The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-03-16

WOulu transfer dis aIecJlOHS W you III
no time. You don't know how oddly
he looks at you sometimes. If j were
in love with him, / would be horribly
Jealous. | really believe if he had seen
you before he asked the question, al
though | am younger, and
And prettier, you were going to say,
you vain girl
well, even if / am, I'm not half as
good as you, you dear, sober old Clare
But, good Or bad, am not going to
sacrifice myself to please two old women
for that's just what it amounts to. |
gave up Fred to please his mother, and
am going to marry Mr. Wetherill TO
please Aunt Winnie, at least she thinks
| am ...
For q week or more after the events
Just related Bettina appeared to be one
of the most docile creatures imaginable,
and Aunt Winnie and she were again
on the most amicable terms, but Clare
felt instinctively she was plotting mis-
chief. One day Mrs. Chalmers went to
pay long promised visit to friend
residing in the country. As soon as she
was gone the young girl dressed herself
in a neat walking costume and left the
house Glare did not miss her until she
had occasion to 90 to her room, where
she expected to find her, but found in
stead a note addressed to herself, which
she opened with trembling fingers and
read:
Dear Clare-I fancy you will not be
astonished to learn that l have gone to
meet Fred. Everything is arranged,
and we will be married in a few hours.
Aunt Winnie will be furious, but will
recover from the shock more rapidly
than ! would from broken heart if |
had followed her advice Will you
please tell Mr.. Wetherill when he comes
tonight? Dear Glare, don't be angry
with your own BErrlNA.
Thank God! calculated Glare fer.
vently, as she finished reading. They
are both saved, but how shall | ever tell
him? Capricious little pet, may you
never have cause to regret the step you
have taken!'
She met Mr.. Wetherill with a com
posed air, although her heart was throb-
bing painfully.
Miss Lyons is not at home she said
Not at home? in tone of surprise
No, Mr.. Wetherill; she's gone away.
leaving me an unpleasant task to per
form hope you will not be too much
shocked she went on, nervously; 'bu,
l am afraid she is mar Read this
note; it will explain ALL
She trembled like an aspen as she
watched him read the note, his face
growing pale and flushed alternately.
Il am so grieved, Mr.. Wetherill.'
you need not be, Miss Glare. l ad
mire Bettina's courage and honesty il
refusing to give her hand where sh'
could not bestow her heart. She ha:
saved us both from a lifelong unhappi
ness.
Glare gazed at him, too much amaz
ed to speak.
Miss Clare, will you listen to stor,
that has been trembling on my lip
since first met you here?'
l Without waiting for a reply he con
tinued:
Many years ago there was youn!
mana mere lad-whom we calle
Jack. He was a farmers son, and pool
Near his fathers place lived a widoy
and her only child, Mary. Jack love-
this little girl from her babyhood, au
when she was fourteen and he ninetee
the two promised to be true to eac
other as long as felasted. Shortly after
ward Jack went out into the world t
try to make home for the child VIII
had promised to be his wife. Sewers
letters were exchanged until Mary
mother discovered what was going OF
and forbid her to write any more. Abor
, a year after their separation her motht
died, and she went to distant city
reside with relatives. Jack did not hea
of these events until he returned to b
old home two years later. Then h
made inquiries for his little love, BIT
could gain no further tidings of he
Several years passed and he was success
full beyond even his boyish expectation
During this period he met many beaut
, full women, but little Marys image T.
fuses to leave its shrine in his hear
! One day he saw notice of he
= marriage. Then hope died, but men
! ory remained As time passed |
became weary of his bachelors life, an
concluded to marry. Chance threw hi
into the society of a young girl who,
unconventional manners proved stron
attraction, and in a short time he asko
6 her to be his wife, He thought the +
luctant air with which she consentt
, was due to bashfulness, but later c
discovered that her heart belonged
some one else. Then he determined
, question her closely regarding the ma
ter, and if his conjectures were true,
give her back her promise. Meantin
p he met women wonderfully like h
lost love. Yet she was not called Mar
nor did she bear the name of the m;
whom she had married, and, viii
r bound to the young girl, he could II
l ask for an explanation. At last
. found himself free, and-Nliss Glare,
:, rests with you to decide how the sto
of Jacks love shall end
e A profound silence reigned for a fC
moments, then Clare explained in 10
; trembling voice;
After the death of Mary's moth
Y she went to live with her fathers brot
= er, whose daughter was also nam
u Mary Lamson, In order to avoid &C
. fusion Jacks Mary was called by b
second name, Clare. 1t was Mar
. cousin who married, but the orph
girl remained true to her early love
And her constancy is at last rewal
J. ed, said Mr., Wetherill, drawing her
IL,