Little Falls transcript., 1883-09-28

BY and listen to- such slanders? It is false!
hst hs san ssa1ah 5as hops g i he
No opposition was offered to my search.
Is was entirely fruitless, however there
was nowhere any trace Of the flown bird. q
Nevertheless, concluded to remain there
quietly for q day or two, to see what q little
waiting might bring forth.
The same afternoon, Clara Matteson came
in, as sat by the piazza window, keeping
| quiet watch on all the surroundings
Mr. Meredith" :" she said softly, mother T
thinks hsye been rude to you. She says
| it was not your fault, personally, that you
were sent here-on such mistake, and
perhaps she is right. I am sorry have
hurt your feelings" y
The pretty penitent way in which she
| spoke quite won my heart, and q few ques-
| tions on me part seemed 10 unlock the hid
den recesses OF her confidence. She talked
at first shyly. but afterwards with more as
surance of herself. her absent brother, and
her mother, giving me thousand artless
| little family details which I almost dreaded
! to hear. The twilight talk vas one Of the
| pleasantest of my by no means
universally pleasant life, and
Drownville constables vino were to watch
| through the night. at the sound Of their
| footsteps Oh the piazza floor, Clara RISE up
and sat down again, confused and fright
| ened.
90, Mr. Meredith those men"
| BE easy, Miss Matteson," I said; you
shall in nc way be annoyed by them. Your
privacy shall not be broken in upon, be-
| lieve me-.
| Il know I ON sillv," faltered Clara, @but
oh! it seems so dreadful!'
! M 0r2n tr fho kvio ND
| succint stationed them as seemed best
| to me, and then returned to spend the
| evening with Miss Matteson. And when
! was at length left alone I could not help
| thinhing--God forgive mellow much
more winning and graceful she was than
At lengal an answer came to my report to
Mr.. Clement Vas short and to the pur-
! pose:
! "Come back-yo are only losing time.
! If the bird has flown we must look else-
where for him"
! I read the missive with pang. Clara
! Matteson's cheeks deepened in color as
! ammo ,nced my departure to her
"You have been far kinder than we dared
to hope, Mr. Meridith," she said as I held
her hand in mine.
"You will think of noe sometimes Clara?"
The reader will easily see how our inti-
macy had progressed. She smiled, hung
her head, aud taking pair of scissors from
the table, severed one bright tress flom
tie abundant tresses that hung over her
forehead.
Keep this, Mr.. Meridith. in memory of
me-"
Was foolish to press the jetty ringlet
to my lips ere / laid it close against my
hearth Clara evidently thought was
for she had laughed, but did not seem dis
pleased.
Mr.. Clinner seemed annoyed when got
back to the bureau-ratber an unreasonable
proceeding on his part, for certainly did
| all that man could do under the circun-
| stances.
1--WE have been mistaken all the way
through, it seems," he said. biting his lip.
"Strange-very staange--L was never mis-
taken before in my calculations. Well, we
must try again."
went to Kitty Elton's that night. She
received me with a sweet, shy sadness OF
! welcC me that should have made me the
happiest man in the world; but it did not.
Clara Mattesons dark beauty seemed to
stand between me and her like visible
| barrier. When I took my leave there We're
tears in her eyes.
kitty, you are crying!'
Because you are changed. Edward,
!
kitty, what nonsense!"
I was vexed with her, simply because I
knew her accusation was true But kissed
her again and took my leave, moody and
| dissatisfied.
When I reached the Office next morning
Mr.. Clenner was not there.
He had gone to Drownville," said my
fellow detective; he went last night"
"To Drownville?"
I was seriously ANNOYED. Did Mr.. Glen
ner disrrust the accuracy of my reports.
Or did be imagine thss was unatle to in
stitute thorough and complete investiga.
ton of the premises?
"Its very strange" unused aloud.
Jones laughed.
well, he said, "you know Clenner has
way of doing strange things. Depend
upon it, he has good reasons for his con-
duet"
was sitting at my desk two days subse-
euently, when the d or gljded noiseIessly
open and Clenner himself entered.
~ u are back again ,ssir? and what luck?"
"The best"
"You don't mean to say it. Edward Me-
redlth, knew could not be entirely mis-
taken. Perley Matteson is in the next
room-half an hour from now he will be in
prison."
where did you apprehend hin?"
at home in his mothers house."
| HBut-
He was there all the time you remained
there. Ned, my boy, you've made blum
der for once; but don't let it happen again.
"What do you mean, sir?"
For reply he opened tho door of the pri-
| vate inner apartment his own special sane
tum. A slight boyish figure leaned against
tue window smoking cigarette, with black
curls tossed back from q marble white brow,
and brilliant eyes. He nocbingly inclined
his head as stared at him, with motion
not unfamiliar to me.
"Clara Matteson!"
"Yes,' he said, in soft, sarcastic voice;
"Clara Matteson or Perley Matteson, Or
thanks Tor W your % politeness, Dete%ctive % Merev ev
dlth; and, If you would likeanother lock of
| hair--'
turned away, burning scar ct, while Mr..
! Clenner closed the door.
Never mind, my boy. it will be lesson
to you, he said laughing. "He makes
ceptible.'
What double-dyed fool I have been!
had lost the reward-failsd in the esti~
nation of my, fellow officers, and behaved
like brute to poor Kitty-and all for
what?
went to Kitty and told her the whole
story, and to my surprise the dear faithful
little creature loved me just as we'll as ever.
Il won't be jealous of Perley Matte
son, Edward" she said, smiling.
Whatever might be Of his sister. And,
dearest, don't be discouraged. I'll wait as
long as you please, and you will be Sec
ond MIR. Clenner yet" -
1 She was determined to look on the bright
side Of things, this little Kitty of mine!
But felt the notification none the less
keenly, although, as Mr.. Clenner said, It