The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-04-25

Of the social glass! Fernando, we
have been at cross purposes too
long already. / did love YOU very
dearly-I still love yeu-but |
must be true to principles and con-
viction. If YOU will sign the tenn
perance pledge, | vii. name our
marriage day al once"
"Do you think me III such I'M
mediate danger as that, then"
asked Elfingham, Struggling his
shoulders.
IL think every man is IN danger
who attends champagne suppers
night alter night, belongs TO a fash
ionable club, and believes in doing
just as other young men Of he age
do. Dear Fernando, hear reason
lor once-withdraw yourself lrom
the upas-ljke influences that are
hourly gaining a eIronger hold on
you!!"
"OIara!' vehemently exclaimed
the Young man, Il am not child
to be led by woman's unreason
able whlm's, nor do | choose thus
to gave up my free will and and
volition."
"You refuse my request3''
IL do.n
"Then, good-by!7 Clara rose
AMI quietly offered him her hand.
1--WE are conyerging more widely
apart with every day; what might
have been, is now mere thing Of
the past"
"Glara, are you not willing to
trust me?"
Il cannot be false to myself, Fer
nando. We shall always remain
dear friends, hope--but that we
should ever be anything nearer is
simply an impossibiIiIy.n
And so she left him, their en-
gagement broken by her own res.
olute words.
As he stood there with knitted
brow and folded arms, low sob
broke upon his ears-he turned
with start,
"Adelaide, you at least sympa-
palMze with me?' he murmured.
ooh, Fernando, ! think she has
treated you cruelty" broke from
| Adelaide Claremont's velvet.red
lips, and then she, too, broke .fom
the room.
Under all these circumstances
CLARA Vail was not tparicnlarly sur.
priSrd, about a month alterward
when Adelaide came to her, in her
own room, with cheeks radiant
with soft, maidenly bushes,
and wreathed about with smiles.
Dear Clara she whispered, Il
have something to tell YOUR
Il can guess it without the aid OF
your words, | fancy, Adelaide" ;"
said her friend smilingly. "Ion
are engaged to Fernando Filing
ham! Wen, dearest, wish you
joy"
"But | know from the sound OF
your voice that you do no approve
of i'll"
"Adelaide, you are no child"
calmly responded CLARA. 'YOu
are a woman, equally fitted to
judge these matters as myself. l
| prefer to express no opinion"
You were always too hard on
/ dear Fernando. Ikn0w | shall be
the happisst of wivesm asserted
Adelaide.
II hope so, DEAR" Clara answer
ed, rather evasively, "and when Is
the wedding 10 beg"
"In May. Oh, Clara, he is so
kind-and | am so happyr'
And Adelaide Claremont nes-
tied close down by her friends S
side to breathe out her hopes and
fancies and aspirations of this, her
first loye-dream.
GAS for you, Clara" she added,
laughingly, ''bewarel You are al
together too particular. With all
your beauty, and talents, and at.
| traclivene>s, you will be an old
maid yel.n
"Would that be 50 deadful a
fatew asked Clara, smiling. And
Adelaide shuddered at The mere
idea.
So, in bridal wreath of orange
flowers, and lace, and snowy silk,
she became the wife of Fernando
| Efingham, and Clara Vail remain
| ed unmarried at the age OF three
and-tweniy.
For Clara, although she never at
tempted TO deny that a good hus
band was one OF Gods most price
/, i less and precious gifts 10 woman
Z still considered that marriage wa
not absolutely essential 10 huma
j happinessl
So, the spring after Adelaid
E Claremout's wedding. Clara Va
went TO Europe with her father I
, cultivate her very decided PEI
{ chant for art, among the grand ol
= galleries Of Continental cities, an
for ten years she heard n.
+ more Of her bright little blond
L schoolmaie. or the handSom
e young Apollo whose beirothed 81
e had once been.
She had been At home scarcely
Y week, when, one day as she vi
8 driving down a vide street iowal
Broaiway-one Of those forlOr
% fnrsaken looking streets. whe
Il every other h0use is'a miserab
a attempt al a store, market, or
n onnr saloon-alas. that the line o
word saloon should be