Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-09-21
BET RAYEDs.
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of Love, Intrigue and
CYimC
BY MRS. ALICE P. CARRISTON.
CHAPTER XX.-CContinuedO

An Old servant slept on SeU'eo DSIOlo
the open door, smiling in her dreams at
the beauti III scenes about her.
Leland awobe her. inquired Tor the
master Of the house, and was ushered
into the hall.
Thence lie entered a charming apart
ment. wher. a yoang lady in garden hat
was arranging bouquets in porcelain
vases.
She turned at the noise of the opening
door. and Leland saw-Clarl Denton!
As he salute her with an air of aston
ishment and doubt, she looked txediy at
him with her great eyes.
He spoke first. with, however, more OF
hes .tatlon than usual.
Pardon me, madam, but inquired
for Mr.. Metcalf."
He is in distant field but will soon
return. BE kind enoU h to wait.
She lei him into another apartment
and rointed him to chair, seating her.
self neir the fireplace
But. madam, in the bserce OF MI
Metcalf, can have the honor OF speak
ing with his daughter"
The shadow Of smile fitted over
Clara Deuton's dark but claiming face.
His daughter?" she sa d; Il am his
daughter.
"loui Pardon me, I beg but thought
they said-I expected to find an elder
ly-a-person--tnat IS a rather severe
-" he bcsitatcd, then added simply
and find am in error"
Clara Denton seemed completely un'
moved by this compliment.
"Win you be kind enough, SIT, she
said to it me know whom l have tie
honor of receiving
Il ain Warren Leland"
All! Indced! Pray be seated, Mr.. e.
land. Then have excuses also to mako.
1t was probably you whom We s w TINS
morning. We have Teen very rude my
friend, my daughter, and my elt-but We
were ignorant OF Your arrival, and the
Scdley farm has been so long deser'eu'
you krow.
Il sincerely hope, Mrs. Denton, that
YOU and the o her Ia lies Will make no
change in Your rides.
Mrs. Denton. ly a movement OF the
hand, implied that she appreciated the
offer, Lut should not accept 1t.
Then there was a pause long enough
to embarrass Leland, during which his
eyes fell up, Il tho pln and his lips al
most formed the original remark:
You arc a mu icIan, Mr.. Denton?
Suddenly recolloctin; his trtc, how
ever, he feared to betray himself by the
allusion and wos silent.
You come from New York, Mr.. Le-
lnnd?" tho young widow at length asked.
Il left the city only yesterday.
You are acquainted with our trlend'
Mr. Sweetlani, | lelleve.
Yes; it was he who suggested that
should call upon you.
I'VE are charmed that you have done
So and what an excellent man our Con
grtssman IS!
Excellent, indeed, Mrs. Denton"
There was another pause.
"If you do not ob :ect to q short walk II
the sun. said The widow, at length, lei
us walk TO meet IN, father.
Leland bowed. Mrs. DentOn rose anC
RAM the bell.
ASK Miss Lester and Edith, she sac
TO the old servant who answered 1t, Sc
be kind enough TO put Gu their hats anC
A moment later Mndrel Lester anC
Edith Denton entered the room.
On being introduced, Mildred flushed
little. seemed somewhat embarrassed
then SIN Il sweetiy and frankly, anC
ended by giving the young man her h nd
Edith cast ON him the steady, tranl
look of a inquistiVc child, bowe,
slightly TO him, and they all left the room
by a door opening on tho lawn.
Clara Denton. whle responding cour
teously 10 the graceful speeches OF Le
land walked on With light and raplc
step. her fairy-l ke little boots LEAVING
their impression on the smooth suria'e o
the gravel pa h. g.,
Without knowing it, she walked will
Undesirable grace; with that supp Q
elastic undulalOn which would have becl
coauettsh lad it not been undenlab',
ma ural.
Reaching the we'll laid stone wall tha
inclosed the hight side of the home lot,
she opered little gate that led into
narrow path through an immense field o
Young corn. She PASSED into this rath
followed in single hle by Edith, Mildred
and by Leland.
The Child soon became restless and eX
cited; Mildred was calm and silent.
Leland, wlO was close to the latter, be
gan to ow integes ed, as he watched he
beautiful and tranquil fe lures.
But he was also deeply interested il
Clara Denton. lie cast glance toWar
her
They were approaching the fence whc
ran at the end OF the field. He was abou
TO call to attract her attention, when
suddenly, half turning, and raising he
hand, she said:
1Mv father, sir" and Leland, lookip
in the Il rcetion indicated, saw very tai
man gazing at them over the fence an
shading his eyes with his hand.
He was dressed in n suit of heav,
tweed. and wore a soft felt hat.
Gland immed tely RECOGNIZED tn
white hlir aud dark eyebrows Ns the sam
he had seen bending over the violin tb
night efOre.
"Fathcr. said Mrs Dent INTRODUCING
the Young man by q wave of the hand
'4his Mr. Warren eiaad.
"Mr. Leland, repeated the old m n, II
deep and sooorou, voice, you are mos
weicomc;" end coming through the bars
he O We his que t n soft, brown hlnd, {
he continued: "IOUr grandfather and
were neighbOrs. / knew your mother vel
in her YOUNGER VS., AMI am delighted t
have her son underm roof. Your mothe
is a most amiable person, young sir, an
certainly YOU on hi"
The old IN II hesitated, and tinishsd hi
eontonce by q sonorous "bem!' that re
sounded and lumbled IN his chest as II
the vault of a church.
Il received your note inclOsing Sweet
lands letter. he continued, after mo
menf: was sorry YOU could not give u
the Measure Of your acquaintance at thf
time. Ihave been looking for You eve
since.
"Cl ra. my dear, whenever you al
req ". we will follow yOa. ParGo nj