that a direct
answer had not come.
He dallied over his breakfast, the next
morning. He usually reached his desk
in his fathers office in time for the deliv-
cry there Of the mornings mail. He
would not he any earlier than his time,
and he left word for letters delivered lat
er at the house to be sent to him.
He hurried through the outer office,
when, at last be reached it, asking if the
mail had come.
''lcs, YOU will find it on Your desk f;
Jack Calyerly has been in
Yes, on top of the mailed letters was
one without stamp, addressed in Claras
Handwriting He opened it with trembl-
inc hands. 1t contained his own letter
to her. \ paper knife had been passed
through the upper part Of the envelope.
Ii had been read and returned
Yes, that was her way Of answering
him, without comment, as he had request
ed. 1t VAS ali over. lie was learning
With bis head on his hand, 4 little lizHy,
as the turning ofthe world had suddenly
stopped, when one of the old clerks Of the
office came in, and addressed him lifting
his left hand to his head, where his cap
would have been, if not in his right hand.
"Those letters, Mr.. Louis" he said
The vessel sails this afternoon, at three
o'clock
"Oh, YES, for Australia" said Louis,
rousing himself, ''this afternoon but
am going myself, you know, and can
write the letters on the way. You can
Just step down and see that the state
room that | saw yesterday is cleaned out
for me, and tell the captain shall be
there in season. VIII 60 and speak to
my father"
Louis went into his fathers private
room, and announced to him that he was
going to Australia that afternoon. His
father was astOunded, but Louis attempt
ed an explanation:
1T is Clara. have an understanding
with her suppose she will marry Mr..
Bradshaw, and | don't want to stay and
see it,"
Sim sorry, I'm sorry repeated Mr..
lreton, "but have always wanted you to
90 to Australia, only wish you could
have taken Clara, too. Its sad. suppose
it can't be helped"
Louis thought it couldn t, and Mr.. Ire
ton went back to the house with him to
help about his packing, and give him
business advice on the way.
"Noull have to write it down. said
Louis, "l can't say understood word
You say now, but | shall have nothing
but business when | get off"
The Calverly family were in equal com
motion. Mr.. Calverly decided that day
to 60 to Mexico. He received from
Washington letter sent for delayed
some days for postage), from an old friend,
who had asked of him some little money
help as we'll as counsel in his money affairs.
The friend had written the letter in dis
traction, and put on the only stamp at
hand, not noticing it was red stamp.
He wrote from Lowell. He had received
no answer from Mr.. Calverly, his last
hope, and had blown his brains out,
The delayed letter from Washington
showed his distracted state OF mind had
Mr.. Calyerly received il he mpht-he