The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-10-26

every now and then where l would be If my
father had not years ago put the half Of his
fortune into good downtown real estate"
"Let us go, said Clara, riding; ''order coupe
and let us separate. l must be getting home, for
wrote to my uncle to come out and keep me
company this evening"
Wauburton wished to detain her, but she felt
no desire to stay. The charm was broken. She
had expected an amusing adventure, sort Of
respectable lark, cavalier, respectful but gal
liant, caring for her, petting her, as he might
have cared for and petted one of the Others, not
thrifty companion who would simplify
the menu and verify the bill. All Wauburton's
insistence was in vain she would not even
allow him to accompany her. She entered her
own house in very spiteful humor and, with
a smile full of irony, paid the cabman who de-
posted her at her door. at will be just so
much less that he has spent for me-" she
thought.
The next morning when she awoke she was as
sad as II something in her life were changed.
For, deep down in her heart, she had begun to
accuston herself to the idea that she would one
day be Wauburton's wife.
The day after her return to Monterey Clara
paid visit to the head-dragon of society. 1t
was very unpleasant duty for her, for 1t
amounted to nothing less than announcing to
her old friend the resolution she had taken, and
the news would undoubtedly be sad blow to
Wauburton's aunt.
"Come here my beauty" cried the old lady,
from the depths of her easy chair, ''and confess
your sins. All, you little sinner, you indulge in
pretty goings on when you coup to town. Just
look at the little innocent who gads about In
restaurants with her lover Well, hope you
are not going to keep us waiting any longer
You are compromised hard and FAST my dear
The entire town is talking OF your escapade.
Happily, some one is ready to make thorough
reparation.'
Mrs. Hastings was well used to the amiable
| old lady's pleasantries.
81 prefer to think, !" said she, "that am not
compromised. In any case, l shall remain
alone in my disgrace l have thought 1t all
over and it is precisely on that account that l
have come to tell you that-that l do not wish
any reparation."
"Truly What pretty quarrel have seen
many SUCH In faith, would not wish to swear
that have not played the same role In my day.
Come, my dear, whathas he done to offend you
Speak, that may box the ears of this naughty
boy.n
"Mr Wauburton has not done anything to
offend me. He is very honorable man. very
proper, and very respectful"
''Lord help us, we are lost Poor Henry, I
would rather she called you perjured villain,
rake, faithless Do you know that my nephew
will be crazed with chagrin' ?"
'It is a great honor you would do me,
but"
'He loves you so much He used to vanish
at the bare mention of marriage; now he is alb
solutely your slave. WE'LL now what's It? Do
you not find him handsome enough, rich enough,
young enough?'
81 did not say that. But
'Has his past, which l grant you has been
trifle varied, given you fears for the future p,
"No, no. l have as much courage as the next
woman That is not the question. am happy
as am, do not wish to change-that is all.
And it is my firm resolve"
"Unhappy boy, what blow for him And he
expected it so little. For you must admit your
last meeting was not of kind to discourage
him. Why, take that letter there on the table;
l received it this morning. See how he speaks
of YOU"
woman never refuses to read prose when 1t
is about herself Clara took the letter, and was
compelled to admit to herself that he wrote
even better than he talked. What glowing ad-
miration, what youthful enthusiasm in these
pages of which she was the sole topic Her
toilet her least gestures, her most insignificant
words-all were repeated, ornamented, embel-
lished. Never had she believed herself so witty
and so charming; and she had no over-modest
opinion of herself.
The poor aunt's eyes never quilted Mrs.
Hastings, who softly folded up the letter with
a shake of her pretty head. At bottom she was
not ill-disposed toward Wauburton for loving
her as he did; she would have forgiven him
many faults-all save avarice.
"Oh," she said suddenly, ~ did not see the
postscript; may read 1t ~
She hoped to find yet few more phrases of
admiration, last supplement OF praise.
Wonderland men, too-do so love to be praised!
The postscript ran thus:
| forgot detail that will make you laugh
You must know that | went out without my
purse. Always thinking of nothing but her. you
see. Imagine my distress-I was in a cold per-
splratlon. Can you fancy me borrowing money
managed to live through it, thanks to strong
nerves and two or three unhappy flVe.dollar
pieces that | happened to have in one of my
pockets. why, when we came out or the restau-
was great load off my mind when found
had enough TO settle the bill.
Mrs, Hastings smiled strangely, without say
ing word. The aunt, her poor heart torn with
emotion, demanded:
$50 you have decided? 1t is all at an end
All, poor boy, how shall tell him this no 2"
The worthy woman had no more heart for
pleasantly; her distress was pitiful sight to