The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-02


no longer any interest to me. 1 have
often heard you boast of your bravery
and Of the wonderful things you have
done. but when saw you rush for the
shore at the first Indication Of danger
as If the preservation of your own
precious life was the only thing that
Inspired you, a broad gulf suddenly
opened between you and me, and
made up my mind right there on the
ice, that whether / lived or died you
should never be my husband. That is
all, sir"
'.Mr Graham" said the discarded
lover, must have made himself very
interesting to you.
"Mr. Graham" said Lillian '.h2s
never, either to-day or any other time.
uttered a word implying that be felt
any special or personal interest in me,
unless such an interest as he has mani
tested in saving my life at the risk Of
his own; as you would have done had
you not cared more for yourself than
for anyone else.
The rumor that Miss Ashton had
discarded her lover. soon after that
skating adventure, soon spread through
The town, and on the third day was
openly spoken of by her father, when
cOuntermandiDg some orders relating
TO Preparations for the proposed mar
riage.
Under those circumstances Harry
felt at liberty to call at the Towers, and
had the satisfaction of knowing that
his visit was neither too soon nor too
long.
No allusion was made, either then or
for several weeks afterwards, to the
engagement which had so suddenly
terminated; but his visits were con-
tinued, and before the end of three
months it was generally known that
Harry Graham was the accepted lover
of Miss Ashton.
The wedding day was approaching,
and all the circumstances were provo
eative of that state of mind into which
men about to be married occasionally
fall, when they feel disposed to tell
the affianced everything they can think
of likely to interest her.
1.-THE hope, my dear" said Harry,
''that yOu would some day be my wife
has been the guiding star OF my life. F"
Lillian 1EaEu the uccldEablOu Will
deep interest and delight and then,
with her head resting upon the Shout
der of her lover, she said
Il know. my dear Harry. that the
gossipers are saying. and will say, that
discarded George Bertram with the
hope of getting you in his stead. There
is no truth in that charge. My graft
tude for the noble impulse that
prompted you to imperil your own life
to save mine would have been mani
tested in very poor way ii it had led
me to discard worthy man whom l
had loved until then. with the hope of
subjecting you to the much greater
peril of marrying one whom l had no
reason to suppose that you loved. /
dismissed Mr.. Bertram because | felt
thar l could not trust my life and my
welfare in the hands of weak, self
loving coward. | had not the least
reason to suppose that your perilous
risk of your own life to save mine
would be followed by your offering me
your heart and your hand. Your cher
ished secret, my dear Harry, has been
kept until the time came when there
was nothing to prevent you from max
ing it known; and now you have your
reward in learning from me that If ]
had known or even suspected, that you
were cherishing that hope in regard to
me, my lips would never have uttered
a promise of marriage to anyone else.