Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-26
LADY CLARA HOVBRAY.


and extensive park which surround it.
The last Lord Mowbray had died few
years since from the effects of fall from
his horse. Before dying he appointed
Lord John Russell guardian of his only
surviving child, Lady Clara Mowbray
Lord Mowbray was recluse and man OF
scholarly attainments. Lady Clara had
lost her mother when she was very young.
Her father had her educated with great
care, rot only in the accomplishments
which were becoming to lady of her po-
sition, but in the elements of good, solid
education. He was a man of broad views,
had studied the institutions of other coun-
tries as we'll as of his own, and was what
might be called Liberal. Making his
daughter his constant companion, he had
filed her mind with his peculiar ideas.
His death was to her a great blow, but the
wound healed in time.
Her wealth brought around her, as it
always does, numerous friends, and the
heiress of Mowbray Castle had many
suitors.
Three years after her fathers death
Lady Clara was sitting, one winter after
noon, by the fireplace in her spacious
drawing-roem, conversing with her most
intimate friend Lady Cecil Grey. Both
had some little fancy work in their hands
Lady Clara was relating to her friend
some incidents of travel in America, from
book which she and her father had read
together, in which not only the country.
ht-4o IL. l.
in America were spoken Of Lady Clara's
face lighted up with enthusiasm as she
said to her friend: 81 would like to see
men ike these; men to whom the Lord
has given talents, and who have developed
them TO the utmost"
Must we go out of our country to see
men of this kind ?" said Lady Cecil.
with few exceptions, yes" said Lady
Clara ''you will admit that most of the
men here are indebted TO their position
in the world for their advancement"
SIT may be So" said her friend, ''but
even In America, men, no doubt, rely upon
patronage to help them"
"Look at our Parliament, Cecil" said
Lady Clara, "what it is made up of, with
rare exceptions, but men not endowed by
nature for the position, but who were put
there because they were the elder sons of
noblemen."
"You should go to America" said Lady
Cecil.
81 hope to do So If my father had
lived we should have gone there to-
gethern
After drive through the parks, the
friends again were enjoying themselves
by the drawing room fire, and conversing
again, but this time on a very different
subject.
''Tell me, Clara, is it true that Lord
Lyndhurst has proposed to you, and will
you accept him ?''
He has proposed to my guardian in
due form; but, as ! am of age, l can do as
l please; and | please not to accept him."
'Why, how is this?' said her friend
'He has everything to recommend him"
Everything but brains, and he is like
all the others-he wants my broad acres
more than he does me. You see, dear, his
acres and mine join, and together they
would make an immense domain"
You say all your other suitors are in
spired by the same motive. How is it
about Lord Percival?'
He is less so perhaps, than Others but
| know fall well that if | were not Clara
Mowbray of Mowbray Castle, and did not
have long line of titled ancestors, he
would not look at me-"
"You are very modest" said her friend,
sand you give no weight to your personal
attractions"
"Oh, Cecil, I wish sometimes that |
could doff my position, SO as to find some
one that would like me for myself"
(na cnrinu MORNING soma y,,opfbc
this conversation between these friends,
there was seen on the deck of steamer
bound for America group which excited
colored suit, quite plain in appearance,
and a lady, whom he called his wife,
equally plain, but with good, kind, hon
est face, and their niece (for she called
them uncle and aunt), young lady, very
attractive and very distinguished in her
appearance. This young lady was in
strong contrast to her relatives. The voy-
age was a stormy one, and they were only
occasionally seen; and when they did APP
pear Lady Clara-for it was she-avoided
as much as possible the passengers on
board. The voyage was uncommonly
long, on account of the stress of weather
But at last they reached the wharf al
New York and Lady Clara and her
companions were driven at once to one
of the largest hotels there
1t took some days to recover from the
effects of their voyage, and then each day
they took long drives and visited all points
of interest in the city.
From New York they went to the fall:
of Niagara, stopping as they went to see
some of the important cities on the way
They had read in the papers, and also
heard that this year there was to be ar
unusually hne commencement at West
Point, and that the President of the
United States was to be there, and also
some of his Cabinet. They were also told
that they would meet there people Of the
highest distinction in America
Large numbers of people were congre
gated on the piazza at Cozzen's Hotel
when a carriage drove up. The uncle anc
aunt first appeared and they were scarcely
looked at, bu it was impossible not to ad
mire the yong lady that followed them
with her beatty of face and distinguished
appearance. All the men paid her tn,
homage whi.h men generally pay to
great beauty, and one could hear the buzz
all around: "Who is sheg "Wher,
does she cone from ?" 1t was strang,
that this admiration in a measure should
cease when she was heard to call her plaii
attendants uncle" and "aunt."
Lady Clara conld not help noticing tn,
looks of admiration that she receive,
from some of the young officers followe,
by look Of disgust at seeing her rela
tives. She came to the conclusion tha
hnman natur. was about the same all owe
the world.
One beautiful afternoon she went, at
tended by the uncle and aunt, to the eli
above the hotel, which commands such su
perb view of the river and the country 70
great distance. AS she stood there wit
her round hat falling back from her heat
her face lighted up with the enthusiast
she felt as she beheld this incomparabl
beautiful scene, no one could help admin