Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-10-28
ALMOST A CRIME.
by CHAT. p'AusasY.


regimert of United States troop
are statbned there, and they ar
principally occupied in doin,
nothing,the monotony being onl
broken by an occasional rai'
upon ths neighboring IndiaI
tribes. Colonel Morrison ha'
charge ol the post at the date 0
this story. and Major Philil
Mason. q young and lately mar
RED officer, was second in com
mand. Colonel Morrison's daugh
ter Clara and Major Mason's wifi
Helena were the only ladies a
the fort. They were natursll,
much together, aud quite as nat
urally the husband and CLAIR
spent = great deal Of time in saof
others society.
One evening, as CLARA set ALONE
in the open air. Philip Mason
joined her. He was absent on O
scouting excursion. and his nm
expected appearance surprised
her. He seated himself very neal
her. looking down at her face.
"Clara. do you know what has
happensd to me since I have been
1away from this placer"
n She looked up at him with an
Ealarmed expression, his tone was
20 serious.
"You;cannot guess, l suppose, =
he went ON. II have made dis.
covery--a most perplexing dis
covery."
'What is itfs
II have found ont that I love
you"
He took her hand and held il
as he went on: "Yss, Clara, ]
had my doubts before I went
away. but thought I was master
Of myself in this, as I have been
in other things. and fancied my
self strong enough to strangIe
the serpent. But it would not
be strangled. Clara; it has wound
itself about my heart. and here ]
sit by your side, dishonored in
my own sight, come what may
bound to one woman and loving
another with all my soul--Jes
with all my soul. What am I
to dor
"Your duty" CLARA answered in
a low, steady voice.
Her heart was beating violent :
ly. She knew now that sine loved
Philip Mason. And her own
duty--what was thatf Upon that
question she had not q moments
doubt. Her duty was to resign
him without mnrmer. Even
after. this there would be the
knowledge that he loved her.
my dutyl what is that?' be
asked. ITO carry out my vows
to Helen. whatsoever misery i;
may bring upon both OF us? ]
am not one OF those saints who
think Of everybody's happiness
before thsir own, Clara. / am
very human, with all humanity 4
sel6shness. / want to he happy
I want wife for whom / can feel
something more than q csol lik-
ing. ] did not think it was in me
to feel more than that. / thought
had outlivsd my capacity Tor
loving. wasted the strength oil my
hearts youth ON worthless fam
ciss; spent all my patrimony OF
affection; but the light shines on
me again, and l thank God that
it is So"
II must not bear you talk ia
this wild way, M4jor Mason" shs
said. II feel as il I had been
guilty Of q sin against Helen in
having listened SO long. Bot ]
cann,t for a moment think you
are in earnest"
"Do not play the sembler,
Clara. You know that / am in
earnest" T"
"Then your scouting trip must
have turned your brain, and
can only hope that tomorrow
morning will restore your reason.
"Well, am mad, il you like
madly in love with you. What
am / to do? II / can recover my
liberty; il l can get myself free
from this marriage. will you be
my wife. Clara?"
"No; q thousand times, no."
'..You don't oare for me, then
The madness is sll on my side?
''Indeed I do, Philip; but
mwst do my dutyto Helen, whom
I love like a sister"
Miss Morrison drew her hant
away, and hastily retired.
Three days after, picnic
party. comprising Philip Masor
and his wife. Clara Morrison and
several officers, went two or thrs,
miles into the mountains, ans
prepared for a day Of enj ymsnt
Philip and Clara Glanced to b,
left alone together, and hi,
tongue was immt d .ately the trans
gressor.
"Clara,H he said, earnestly
why should we both condemn
ourselves to lifelong misery
There are two OF us-Helen i
but one. Why should two live
be sacrificed to make one happy
! have fixed everything for us !
leave Fort Libby together-thi
very day--from this spoil w
can mount two OF the horses and
before any suspicious are aroused
We will be miles away"
A blush Of shame and insulte
pride overspread Olara's face fo
q moment; but she wayered nm