Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-10-05
nth q faint smile, "but this is all so sud-

"They affected her memory For long
time after the fever left her, all her past
life was a blank; but by tile and littlo
certain things have come back to her,
and again, other things have rushed upon
her memory like a great awakening, az,
for instance, her musical and other ac-
complishments Still, 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, mused Leland.
And yet not without a parallel, id
Clara. Il have been informing myself on
the subject, aud have found many cases
quite similar"
Generally speaking, her mind seems
very bright" remarked the gentleman.
Unusually so; she has a thirst for
knowledge, and seems to comprehend, as
by intuition, everything she hears and
reads"
And now you have told me all you
know about herr"
"Yes, except what you already know,
that she is the dearest, the best glrl IN all
the world"
"And, seriously, you wish me to marry
her?"
Eyes, 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 nature?"
Il demand DO positive engagement Of
YOU at this time, she replied, for l feel
that would be unreasonable. You must
be fully satisfied abo 1t Mildred first, Of
course. But if you give me any encour-
agement at all, this is what [ PROPOSE
You shall secure US respectable quarters
in New York, convenient 10 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 be
done.
Il believe-I almost know she loves
you already, and if you marry her | am
convinced she will make you an excellent
wife. Tn nk-do think, MIR. Leland; she
is so much to me, love her better than
a sister, l regard her-I love her as though
she were my own child.
Still Leland did not speak.
Well take time to think over it. she
went on, and return to give me your do
cision, should it be favorable. If not,
we must bid eacl other adieu.
Mrs, Denton, said Leland, rising and
standing before her, I will promise
never to address a word to you which a
dear brother might not utter to sister,
or a son to his mother. Is it not this
which you demand?"
Clara Denton fixed upon him for an in
slant her beautiful eyes, full of JOY and
gratitude, then suddenly covered her
face with her two hands.
Thinks" she murmured; you are so
good! I 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 Clar Denton, however un-
worthy of her 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 a
gentleman.
His agony was wei borne. His first
bitter words, checked at once, alone be-
trayed what he suffered.
lie was pitiless for his own sorrows
as he sought to be for those Of others.
He INDUCED in none of the common in
Justice hatitual to discarded lovers.
He recognized the decision of Mrs. Den
ton as true ana final, and was not tempt
ed for a moment to mistake 1t for one OF
those euuivocal arrangements by which
women sometimes deceive themselves,
and of which men always take advan-
tage.
He sow tliatttthe that The sacred refuge he had
sought was invjolable.
He neither argued nor protested against
her resolve. lie submitted to 1t, 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
a 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 1t from
his own point of view.
very childish, he muttered, but SUBJ
limel"
On returning home, Leland found a
letter from his father notifying him Of
his sisters marriage with Eugene Cleye-
land, which was to take place in few
da, S, and requesting him to come to New
York without delay.
The marriage was to be strictly private,
with only the family to assist at it.
Leland did not regret this hasty sum-
mons, as it gave him the excuse for some
diversion in his thoughts, of which he
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 was
bleeding, piqued himself on presenting
an uncloudel brow and an inscrutable
smile to Clara.
He announced his speedy departure,
and exp pained the reason.
~You will present my best wishes to
YOUR family" said Mr.. Metcalf, and es-
pecialiy to your sister; hope she may
be happy"
thanks, sir; shall bear your good
wishes with pleasure.
AS for Clara, to tell of all the delicate
attentions an | exquisite delicacies that
the tender femqle spirit knows so we'll
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
pen welded by her own soft hands.
At parting, and while for a moment
they were alone together in the hall, she
reminded him that he was to secure