The Wahpeton times., 1891-02-05

which come as safety.valve when the
feelings are to highly wrought to find
relief from any other source.
She went to her own room, bathed
her eyes, and prepared for the
dreaded task. Toward twilight Clara
came in, looking so bright and happy
that poor Ellinor shrank more sensf-
lively than before from the duty she
must perform.
"Oh. Mamma Nelly, I am getting
along famously: l think 1 shall GER
tainly carry off the prize. You will
be surprised to hear how we'll begin
to sing Hear me, Norma Listen now.
And she warbled in a clear liquid
voice the opening measures of that
wall of anguish, each tone of which
thrilled to the wrung heart of the list
ener. She hurriedly exclaimed
"Oh, my darling, not now. I have
something to tell you that is ofimpor-
tance. Sit here close besides me, and
listen attentively, Clara"
81 am afriad it is something shall
not like to hear, Nelly mia, for your
voice is full of tears"
"And with good cause, child of my
heart, for the fiat which separates us
has gone FORTH"
"Never!-never! say no-no-no.
Who will attempt such a thing, Mann
ma Nelly % she asked with dilatiug
eyes and pallid lips.
"Yourfather alone has the power to
| do SO, my child, and you are bound to
obey his commands. Remember,
Clara, that o failure OF the duty you
owe to him would render me more UNI
happy than even this cruel separa-
ton"
sis he going to be marred?" she alb
ruptly asked.
"No-youraunt, Mrs. George Euston,
will take charge of his house, and he
naturally desires to have you under
his own roof. l must give you up,
Clara, though it rends from my heart
the strongest tie it now claims"
To the last moment General Euston
hoped that Ellinor would relent-that,
sooner than relinquish her protegee
she would consent to receive
his addresses; but when the day of
Clara's final departure arrived, and
no sign from her came, he penned the
following lines, to be sent when the
carriage went for his daughter
care you inexorablein your refusal,
Nelly? 1t is not too late to relent.
have made my will, bequeathing Clara
and her fortune to the absolute con-
troll OF her uncle, unless Iwould marry.
In that event, my widow would be-
come her guardian at my decease.
Choose if you will now accompany
my daughter; her future fate hangs in
the balance, for some entuition whis-
pers me that my life will not be a
long one. Brighten it's remnant, Nelly,
and gain the blessing OF u lonely and
weary heart.
own. EUsToN."
AS he penned this epistle, the writer
little imagined how brief that life was
really to be,
Not caring to witness the tears of
his outraged child, when she came
alone to his dwelling, he dispatched
the note. aud stepped into his cabrio-
let, to take a drive on the Blooming
dale road.
Pre-occupied in mind, he drove care
essly; scarcely half all hour had
elapsed since his departure when his
cabriolet was dashed violently against
a heavily loaded wagon; the frail We
hicle was crushed into fragments, and
it's hapless owner taken up in q sense
less condition.
He was taken into q house on the
roadside, where he revived sufficiently
togive directions forhis speedy remov-
Ito his own home. A messenger was
dispatched for his brother, and when
the reluctant Clara reached the splen-
did mansion which had been fitted up
with SO much care. she found every
thing in the widest confusion. Three
physicians were in attendance. her
aunt, Mrs. George Euston, in hyste-
RIGS, and the hemangled form of her state.
ly father lyingpallid and nearly lifeless
upon q couch which had been hurried
ly placed in one of the parlors for his
accommodation.
The young girl rushed to his side,
and at the sight of her frightened face
bending over him, an expression of
anguish swept over the features of the
dying man. He eagerly motioned to
one of the physicians to approach
him and family asked
"Tell me, is there life enough left to
enable me to perform q sa-
cred duty? have 1 one hour
yeti"
II trust SOL hope so," was the
evasive reply.
''The truth, doctor, for Gods sake,
the truth, in this crisis. am not
afraid to die, but l have something to
do which is of the last Importance be-
fore CO."
The physician, thus abjured, reluct-
| antly replied
"By the use of stimulants your
strength may be sustained an hour"
"Then write for me as / shall die
tate"
In a few moments note was dis
patched in great haste and Ellinor's
tears over the loss of her darling were
wiped away to read, in appalled, silence,
the hurried words addressed to her by
one in extremity
"Come to me now, Nelly, for am dy-
ing-crushed to death under the wheels
of nv own carriaoe Save NV child