The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-02-15


said the squire, assuming an aspect of
unwonted gruifness to cover the sympa-
thetic thrill in his voice. "1 neyer
grudged moneys worth for good. honest
work As for the barn. my housekeeper
can put you up in one of the vacant back
chambers over the kitchen, and there's
always enough to eat at Pendexter farm.
"Pendexter farmr'
The woman, who had bbn sitting on
the mossy cattle trough, slowly lifted
her head here and pushed back her worn
sunbonnet.
"Where are we, Isora? Whittier have
we Gomez knew man named Pendex.
ter once, who
Eyes" said the squire, who had given
little start at the first sound of that
low contralto voice. at was /, Clara
Caprivil To think that fate should have
brought MS together ngain after all these
yearsl"
The pale woman struggled to her feet
and clutched Mt her daughters slim,
strong arm.
'Let us go. isora," said she. we
we have made n mistake. Give me my
shawl. Quick! Let MS got
"But, mother, why soothed the girl
who scarcely rs yet comprehended al.
this byplay. Don't you hear what the
gentleman says? We can have work here
and food and shelter. Mother, cit down
again You are trembling all OVER
81 tell you, child, you don't lnowr
said impatient Clara. possessed with
sort of wild, unreasoning terror. We
we must go!'
"Clara," said the squire, he himself as
suming the direction of affairs. "the
child is right. Let bygones be bygones
You don't suppose would turn you from
my door,
Clara looked into his face.
"Haveyou forgiven me, thenY' said she.
Forgiven you? Yes, years and yearr
ago. Let us be friends again. Clara"
For his heart ached to see how pale
and wan she was-how haggard were
her cheeks, and how like smouldering
fires the light burned in the sunken eyes
She told him all that afternoon, while
pretty Isora was stripping the clustered
hops from the vines with dozen girls as
pretty and as blooming rs herself, how
her life had been an aimless wreck; how
Carlo Caprivi had been no count after
all, but nameless pretender, with nei.
ther honesty nor money; how he had left
her with tho baby Isora on her hands &c
shift as best she might for herself and
was killed in gambling brawl; how she
had struggled on for years constantly
feeling herself less able to wage unequal
warfare with the world.
"Clara," said the squire, when she had
finished, "why didn't you come to me?"
Because had wronged you so deep
ly," she faltered.
"You might have known would have
been kind, even to Caprivi's child. Well.
it doesn't matter now. You are here,
and you must stay here. Do you hear
me, Clara? Must! Bless my heart! You'll
grow strong in these country breezes,
and that pale girl of yours will get color
in her face"
SO they staid at the Pendexter farm.
and beautiful Isora Caprivi grew fairei
to look upon with every passing day.
"Clara," said the blunt squire one day,
that girl of yours is prettier than ever
you were."
81 know it," said Nine. Caprivi.
And as she spoke the words pang of
jealousy struck sharply through her
heart. Yet was it not natural enough
that Squire Pendexter should take note
of Isora's opening loveliness?
And in her room that night Clara
wrestled with her own heart and con.
quered it.
"He will marry Isora," she told her
self. "Isora is beautiful, and he is in
the prime Of life-it is as it should be-
while II am only n wreck, waiting on
the shore of time for the usual billow tc
come and sweep me away. God bless his
noble heart! God bless my sweet souled
girl! And God grant that they may be
happy together for many, many long and
happy years!'
The squire came to Mime. Caprivi the
next day with rather an embarrassed face.
"It is coming" thought Clara; 81 knew
it would"
"Clara," said he, I've question to
ask you.
She held out her hand witha smile.
"Ask it, then, freely" she said gra-
ciously.
"Should be making fool of myself
If, at my age, were to marry"
"You would be doing the most proper
and natural thing in the world" Clara
answered, still smiling, although her
heart seemed to stand still within her.
"Then, by Jove, I'll risk it," said the
squire jubilantly. "Clara, will you have
me? Shall we begin our disjointed lives
over again, my girl?"
Mime. Caprivi grew pale, then red.
"Halloo" said Squire Pendexter, "have
spoken too abruptly2 Have you
"No." said Clara family. "But--but
thought it was Isora that you loved"
"Then you thought wrong" said the
squire briskly. ~ have never loved any
woman but you, Clara. and ] never
shall"