Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-04

do but wait and trust, If not in her kin.
drea then in these people Of piouS fame
and works who surrounded her They
would not misjudge her, nor place the
sins of others upon her frail shoulders.
How she loved them, and how she chung
TO their association as TO a cross Per
haps she might always remain with
them, and serve with gladness, since she
would serve with devotion.
Clara dried her eyes and descended 10
the main hall. II was the study hour.
The girls were busted at their tasks.
Mr.. Butler sat on the dais behind the
high desk, reading his newspaper and
feeling, in the absence of the bishop,
that he was master indeed. How calm,
how peaceful, how serene. With a sigh
ofrelief Clara took her place and sought
in her books to find absorption from
care. But these friends of many a
lonely hour now deserted and betrayed
her. The black letters massed them.
selves into frown; she was fain to
raise her gaze and fix it furtively on her
preceptor. What paper was he read
! ing? Perhaps within it were those very
tidings Of her father which Isabel had
written she must soon hear. Perhaps?
On, didn't she know il was so; just as
one may feel the weight of storm even
while the sun Is shining. Breathlessly
and trembling the girl watched Serene
| and complacent the rector read.
And then at length did come the
change. Mr.. Butler half started from
his chair. He held the paper closer to
the light His face grew crimson, his
teeth gnawed his lip. He folded the
sheet and shut it within his desk with
slam. He arose and drew himself to
fullest clerical height.
miss Germalne,' he announced in
awful tones, twill accompany me at
once TO my study" And like Grand
lnquisitor and victim the twain departed,
ana huzz Of wondurmcnt hung over
the young ladies.
Aida Bullion sat by the window per.
picked by the mysteries which were be.
clou1ing her eternal affection for the
Germaine sisters. She heard the great
front door swing apart and she looked
out. There ON the porch stood the mas.
ter, never before So mastertul, with IN
dlgnantcountenance and aycrted hands.
And who was it, thus Shamefuly dis.
| carried, who FASTENED away over the
gtavelGd walky VINO was it. 1t
couldn't oe--yet 1t was her dear friend
Clara, the sister Of her dearest friend
Isabel.
Had Aida possessed the power she
| woGld have seen Clara Gcrmane walk
straight and resolute 10 the railway sta.
tion aud would have heard her ask the
| agent Tor II ticket to Prentonville. But
what Aida could do she did. The bell
had sounded and the room was vacant.
She crept noiselessly to the dais. She
opened the desk and took out the paper
ana found the marked passage. With
round eyes she read;
"'French Charlie alias Carlos Ger.
maine, the notorious confidence man,
has At length been apprehendel ana
Will doubtless receive punishment
commensurate to his mislepds. In his
particular line Of aping the line gentle.
man he has long been unique, as a win.
ming address aud thorough education
have aided him in his impostures 1t is
said that his two daughters, who are
ignorant of his real calling, are students
a the most select seminary OF our
vicinity"
And having thus read, Aida, as be.
came her station, instantly comprc.
hended the little scene which she had
! witnessed.