The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-18
= u SY;
The Story of a Wait.
by BRET HARTE.
CHAPTER IX.-CoNTINuEp.
tervrto'. 1892, Nv Frano. Bret Ha-fs

But with the conviction came a singular
calm. In the last few oment he seemed to
have grown older-to have loosed the bonds Of
old companionship with Susy. and the later
impression she had given him OF her mature
acknowledgement moved on far beyond her
| years and experience. And / it was with an au-
| thority that ~as half patarnal and In II voice
lie himself scarcely recognized. that he said:
IF did not know you wore prejudiced BIZ u
foolish and indiscreet woman I should believe
| that you were trying to insult me as you have
your adopted mother. and would save you the
pnin Of doing both in her house by leaving it
now and forever. But because l believe you
are controlled against your best instinct by
that woman 1 shall remain here with you. to
Illustrate her as best l can. or until l an able
| to lay everything before Mrs. Peyton. except
| the foolish speech you have Just made
The young girl laughed. why not that
one. too. while you're about it2 See what
she'll say"
II shall tell her" continued Clarence. calm.
ly. only what you yourself have made it nec-
cssary for mo to tell hor to save you from folly
and disgrace. and only enough to spare her
tho modification Of hearing 1t first from her
own servants"
Hearing what from her wi servants2 What
do you mean? How dare you 2" demanded
the young girl sharply.
She was quite real in her anxiety now. al.
though her attitude OF virtuous indignation
struck him as being. like all her emotional
expression. merely acting.
IL mean that the servants know OF your cor
respondence with Mrs. McClosky. and TINT she
claims to be your aunt" returned Clarence.
They know that you contlded to Pcpita. They
believe that either Mrs. McClosky or YOU have
een-"
He had stopped suddenly: he was about to
say that the servants. particularly 1ncarna-
cion. know that Pedro had boosted OF having
met Susy. when for the first time tho tre-
mendous significance of what he had hitherto
considered as merely IN idle falsehood flashed
upon him.
"Seen whom? ~ repeated Susy in a higher
voice. impatiently stamping her foot.
Clarence looked at her. and In her excited,
| questioning face saw a confirmation OF his
still hnlf-formed suspicious. In his own
! abrupt pause and knitted eyebrows she must
have read his thought also. Their eyes met:
her violet pupils dilated. trcmbled. and then
| quickly shifted as she suddenly stifrened into
an attitude of s~cornful Indifference. almost
turn ed to the window. the door. the candle on
the table. and the chair before it. aud then
came back to her face again Then he drew u
deep breath. .,
, give n : he heed .a;s to sl the idle 3 gossip Of y ser ser.
lief that YOU have ever contemplated anything
worse than an act OF sirlisl,. folly. or the graft
llcation Of II passing caprice. Neither do |
want to appeal to YOU or brighten you. but |
must tell you now that l know certain facts
that might make such a simple act OF folly
moastrOus. inconceivable in you. and almost
accessory to n crime! | can tell you no more.
But so satisfied am ! OF such n possibility that
l shall not scrIp'e nrs TO tax" any means
hottest chance Of it! Your aunt has been look
Ing for you: you had better SO TO her now. |
x"tI 1 .lnSa thu n,i md lnrR finn .lnar Mana
time | should advise you not to sit 50 near an
oIen window with u candle at night in this
| locality: even if it might not be dangerous for
you, it might be fatal to the foolish creatures
1t might attract
mni"mf n,.e KEY from me door as ne he,d it
little laugh. like a nervous. miscellaneous child.
and. Shining out OF her previous artificial at
titudo MS If 1t had been u mantle. ran out Of
the room.