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

Whitehall London Review
The carriage was just turning the cor
ncr of the drive where the tall ever
greens grow thickest, the final shower of
rice and the last old satin slipper were
falling far behind it, when James Graf
ton realized for the first time that Let
tie had gone indeed, and had left him
there alone and unprotected. For him
the bright June day seemed suddenly
overloaded, and his own little domestic
world strangely empty in spite of the
merry, chattering groups of bridal guests
ON his sunny lawn. In another instant
the carriage had disappeared, the brides
maids and their attendant swains turned
laughingly away, and sauntered off
mostly in couples, for one wedding is
very provocative of another, few things
being more infectious than love-making.
James Grafton went toward his house
with very grave face Che had been
standing on the path that he might
watch the carriage to the very last and
on the doorstep met his two sisters-in-
law, Mrs Charles and Mrs. Harry, both
widows, and arrayed in different shades
of lron-gray silk. 1t was awful to have
to face them alone without that good,
kind, brave Lettie, who had hitherto
looked so well after him and his inter
ests who had always stood between him
and the widows. They seemed to have
come fearfully near to him all at once
Were they going to crush him complete
ly? Would they eat him up and pick
his bones? What would they do to him
James Grafton was bachelor of 40
or thereabout. Lettie, his only sister,
whom he had couple of hours ago most
unselfishly given away to Colonel Rath-
bone at the little white church ut the
foot of the hill, although many years
younger than himself, had always fought
his domestic battles for him and had
been quite equal to the task of defend
ing him from any number of aggressive
relatives, And James Grafton needed
protector badly, for he was the only
man of his family who had ever made
any money; while his brothers, after
trying hard to ruin him as well as them
selves, had died penniless, leaving him
thirteen nephews and neices to care for
as well as two widows, whose only Join
lures werea couple of very different but,
to James Grafton, equally Objectionable
tempers. A heavy burden, truly; but
he and Lettie had taken it up brayely
and eheerfully, and had done very much
more than their duty.
But now James Grafton has giyen
Lettie away; she was gone, and the
widows were standing on the doorsteps
saying all sorts of pretty things about
the pretty wedding and charming bride
There was a great blank where Lettie
had been, Oh, then, surely the widows
and the thirteen children could fill it.
Everything his friends said brought thi,
thought to James Grafton's mind; but
that only made the blank look banker
Mrs. Charles and Mrs. Harry did no.
love each other. How could they, being
the mothers of two rival clans of child
rem? THAT woman" was the term b,
which the one indicated the other in I
general way, but to-day, as each tried t.
excel the other in doing the honors O
James Grafton's very picturesque littlt
house, no one except the keenest oh
server could have told that open wa
ragged permanently between the tw,
smiling ladies who received so gracious
ly the parting congratulations of tn,
wedding guests. James Grafton, how
ever, knew the state of affairs only to,
we'll, and as he watched the groups OF
the lawn thinning, and carriage afte
carriage driving off, his heart sank dow
and down, and the blackness of nigh
settled upon him.
At length all had departed except tn,
sisters-in-law and their elder children
Mrs. Charles at once began to explor
the house, which, during Lettie's reign
she had never been able to do quite t.
her hearts content; and Mrs. Harry fol
lowed her stealthily about, rs 'detet
tive might watch suspected thief. A
for James Grafton, he CROPPED his me-
ancholy way into his library.
'Ha! what's this?" he exclaimed wit
sudden JOY as his eyes fell upon not
lying upon his desk. From Lettie
Dear girl! How thoughtfulr' He cage
ly tore open the envelope. 1t alread
appeared to him as if she had been gon
: some centuries, The note had bee
, scrawled in desperate haste and excit,
ment, but it brought hope and couras
with it. my dearest old jim" it raj
pc firm now, or you are lost forever
. ! see they don't mean to go. They mus
go, both of them. Keep to our a,
rangement. Don't yield an inch. 70
dear lamb, how grieve to leave you s
defenseless! If you value my peace (
mind, speak to Eunice Bell tomorrow
and know your fate. She likes you;
am sure OF il. ! am fond Of her: 80 a,