Mohave County miner., 1890-10-18

4 deceut-lookIng elderly woman.
Ia widows wsed5. came TO the door.
III ar. Mattison in--Mr. Perley
Mattisonp"
"No,n she answered quickly. with.
as imagined, rather confused look.
/ did not believe her. aud asked
quietly. ''Wheu do yoa expect him
homer
''Eot al present"
Apparently abe expected me 10 90
away, but Instead. l slipped into the
passage.
"Mothe-,n asked a soft voice ai the
head OF the stairs, "wto IN itp"
And thnn, for the first time. / be-
came aware that some one had been
Watching and listening to our colloquy
from the head Of the stairs-a young
girl. dressed like the mother. In deep
black, with very brilliant eyes and =
profuslon OF let black euris.
"Some one TO see your brother"
She came halfway down tbs stairs,
pushed back her curls with one hand
and looked Mt me with her wonderful
eyes. Even then her beauty struck me
rs stood gazing at her
'.Psrley Is not at home" she said.
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 ard doing their best TO screen
him from its consequence. Ny heart
bled for both of them; but ii was no
time to indulge 10 sentimental pity.
Speaking as briefly as | could. ! told
them 1t was my duty 10 compel them
to remain were they were while
searched the house.
Mrs. Mattison sat down pale and
trembling. Her daughter eolored
high.
Mother she said. "why do you
stand by and listen to such ISLANDERS?
1t is false? Let this man search the
house II he will; my brother 10 rs in-
nocent as amr'
No opposition was offered to my
search. II was entirely fruitlcsa, how
ever; there was no where any trace Of
the missing bird. Nevertheless, re-
solved TO remain there quietly. for
day or two. to see what little waiting
might bring forth.
The same afternoon Clara Mattison
came in as sat by the window. keep
ing silent watch on all round.
Mr.. Meredith" she said, softly.
mother thinks have been rude to
you. She says It 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 q 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 me thousand little family de-
tails which / almost dreaded 10 hear.
This twilight talk was one OF the
pleasautest episodes of my by no
means universally pleasant life, and I
was not little annoyed when it was
broken in upon BY the arrival of the
eonstables from K, who were to
watch through the night
At the sound OF their footsteps.
Clara rose up. and sat down again,
confused and frightened.
''Oh, Mr.. Meredith, those men,"
''Be easy. Miss Mattison." I said
''you shall in no way be annoyed by
them. Your privacy shall not be
broken in upon, believe me-"
Il know am silly faltered Clara,
"but oh, 1t seems so dreadfulr'
My orders to the men were simple
and succinct. / stationed them as
seemed best to me, and then returned
to spend the evening with Miss Matti-
son. And when was at length left
alone could not help thinking-God
forgive me-how much more winning
and graceful she YVES than poor Kitty
Elton.
At last answer came to my report
TO Mr.. Clenner. II was short and to
the purpose"
/ read the missiye with a pang.
Clara Mattison's cheek deepened In
color as announced my departure to
her.
You have been far kinder than we
W Sic
said, ae / held her hand in mine.
"You will think of me sometimes,
ClaraPn
The reader will easily perceive from
this how our intimacy had progressed.
She smiled. hung her head. and. TAX
ing a pair Of scissors from the table,
severed one bright, black curl from
the abundant tressos that hung over
her forehead.
Keep this. Mr.. Meredith, in men,
DRY Of me-"
Was foolish to press the jetty ring
let TO my lips ere / laid II closely
against my hearth Clara evidently
thought 1 was. for she laughed, but did
not seem displeased.
Mr.. Clennsr appeared to be q good
deal annoyed when / got back to town
rather an unreasonable thing on his
part for / certainly did all that man
could do under the circumstances.
I'VE have been mistaken all the
way through, it seems" he said biting
his lip. ''Strange-yery strange, ]
never was mistaken before in mT cal
culations. Well. we must try again"
/ went TO Kitty Elton's that night.
She received me with 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 Ike 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 ~ you
Ala