Mohave County miner., 1890-10-18

| In widows weeds. came to the door.
'fs Mr.. Mattison in--Mr, Perley
| MattisonR"
"No." she answered quickly. with,
as imagined, rather confused look.
/ did not believe her, and asked
quietly, "When do you expect him
| homer
Not at present"
Apparently she expected me to go
away but, instead. slipped into the
passage.
Mother" asked soft voice at the
head OF the stairs, "who ts itp"
And then, for the first time. / be-
csme aware that some one had been
watching and listening 10 our colloquy
from the head Of the stairs--a young
girl. dressed like the mother. in deep
black. with. very brilliant eyes and
profusich OF let black curls.
Some one TO see your brother"
She came halfway down the stairs,
pushed back her eurls with one hand
and looked at me with her wonderful
eyes. Even then her beauty struck me
as stool gazing at her,
4
hurriedly. "He has gone away. We
do not know when he will return"
Evidently this mother and daughter
were in the secret OF Mattison's vii
| liany and doing their best to screen
him from its consequence. My heart
bled for both OF them; but ID was no
time to indulge ia sentimental pity.
Speaking as briefly as l could, told
them 1t was my duty TO compel them
to remain were they were while
searched the house.
Mrs. Mattison sat down pale and
trembling. Her daughter colored
high.
Mother" she said, "why do you
stand by and listen to such slanders3
II is false? Let this man search the
house IL he will; my brother is as in
nocent as amp
No opposition was offered to my
search. II was entirely fruitless, how
ever; there was no where any trace OF
the missing bird. Nevertheless, re-
solved to remain there quietly, for a
day or two. to SEES what little waiting
might bring forth.
The same afternoon Clara Mattison
came in as l sat by the window, keep
ing a silent watch on all round.
Mr., Meredith" she said, softly.
mother thinks I have been rude to
you. she says 1t was not your fault,
personally, that you were sent here on
such mistaken errand--and. perhaps
she is right / am sorry II / have hurt
your feelings"
The pretty, ,penitent way 10 which she
spoke quite won my heart and few
questions on my part seemed to unlock
the hidden recesses of her confidence.
She talked at first shyly but after
ward with more assurance. Of herself,
her absent brother and her mother,
giving rue q thousand little family de-
tails which / almost dreaded 10 hear.
This twilight talk was one OF the
pleasantest episodes Of my by no
means universally pleasant life, and
was not little annoyed when 1t was
broken in upon by the arrival of the
constables from 4. who were to
watch through the night.
At the sound of their footsteps,
Clara rose up. aud sat down again,
confused and frightened.
''Oh. Mr.. Meredith, those men"
''Be easy. Miss Mattison," I said
'.yon shall in no way be annoyed by
them. Your privacy shall not be
broken In upon, believe me-"
Il know | am silly" faltered Clara,
"hut oh, II seems so dreadfulr'
My orders to the men were simple
and succinct. l stationed them as
seemed best to me, and then returned
TO spend the evening with Miss Matti-
son. And when l was at length left
alone could not help thinking God
forgive mellow much more winning
and graceful she was than poor Kitty
Elton.
At last answer came to my report
TO Mr.. Clenner. 1t was short and to
the purpose"
l read the missiye with n pang.
Clara Mattison's cheek deepened in
color AZ / announced my departure to
her.
You have been far kinder thar we
dared 70 hope. Mr.. Meredith" she
said, ae held her hand in mine.
"You will think of me sometimes,
CIara?"
The reader will easily perceive from
this how our intimacy had progressed.
She smiled. hung her head. aRd. tax
ing pair of scissors from the table,
severed one bright, HACK curl from
the abundant tresses that hung over
her forehead.
Keep this. Mr.. Meredith, in MEM
ory of me-"
Was foolish to press the jetty ring
let to my lips ere laid ii closely
against my heart? Clara evidently
thought was. for she laughed. but did
not seem displeased.
Mr.. Clenner appeared to be q good
deal annoyed when / got back to town
rather an unreasonable thing on bis
part. for certainly did all that man
could do under the circumstances.
I'VE have been mistaken all the
way through. il seems, " he said biting
his lip. ''Strange-yery strange. ]
never was mistaken before in my cal
culatioas. Well. we must try again"
went to Kitty Elton's that night.
She received me with a sweet, shy
sadness of welcome, that should have
made me the happiest man In the
world; but il did not. Clara Matti-
sons dark beauty seemed to stand be-
tween me and her like a visible bar
rier. When / took my leave there
were tears in her eyes.
kitty. you are CRYING"
Because you are changed, Edward.
You do not love me as well as you