Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-18
BETRAYED;
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance Of LoUs, Intrigue and
Crime.
By MRS. ALICE P. CHARLESTON.
CHAPTER xx.-tcontinusd)

tuo Opou uOOTt Al ucI QIOhmH ~
the beautiful scenes about her.
Leland Awoke her, inquired for the
master OF the house, and was ushered
into the hall.
Thence he entered charming apart
ment, where young lady in garden hat
was arranging bouquets in porcelain
vases.
She turned at the noise of the opening
door. and Leland saw-Clara Dentonl
As he saluted her with an air Of aston
ishmsnt and doubt, she looked ixedly at
him with her great eyes.
he spoke first, with, however, more Of
hesitation than usual.
Pardon me, madam, but inquired
-He is in distant field, but will soon
return. Be kind enough to wait"
She led him into another apartment
and pointed him to o chair, seating her.
self near the fireplace.
But, madam, in the absence of Mr..
Metcalf, can I have the honor of speak
ing with his daughter?"
The shadow of q smile fitted over
Clara Denton's dark but charming face.
His daughterP" she said; Il am his
daughter"
You! Pardon me, 1 beg, but thought
they said-I expected to find an elder
ly-a-person-that is 0 rather severe
- he hesitated, then added simply:
"snd find am in error"
Clara Denton seemed completely un-
moved by this compliment.
will you be kind enough, SIR she
said, TO let me know whom have the
honor Of receiving"
II am Warren Leland-
4Ahl Indeed! Pray be seated, Mr.. Le-
land. Then I have excuses also to make.
II was probably you whom We saw this
morning. We have been very rude-my
friend, my daughter, and myself-but we
were ignorant of your arrival, and the
Sedley farm has been SO long deserted,
you know"
4 sincerely hope, Mrs. Denton, that
yea and the other ladies will make no
change in your rides"
Mrs. Denton, by q movement of the
hand, implied that she appreciated the
offer, but should not accept it.
Then there was pause long enough
to embarrass Leland, during which his
eyes fell upon the piano, and his lips al
most formed the original remark:
You are q musician, Mrs. Dentonp"
Suddenly recollecting his tree, how
ever, he feared to betray himself by the
allusion, and was silent.
You come from New York, Mr.. Le-
land2' the young widow at length asked.
left the city only yesterday"
You are acquainted with our friend,
MIR. Sweetland, believe"
Yes; it was he who suggested that I
should call upon you"
We are charmed that you have done
so, and what an excellent man our Con-
gressman isl"
Excellent, indeed, Mrs. Denton"
There was another pause.
If you do not object to short walk in
the sun, said the widow, at length, "let
us walk to meet my father"
Leland bowed. Mrs. Denton rose and
rang the bell.
ASK Miss Lester and Edith, she said
to the old servant who answered it, ato
be kind enough to put on their hats and
join us.
moment later Mildred Lester and
Edith Denton entered the room.
On being introduced, Mildred flushed
little, seemed somewhat embarrassed,
then smiled sweetly and frankly, and
ended by giving the young man her hand.
Edith cast on him the steady, frank
look of an inquisitiye child, bowed
Glightly to him, and they all left the room
by door opening on the lawn.
Clara Denton, while responding cour-
teously to the graceful speeches of Le-
land, walked on with q light and rapid
step, her fairy-like little boots leaving
their impression on the smooth surface Of
the gravel path.
Without knowing it, she walked with
indescribable grace; with that supple,
elastic undulation which would have been
coquettish, had it not been undeniably
natural
Reaching the well-laid stone wall that
inclosed the right side Of the ~home lot, /"
she opened little gate that led into a
marrow path through an immense field Of
young corn. She passed into this path,
followed in single file by Edith, Mildred,
and by Leland.
The child soon became restless and ex-
cited; Mildred was calm and silent.
Leland, who was close to the latter, be-
gan to grow interested, as he watched her
beautiful and tranquil features.
But he was also deeply interested in
Clara Denton. He cast glance toward
her.
They were approaching the fence which
ran ct the end OF the field. He was about
to call to attract her attention, when,
suddenly, half turning, and raising her
hand, she said:
MY father, sir" and Leland, looking
in the direction indicated, saw q very tall
man gazing at them over the fence and
shading his eyes with his hand.
He was dressed in O suit Of heavy
tweed, and wore . soft felt hat.
Leland Immediately recognized the
white hair and dark eyebrows as the same
he had seen bending over the violin the
night before.
'sFsther, said Mrs. Denton, introducing
the Young man by wave of the hand,
this Isl Mr.. Warren Leland"
"MrsfL Leland, repeated the cid man, In
q deep and sonorous voice. you are most
welcome" and coming through the bars,
he gave his guest soft, brown hand, as
he continued: "YoUr grandfather and I
we're neighbors. I knew your mother well
In her younger days, and am delighted to
have her son under my roof. Your mother
is most amiable person, young sir, and
certainly you ought"
.tl The old man hesitated, and finishsd his
sentence by sonorous 'hemi" that re-
sounded and rumbled in his chest as If in
the vault Of church.
received your note inclosing Sweet
lands letter, he continued, after mo-
ment; was sorry you could not give us
the pleasure Of your acquaintance at that
time Ihave been looking for you ever
since.
s'Clara, my dear, whenever you are
ready. we will follow you. Pardon me,
Mr.. Leland, for receiving you in this rus
tie attire, but / am o farmer.