Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-03-11
LADY CLAIR f.
BY ETTIE ROGERS.

She stood in the center of her e1e-
CANT drawing room-this lovely Clare
Estcote-a slim girl with pale-gold
hair, a rosebud mouth, and large eyes
of lapis lazuli blue. She wore dead
black-a rich mourning costume, with
a profusion of soft, black tulle about
her graceful throat, a bunch of tube
roses IN her corsage, and great scln-
tlllant diamond on one delicate finger.
Upon her dainty and perfect counte-
nance there was a pensively regretful
look-the look of one to whom some
unfamiliar sorrow was yet something
more than a memory and a name. .
She mourned a dead father, over
whose grave the new fresh grasses
were not yet green; she mOurned SIN
,cerely, though she was the acknowl-
edged heireSS of vast heritage that
she held all hers, and hers alone. All
hers without hindrance or dispute, she
held the entirety of a magnificent in
heritance, although there had been q
nephew whom John Estcotehad loved
as a son, and who not unnaturally
might have anticipated some modest
legacy from an ever generous and con-
siderate kinsman.
Clare had risen to take leave of her
betrothed husband who stood beside
her cOusIn-a tall, tanned and bearded
man with attractive features, contem-
plative eyes, and rather scholarly
mien, and who had but just returned
from a long pilgrimage in a foreign
land.
You cannot rely upon Alf," her be-
trothed husband was saying, with the
slightest possible suggestion of a scott
In his polished and bantering accents
"He is not disposed to the philan-
thropic, He cares for nothing but his
musty old books and his big meer-
schaum He prefers his study, his
But, after all, a tramp through the
gether transcendantly agreeable
II dislike to send a servant" Clare
remarked with an almost pleading
glance toward her lover.
But that would be quite the best
thing you could do" he answered in
his characteristic fashion of fippant
suavity. ~ am sorry, Clare-I am,
upon my honor-that / cannot be
your messenger; but have a decided
ly important engagement at the club
rooms tonight
II have a notion, Brian, that l
ought to go myself. Mrs. Cooke was
always so fond of me, and her sum-
mons were so singularly urgent" Clare
said, refectively.
''Oh, but you must not go-by no
means must you co." her lover de
clared, with unaffected disapproval.
'"The neighborhood is not particular
ly safe, and you would scarcely drive
there and back before midnight. Send
one of your servants with a bank note
and hamper Of deiicacies are
undoubtedly all she wants What
possible claims to your consideration
can common old washerwoman
have, Clare ?"
"You know, Brian, she was once
my nurse Clare said, quite reproach-
fully. "And while papa lived he never
refused her anything she required, %
81 shall only be too glad to go for
you, Clare" said her tanned and
bearded cousin. 1.-The big meerschaum
and the musty old books have no
charms for me when [ can do any
thing to oblige you" he added with an
unconscious emphasis, SO peculiar
that her lovely cheeks flushed Grim
son.
And she frowned too, the least bit
she was not at all inclined to encour-
age the difident devotion Of the some
what impecunious young man whose
kinship John Estcote had SO signally
ignored.
81 should never have imagined you.
capable, Alf, of so gallant a speech, y
Brian commented still with the sug-
gestion of a scott in his bland and
bantering accents 'But all the same,
/ appreciate your little civilities-I do
upon my honor. | am immensely
gratifed; Clare is so anxious about
the old creature, and of course [ can
not alter that arrangement for the
club-room.
With that assurance he turned and
sauntered from the elegant drawing
room, and his affianced and Alfred
Chandos were left alone together
Il am persuaded that | ought to go
to my poor old nurse, just as she de
sires, (" Clare said presently. 81 have
a presentiment OIL know not what.
| have quite determined to accom-
-
pany you, Cousin ALI.
II might be wiser to .dissuade you, ("
he responded with a peculiar hest
fancy, and in a peculiarly earnest
voice. "StilI your wishes are ever
commands to me-you know that,
Clare" he said again, with the uncon-
scious emphasis that always brought
the vivid crimson to her lovely cheeks.
Bnt she had her way. And some
time later the elegant equipage of the
heiress stopped before an exceedingly
humble dwelling in remote neighbor-
hood, swarming with the most lowly
denizens of the city.
The proud and dainty girl shuddered
as she crossed the unsightly threshold
of the comfortless abode, and tears
filled her sweet eyes as she entered the
dreary room where q wasted and with
cred creature lay moaning on miser-
able pallet.