The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-05-25
AUNT JAMES HERO.
A Tale With a Bad Beginning But
Good Ending.

every well, Glare. if you wish me to leave
all my money to some asylum you are going
just the right way to bring it about. When
first saw Franks noble face, made up my
mind that he was the husband | should
choose for you"
AS Aunt Jane said these words she laid
down her knitting and looked over to her
niece.
Clare was curled up in an armchair, with
only the back of her sunny head visible, and
soft sound of sobs told what she was doing.
Suddenly they ceased as she sprang to her
feet.
Aunt Jane, l don't want your fortune, if
Frank Aimcs is to go with it! l hate him !
the great, awkward-''
No, no. Glare, don't call him names.
He's one of the noblest men God ever made,
and if some Gay you do not discover it for
yourself, you are not what | think YOU
Never mind saying any more on the subject
now: but bear in mind that shall never
give my consent for you to become that
snippersnappcr Clarence Hollands wife"
Then she got up, and going to Glare, put
her arms around her and drew her close to
her kindly heart, in Il manner quite at vari-
ance with her harsh words. Clare was only
little woman, but nature had made up in
quality what she had withheld in quantity,
for prettier, daintier, sweeter little thing
with her sea- blue eyes and rings of yellow
hair, it would have been hard to find She
had only been with her Aunt Jane year.
aud it was while at boarding school she had
met the man to whom she had given her
girlish heart.
Clarence Holland was a ladies' man in the
fullest sense of the word, although why a
perfumed exquisite, who only can boast of
''lovely'' mustache, and whose soul never
rises above the latest styles, should be called
by that title, for one could never see
However, that was his description, and to
little Clare, with her slight knowledge of
the world, he was hero indeed.
Up i'll her room Clare took tiny note
from her pocket and opened it. "My adored
Clare it began; and then the foolish child
kissed it, while her blue eyes llindled, as she
exclaimed to herself
''No one shall ever part us!'
When she went down to the library there
was Frank. Clare gave him her hand, and
then rctreated to her favolite easy chair
and watched him furtivcly, with the words
her aunt had spoken, ringing through her
mind. Zone of the noblest men God ever
uldue nc was Jdll, kJOO Udll, OldTc was
thinking, though few would have agreed
with her. lbut she was forced to acknowledge
that his face was good one, as she marked
its union of strength, intelligence and man
illness, and the kind, tender smile upon his
firm lips
By and by they strolled out into the moon
lit garden, and walked three abreast down
the broad paths, with their sweet scented
hOp1apc of old fochipna1 o;t Ia,.
side, until Aunt Jane suddenly remembered
something to be done, and went in, and there
were only two sauntering in the moonlight.
Then Clare began to tremble, for she in
stinctively knew what was coming, as she
saw the absent dreamy look in her compan-
ions eyes quickly change to bright CLEAN.
He turned and looked down upon her.
''Clare," he said speaking very softly,
''don't you know what 1 am going to say to
you!"
Clare did not answer. Then impetuously
sweeping her little figure right Off her feet,
he clasped her close to his heart as he OK
claimed:
Il knew you must have seen that loved
you, my darling"
With crimson flush on her fair face
Clare forced herself from him.
Frank Aimes you are making mistake,
do not love your
The young mans cheek blanched as he
heard.
Not love mel OF Clare, can it be that l
have been deceived all this time!-that what
saw in your eyes was only friendship! o!
my darling, is there no hope for mes"
Clarc's head dropped as she heard the
ring Of sharp pain in his earnest tones.
Then she looked up, and taking his great
hand in both her own soft ones, she said:
81 am very sorry for this, Frank; but in
deed there is no hope, for-I-love another"
There was deep silence for while, as
Frank Aimes' hopes of happiness ebbed
away. He seemed to have taken leave of
youth, and all its sweet illusions, before he
spoke again.
II never suspected this" he faltered. 81
wouldn't have spoken so if 1 had, though l
couldn't have helped loving You"
The honest grief in his face brought tears
to Clare's eyes. r-
II am so sorry" she said; and then they
walked quietly into the house together.
Clare went up to her room and sat down
by the open window. The shadows grew