Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-03-27
Forester! I am sure he loved you.
Where is he now Pr
Claire's face, flushed painfully, as she

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Claire's face flushed painfully, as she
answered: s., A., @s #z .:
II do not know-absentf from W..
You are mistaken, Harry. 1 am sure
he never loved me, or he could never
have doubted me. 49, y
IL can not believe otherwise, Claire.
have his own words for it. He told
me 50 a few nights before he went
North, to attend the lectures. ).
II will acknowledge, Harry, I
thought so. But he never told me so,
although he took sort of quiet pos
session OF me. I never went with any
one but him; in fact, no one else ever
invited me: There seemed quiet un-
derstanding all around. After he went
away, I received letters constantly,
twice a week."
g.. Excuse me. dear Claire. And those
letters what was the toneg'
:Not so loving as yours, Harry!"
"Oh, we'll, Claire, his is I, different
nature. You know the old saying:
Still water runs Deep I suppose
Warren did not wish to bind you by
any engagement until the time was
near when he could claim you. Inever
heard of his ever paying any attention
to any other girl, or even calling on
any,"
"You forget Julia Cameron"
''Well, she is cousin"
"A very distant one."
':Perhaps she would not nina oc-
cupying a nearer relationship. 1 never
liked her. But tell me more of him. -
"When he returned home, he came
here Immediately. I welcomed him as
cordially as I could. The parlor was
full of friends, William Barclay among
them. / accompanied him to the door
when he left, and I am sure he must
have known how much rejoiced in his
return!
':He promised to come the next
morning, but that day and several
more passed. and he came not. Two
weeks after he presented himself
His manner was embarrassed and cold.
was too much surprised and hurt to
be any different. After few remarks
on the changes during his absence, he
astonished me by asking:
"'Miss Legion, in what relation am
to conclude Mr.. Barclay stands to-
wards your
II could not speak: And, you know
how quickly my face Pushes. I sup
pose that confirmed his suspicion. Fate
seemed against me. Before I could
grow calm enough to answer, William
Barclay came in, and his cordial, easy
way threw down ticket for the opera,
saying:
81 know how much you admired
this opera, so I secured good Seats
'Turning to Warren, he said:
"'You will accompany US, Doctor?'
"Of course he declined, and almost
Immediately arose to go. Perhaps I
should have gone with him into the
hall, and have answered him, and thus
might have dispeled his doubts. Well,
Harry, have never seen him, to speak
to, since"
"Claire, sonic one-possibly Julia
Cameron-had told him of William.
Were you often with him?'
Eyes, William is as ardent lover
Of music as myself. He took me fire.
quently to concerts and the opera.
But he knew perfectly we'll of my cor
respondence with DR.. Forester, and
believed we were as good as engaged.
am sure he never regarded me other
than friend, and just cared for me
anyway because I was your cousin.
Don't you remember telling him to
take care of me?"
Yes, yes. Well, I know some one
filled his heart and mind with doubts.
You should have cleared all those
away, Claire. You would have been
HAPPIER
Tears filed Claire's eyes. She
turned her head away, as her aunt
entered the room.
Harry returned to the bonnet SUBJ
ject, and few moments after Claire
went out.
''She is a dear, good girl; really an
angel of mercy. Many weary hearts
bless her., Harry's mother said, as the
door closed after Claire's retreating
steps.
Saturday afternoon came, and Claire,
in the prettiest little cottage bonnet
imaginable, dove-color, with trim
mings of the same shade, presented
herself. ready to accompany Harry to
the promenade concert.
Even Nettie had to admit the bonnet
looked well enough as Claire was
just leaving off her mourning, worn
for her mother.
Harry declared her prettier than he
had ever seen her before.
"Claire," he said, as they turned
from admiring a painting on exhibi-
ton in window, 'look at that child
standing at the corner! See how Gag
erly she looks into the faces passing!'
''Oh, yes; and see, too, how much
anguish there is in her face Come,
we will speak to her!'' said Claire, ap-
preaching the little girl.