Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-10-09
BETRAYED;
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of Loue, Intrigue and
Crime.
By MRS. ALICE P. CHARLESTON,
cHArrER xxrv-,contInnea.l

CHAfIEk kAAlN-tContnueu.l
He thought it bad taste in Clara not to
have maintained longer the high ideal his
innocence had created for her.
Nevertheless. when he approached her
house, and had the presentiment of her
approving presence, he was troubled.
Doubt and anxiety assailed him.
When he saw through the trees the
window of her room his heart throbbed so
violently that he had to sit down on the
root of tree for a moment.
Il love her like madmanl" he muir
INJURED. Then, leaping up suddenly, he
exclaimed: But she is only a woman
after all. shall 20 on"
For the first time Clara received him
in her own apartment. She was sitting
in an arm -chair, and, contrary to her
custom, had no work in her hands.
She appeared calm, though two livid
circles surrounded her eyes. She had
evidently suffered much, and wept much.
On seeing this dear face worn and hag-
gard with grief, Leland forgot the neat
phrases he had prepared for his entrance.
Heforgot all except that he really adored
her.
He advanced hastily toward her, seized
in his two hands those of the young lady,
and without speaking interrogated her
eyes with tenderness and profound pity.
1T is nothing" she said, Withdrawing
her hand and bending her pale face
gently; Il am better; ] may even be
happy, If you wish it..
There was in the smile, the look and
the accent of Clara Denton something
indefnable, which froze the blood of
Leland.
He felt confusedly that she loved him,
and vet was lost to him; that he had be-
fore him species of being he did not
understand, and that this woman, sad
dened, broken, and lost by love. yet loved
something else in this world better even
thar that love.
She made him q slight sign which he
obeyed like child, and he sat down be-
side her.
"Mr. Leland" she said, in voice trem-
ulous at first, but which grew stronger as
she proceeded, II heard you last hight
perhaps with little too much patience.
/ shall now, in return, ask from you the
same kindness. You have told me that
you love me; and / avow frankly that
entertain warm affection for you. Such
being the case, we must either separate
forever, or unite ourselves by the only tie
worthy of us both. To part would affect
me much, and also believe it would oc-
casion grief to you. To unite ourselves
for my own part would be willing tG
give you my life; but / cannot do it,
cannot we'd you without manifest folly
You are younger than / am, think.
Then hurriedly:
But there is another reason. do moi
belong to myself. I belong to my daugh
ter, to my family, to my past. In giving
up nv name for yours would wound
would cruelty wound all the friends wh'
surround me. and, believe, some whit
exist no longer.
well, sir, she continued, after o mo
ment's hesitation, Il have discovered
way by which we may avoid breaking of
an intimacy so pleasant and sweet t.
both of us-in fact, to make it closer, i
anything My proposal may surpris
YOU. but have the kindness to think owe
it, and do not say no at once"
She glanced at him, and was territie'
at the pallor which overspread his face.
She gently took his hand and said:
Listen patiently.
Speak on, he muttered, hoarsely.
@Mr. Leland, she continued, with he
angelic smile, 4you have seen and ad
mired my hearts darling-my friend an
companion, Mildred Lester. You knov
how much she is to me- Since she frs
came to us / have learned TO love ner VIII
all my heart. She is more than frien
more than q sister to me. Havin
watched over her so long and constantly
have all mothers feeling and affeC
ton for her. She is, she must ever !
the same to me as my own child. She
beautiful far more beautiful than an
and since she has wholly recovered he
physical health, her mind has develope
with marvellous rapidity; and although
portion of her life is yet blank, in edit
cation and refinement she is the peer {
any ladJ in the land Warren Leland,
4 desire YOU to make Mildred Lester yor
wifel"
Leland started abruptly to his feet an
seized the woman bs the wrist, casting
searching look into her eyes. Then, 9
he realized the full purport of her word
he sank back as one thunderstruck.