The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-27

fondest love, your own Lettie." James
Grafton had always had fair and rather
delicate complexion. 1t was not much
the worse for wear. 1t turned a vivid
scarlet as he read the last part of his
sisters note.
How on earth could she have guess.
ed? What have said or done to sug,
gest such an idea? Believe me, dear,
She is most sweet thing. / knew that
well enough without Lettie's telling me.
I'm fond Of her; so are you And in
spite of having lost a first love whom
the angels call Lenore," or some other
delicious name, James Grafton, this
bachelor of 40 years, sighed with almost
youthful fervor for his second. "She
likes you; / am sure of it." Aye, there's
the rub! likes--likes me-" he
repeated, ''but perhaps, loves some one
else on the other side of the world.
Does she? Why shouldn't / know|
He read Lettie's note through again
it was singularly inspiriting; never be-
fore had the case been put before him
so clearly; never had he dared, even in
his inmost thoughts, to put it so clearly
to himself. He opened his eyes widely,
"Have been fool, wonder? must
have been, or / should have" But
here he was roughly interrupted. Mrs.
Charles girls and Mrs. Harry's boys,
who always had the greatest contempt
for each other, had come to blows, and
now burst into the library crying and
sobbing, and making the house resound
with their clamorous demands for in
slant justice. The mothers, who had
been harrying each other until frail hui
man nature could stand it no longer,
rushed to the rescue. The noise became
terrific. Mrs. Charles demanded the
immediate expulsion of that woman
and her ill-mannered children" Mrs.
Harry returned the compliment with
vigor. James Grafton, unused to such
scenes, fled in dismay.. They followed
him to the shrubbery, and when they had
driven him thence they tracked him to
the poultry-yard, where, rendered des-
perate by sheer despair, he turned upon
them and declared he would not re-enter
the house until both had left it. There
was something so resolute in the way in
which he sat down on some logs by the
pump, as if he would stay there forever
sooner than yield, that, knowing further
resistance was useless, the widows de-
parted. For many hours afterward
James Grafton felt that he was the
greatest brute in the world. He was, as
regarded women and children, most
tender-hearted creature. He hated HIM
self for his harshness; it made him feel
degraded and unworthy even to WOO so
sweet being as Eunice Bell. 1t was
far i'll the next day before his self-respect
returned.
James Grafton's house was pleasantly
situated on the slope of hill, not many
miles from London. Eunice Bell lived
with a married sister in Tulip-tree lane,
within an easy walk of the bachelors
residence. James Grafton, being on in
innate terms with the family, knew, as
indeed all the neighborhood knew, that
about two years ago Miss Bell had been
engaged to be married. Then there had
been a quarrel, and estrangement. He
the lover, had gone abroad; she-why
one day she caught sight of her own
face in the looking-glass, and repeated
to herself:
Charlotte, when she saw her lover
Borne before her on q shutter,
Like well conducted person, @g E
Went on cutting bread and butter.
Other people said she went on living the
same simple, helpful, beautiful life thai
she always had lived
There was a difference to her in the
aspect of things, doubtless; but il there
were she never made Others feel it. Blu,
now that broken romance was all over
But there are some events which neve
recede into the past; they live foreve
in a'perpetual now, although one may
agree with ones self to behave as if the1
had never occurred.
Now, James Grafton had had broker
romance of his own in early life. Gen
tie Death had taken his "Lenore," leay
ing wound in his heart which, al
though deep, had no bitterness in 1t
SO it had healed very fairly; it was def
erence to Miss Bells feelings, not hi
own, that had kept him silent hitherto
for in truth he was very much in low
with her, and had been for some tim
past. James Grafton had promised t
dine in Tupli-tree Lane the day after hi
sisters wedding. Heread Lettie's not
over three times before he started.
TITS that likes that makes me hest
tate" he said to himself, as he began t
descend the hillside by broad highway
"Or, perhaps" he ventured to hop
presently, perhaps the like was onl
Lettie's modest way of putting loves,
Lettie was always so modest. Yes, YES
it may be so; but no! it won't do. I'm
fool for thinking so. And his thought
required to that other time when he ha,
asked his Lenore what he now wante,
to ask Eunice Bell.
The other time-ah! then he had beer
young, impetuous, madly in love. The
he had no need to ask himself questions
then he had been only too sure. Now
going down to the house where Eunic
Bell lived, he was full of doubts an
fears and hesitations "Yet why not