Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-01
where Mrs. MattesOn lives"

a brisk walk carrying my traveliag Dag
1t was quite distance ere emerged IRON
the suburbs of the "mainstreet" into
quiet and secluded road, Or rather q Ian
The patch o'woods" with the bars, anu
the ''little yaller house, cream-colored
cottage, literally overgrown with honey
suckles rewarded my search, and as J
knocked at the door, clio OK somewhere
inside struck seven.
A decent looking, cid erly woman II
widows weeds came to the door.
us Mr.. Matteson in? MIR. Perley?"
"No." she answered quickly, with, as
imagined, quite confused look. I did
not believe her, and asked quietly:
sWhen do you expect him homer"
"Not at present."
Apparently she expected me to go away,
but, instead, stepped in.
Mother" asked soft voice at the
head of the stairs, "who is itW
And then for the first time I became
aware that same one had been watching
our colIoquy from the head of the stairs
a youg girl dressed, like her mother. in
deep black, with very brilliant eyes. and
profusion of jet black ringlets.
'Some one to see your brother"
She came half way down the stairs,
pushing back her curls with one hand, and
looking at me with wonderful eyes. Even
then her beauty struck me a. stood gaz-
ing ut her.
TERRY is not at home, )" she said hurri-
eddy. "He is gone away, we do not
know when he will return
Evidently this mother and daughter
were in the secret of Matteson's villain
ly, and doing their best to screen him
from it's consequences. Ny heart bled for
both of them; BUTT was no time to in
dulee in sentimental pity. Speaking as
briefly rs could. I told them it was my
duty to compel them to remain where they
were while searched the house.
Mrs. Matteson sat down, pale and trem-
bling; her daughter colOred high.
s'M0ther." she said, ''why do you stand
by to listen to such SANDERS? 1t is falsel
LAW WHO A1oA oC01OA tuO nOuoC IL u0 WILL
my brother is as innocent as am"
No opposition was offered to my search.
1t was entirely fruitless, however-thers
was nowhere any trace Of the flown bird.
Nevertheless, concluded to remain there
quietly for day or two, to see what lit
tie. waiting might bring forth.
The same afternoon Clara Matteson
came in, as sat by the piazza window,
keeping quiet watch on all the sarround-
ings.
"Mr. Meredith she said softly, moth
or thinks have been rude to you. She
says it was not your fault, personally, that
you were sent here-on such q mistake,
and perhaps she is right. am very sor-
ryi if have hurt your feelings"
The pretty, penitent way in which she
spoke quite won my heart, aud few ques-
tions on my part seemed TO unlock the
hidden recesses of her confidence. She
talked at first shyly, but afterwards with
more assurance of herself, her absent
brother, and her mother, giving me a
thousand artless little family details which
almost dreaded to hear. The twilight
talk was one of the pleasantest episodes
of my by no means universally pleasant
life, and 1 was considerably annoyed when
it was broken in upon by the arrival of the
Drownville constables who were to watch
Through the night. at the sound of their
footsteps on the piazza floor, Clara rose up
and sat down again confused and fright
ened.
80, Mr.. Meredith-those men,
BE easy, Miss Matteson, said; "you
''you shall in no way be annoyed by them.
Your privacy shall not be broken in upon,
believe me-" @
II know 1 am silly" faltered Clara.
''but. oh! it seems so dreadful!'
My orders to the men were brief and
succinct. I stationed them as seemed best
to me, and returned to spend the evening
with Miss Matteson. And when was at
length alone could not help thinking.
God forgive mellow much more winning
and graceful she was than poor Kitty
Elton.
At length an answer came to my report
to Mr.. Clenner-it was short and to the
purpose:
''Come back. You are only losing time.
If the bird has Town we must look else
where for him."
I read the misGive with a pang. Clara
Matteson's cheek deepened in color as l
announced my departure to her.
"You have been far kinder than we
dared to hope. Mr.. Meredith she said as
I held her hand IN mine. estF
"You will think of me sometimes,
Clara?"
The reader will easily perceive how our
intimacy had progressed. She smiled,
hung head, and taking pair of scissors
from the table. severed one bright black
curl from the abundant tresses that hung
over her forehead.
Keep this, Meredith, in memory of
me-" 'a+ f6S
Was foolish to press the jetty ringlet
to my lips ere I laid it closely against my
HEARTY Clara evidently thought was for
she had laugh ed, but did not seemed dis
pleased.
Mr.. Clenner seemed annoyed when got
back to the Bureau-rather an unreasona-
BILE proceedings on his part, for certain
ly did all that could do under the cir
I'VE have been mistaken all the way
through it seems" he said, biting his lips.
''Strange-very strange-I was never
mistaken before in my calculations. Well,
We must try again.
went to Kitty Elton's that night. She
received me with sweet. shy sadness Of
welcome that should have made me the
happiest man in the world; but it did not.
Clara Matteson's dark beauty seemed to
stand between me and her like visible