The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-16
her INJURIES affected her mind to q

deI injuries duocIeu uor AAnu W o
certain e1tent?"
@They affected her memory. For long
lime after the fever left her, all her past
life was blank; but by little and little
certain things have come back to her,
and again, other things have rushed upon
her memory like a great awakening. as,
for instance. her nes.ies: and other ac-
compl1shmenrs. 6tIii, she cannot recall
her parents, nor any dear friends, not
even her brother, and there is yet wide
gap in her past life
1T is very singular" unused Leland.
And vet not without parallel, said
Clara. Il have been informing myself on
the subject, and have found many cases
quite similar"
-Generally speaking, her mind seems
yery bright" remarked the gentleman.
Unusually 80; she has thirst for
knowledge, and seems to comprehend, as
by intuition, everything she hears and
reads.
And now you have told me oil you
know about herr"
"Yes, except what you already know,
that she is the dearest, the best girl In all
the world"
"And, seriously, you wish me to marry
herr"
4Yes, it is the one great wish Of my
heart.
But pardon me. dear madam. What
is it you ask of me? Do you yourself
fully comprehend? Have you reflected
we'll on this? Can either Of us contract,
without imprudence, an engagement Of
such delicate naturea"
II demand no positive engagement OF
you at this time, she replied, for feel
that would be unreasonable. You must
be fully satisfied about Mildred first, OF
course. But if you give me any encour-
agement at all, this is what I propose:
You shall secure us respectable quarters
In New York, convenient to some great
physician-a specialist, and we will re-
move there with the least possible delay;
and whatever can be done to restore her
completely to her former self shall he
done.
Il believe-I almost know she loves
you already, and if you marry her d! am
convinced she will make you an excellent
wife. Tn nk-do think, Mr.. Leland; she
is SO much to me, love her better than
sister, 1 regard her-I love hes as though
she were my own child. :.
Still Leland did not speak.
well, take time to think over it. she
went on. Hand return to give me your de-
cision, should it be favorable. IF not,
We must bid each other adieu."
Mrs. Denton" said Leland, rising and
standing before her, Il will promise
never to address word to you which q,
dear brother might not utter to sister,
or q son to his mother. Is it not this
which you demand?"
Clara Denton fixed upon him for an in,
stant her beautiful eyes, full Of joy and
gratitude, then suddenly covered her
face with her two hands.
Thanks" she murmured; you are so
good! am very happy?"
She extended her hand, wet with her
tears, which he took and pressed to his
lips, bowed low, and left the room:
If there ever was moment in his fatal
career when the young man was worthy
of admiration, it was this.
His love for Clara Denton, however un-
worthy of he, it might be, was, neverthe-
less, great. 1t was the only true passion
he had ever felt.
At the moment when he saw this love,
the triumph Of which he thought certain,
escape him forever. he was not only
wounded in his pride but was crushed IN
his heart. Yet he took the stroke like
His agony was we'll borne. His first
bitter words, checked at once, alone be-
trayed what he suffered.
He was as pitiless fer his own sorrows
as he sought to be for those OF others.
He indulged in none Of the common in
Justice hatitual to discarded lovers.
He recognized the decision OF Mrs. Dem
ton ss true ana final, and was not tempt
L. o&nlr Co. nf
those equivocal arrangements by which
women sometimes deceive themselves,
and of which men always take advan-
tage.
He saw that the sacred refuge hs had
sought was inviolable.
He neither argued nor protested against
her resolve. He submitted to it, and
nobly kissed the hand which smote him.
As to the miracle of courage, chastity,
and faith by which Clara Denton had
transformed and purified her love, he
cared not to dwell upon it.
This example. which opened to his view
divine soul naked, SO to speak. destroy
ed his theories.
One word which escaped him, while
passing to his own house, proved the
judgment which he passed upon it from
his own point OF view.
very childish, " he muttered, but sub;
ime!"
On returning home, Leland found q
letter from his father notifying him OF
his sisters marriage with Eugene Cleve.
land. which was to take place in few
davs, and requesting him to come to New
York without delay.
The marriage was to be strictly privatei
with only the family to assist at 1t.
Leland ala not regret this nasty sum.
mons, as it gave him the excuse for somt
diversion in his thoughts, Of which h
felt the need.
He was greatly tempted to leave at once
to diminish his sutferings, but conquered
this weakness.
The next evening he passed at Nathan
Metcalfs, and, though his heart waa
bleeding, piqued himself on presenting
AN unclouded brow and an inscrutablJ
smile to Clara.
He announced his speedy departure,
and explained the reason. :;
You will present my best wishes to
your family" said Mr.. Metcsf, and es-
pecially to your sister; I hope she may
be happy"
wishes with pleasure"
As for Clara, to tell of all the delicate
attentions and exquisite delicacies that
the tender female spirit knows 80 well
how to apply to heal the wounds it has
inflicted, how gracefully she glided into
her maternal and sisterly relations with
Leland-to tell all this would require q
pen welded by her own soft hands.
At parting. and while for q moment
they were alone together in the hail, she
reminded him that he was to secure