The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-08-26

Bob took the Important letter ana went
in search of Clarissa, whom he found in
his wife's private sitting-room, rocking
their three-year-old baby. 1t struck him
quite forcibly how pretty she looked sitting
in the bamboo rocker, plump, brown
eyed. brown-haired woman of fve-and-
forty, though she appeared quite ten years
younger.
"You remember John Ainsworth, Clar-
issa p he asked.
"Yes,'' she replied, smiling. "Poor
John-Ehat about him ?"
lie handed her the letter and watched
her while she read it; her face grew rosy,
and presently she looked up at him, an
amused smile in her brown eyes.
"Why, Robert, what singular letter
What does he mean"
'Yes, the letter of peculiar man; but
under that strange exterior, Clarissa, is a
clean, honorable character, and you, who
have always known him, would make him
happy
"Ialways liked John, she said musingly,
the color deepening in her smooth cheeks.
"And you will marry him Remember
he has asked me to plead his cause, urged
Bob, anxiously.
But it was not so easy to do this, and
he went away and brought Maria, his wife,
who was charmed at the thought of
Clarissa as mistress of the great house on
the hill; and so finally, at reasonable hour
of the next morning, Robert went up to
see John, armed with letter of graceful
acceptance from Clarissa.
John was delighted to see his friend,
and began to tell him his troubles, and
how wretched he was, living in such dis
comfort. In the midst of the recital, to
divert his mind, Bob handed him Clarissa's
letter.
His success was astonishing the blood
rushed in crimson tide to the old bach
elor's very hair; his eyes grew suddenly
black and wild great veins stood out on
his forehead. Robert, fearing apoplexy,
slapped him on the back, and in his eff
forts to get his collar off, near strangled
him. In their struggles they brushed
half the china dishes off the breakfast
table, and the fragments lay upheeded.
As soon as John recovered himself ne
rose and began marching up and down
the room in great agitation. Presently
stopping before his visitor, he exclaimed
in despairing tones,-
''Robert Wilkins, what you have done
will kill me, and my death will be at your
door,
"Come, John p said the other, sooth-
ingly, beginning to entertain doubts of his
friends sanity. "Just tell me what is the
matter with you?'
"Matter with me Here-do hold
an acceptance of marriage from your sis
ter-in.law, Miss Dean2 And"-in an
awful voice-''I never made proposal !"
He sank into chair and glared help
lessly.
1t was now Bob's turn to become ex-
cited and rapidly he related the occur
renee of the day before; the receipt of
the secondhand proposal of marriage, and
the urging it had required to induce Clar-
issa to give her consent.
A comprehending light dawned in Johns
eyes, and he exclaimed in a scarcely audi
bic voice.
Robert, as true as there is heaven
above us, | wrote that letter with the sole
intention of securing housekeeper p
"But you spoke Of Clarissa, and said
you repented of not having recognized her
true worth years ago, said Bob, watching
him closely.
Il did indeed p he replied. "My house
keeper-who had been my nurse when !
was a baby-was named Clarissa, and |
have keenly regretted not being more kind
to the faithful creature"
Bob's heart sank within. What fool
he had been ! Clarissa was proud SEN
sitive woman the blow would be crush
ing one to her.
Something Of all this must have ap-
peared in his countenance, for in quiet
voice John said,-
Robert, do you think Clarissa Deane
would really be my wife ?"
But Robert felt too much humiliated to
reassure him, and Ainsworth picked up
the modest little letter and read it.
aThis has been the grandest mistake Of
my life,n he cried suddenly. II have al
ways admired Clarissa Deane, bnt should
never have dared to ask the question
which my happy blunder has caused
that beautiful woman to answer favora-
bly,
He suddenly beamed upon his aston
ished guest, and walked over the fragments
Of his costly china to pour him glass of
wine, and begged him to relate just how
Clarissa looked and what she said; but he
drew the line when Bob invited him home
to dinner; and when the latter, much graft
fed at the turn affairs had taken, rose to