Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-05-23

- u me with dlSiayCr.
t"Do you think the landlord knows2'
No answer. The caretaker shiveret
in her frowsy red shawl and list slippers,
and remarked to the world in genera
that "when doors was KEEP open there
VaS orful draught."
took out half crown.
"Look herew 1 said, "this coin shall
DC yours if you'll tell me how long
you've been here--who the landlord is,
and anything you may have heard from
the tradespeople about the family"
81 never gossip with tradesfolk no.
anybody" was her inspiring reply; but
she gave me the address OF q firm in
Gray's Inn and shut the door with al
possible speed, leaving me on the door
step, which was still marked by the feet
Of the men who had carried out the
furniture. They must have moved on
awet day.
Imagine the situation. A young nan
goes away to Switzerland to the bedside
o! dying uncle, and comes back on the
wings Of the wind 10 lay his newly ac.
CURED fortune ct the feet of the dearest
g'r. IN the world, and finds her coue-
Eorclessly, utterly gone-her house de.
solGtc, no flowers in the windows. no
+ rltture in the place, "To Let" starinr
ircm every window, and only q woolcn-
swathed caretaker-a vicious variety of
charwoman kind--o1 whom to pour out
his wrath and his questions. l had only
known Clara three months. knew moi
a single one Of her friends. knew she
had some few relations-her mother.
family-and 1 did not even know their
name. The Vanes knew no one In Ken
sinSton, and they only knew me through
our cat having fortunately been killed
by their dog. Mr.. Vane had called to
apologize, and had asked ne to call, and
had seen Clara and made my mind up.
One good look at her was enough to
any man of sense that she was
tie only girl in the world. But I was
poor then, and poverty is proud. The
Fane3 dress and mode of life betokeued
wealth. could not tell her l loved
her, and now
The east wind blew cheerlessly up the
street, driving horrid army of rubbish
ind torn papers before it. The char
woman opened the door again and put
her curlpapered head out to say:
"TheIe was funeral afore the sale;
perhaps they'd tell you a. the under.
,Aker's."
A funerall 1 hailed passing hanson
and drove straight to Gray's Inn.
eyes; Mr.. Vane unfortunately diei
1t one Of our houses-19 Westphalia
GRACE. Left no estate; had system (
stically overshot his income. Sorry ] !
'an't give you any further information.
SO replied dapper clerk, who seemed |
absorbed in papers when 1 was shown |
IN, but whom 1 saw OF the window as |
went through South square, pairing his !
lnlIs and whistling to the sparrows.
Not a clew. The tradesmen knew
nothing, the vicar knew nothing, the
police, OF course, knew nothing and did /
nothing but pocket my money and take =
down things in notebooks with blunt !
pencils.
Advertisement failed absolutely. And !
80 Clara .Vune was lost to me-passed
'ut Of my life completely-leaving me
with a really respectable foitunc, which
Mas entirely out Of the question for me
10 enjoy. never wavered in the lease
IL my intention to marry her if she
would have me, and simply waited un.
al should see her again.
1t will be inferred that did not see !
ler again. I did, but not for four years.
Four long years. l woa't go so far as
o say that an hour never passed in
Shich l did not think Of her, but I'll
wear that two never did. And l loved
Ter moro than ever. 1 used to think
in the EVENING" CT her pretty
5ray cyes and her short, dark, curly
iair, and that Gear voice of hers, till I
.ould not stand it any longer, and then
used to rush out of my lodgings in Re.
,ent's Park and tear over to Kensington |
md walk up and down outside 10 West
'halia Terrace, til might fairly have
'ccn described as known to the police.
Well, after four years of this life
.ad my own work to do and my other
lie 10 live, but that has nothing to do
With this storY-atter four years busi-
ess took me to Tunbridge. ,,,.
vent by ca express train. : bough.
nc papers and got comfortable corner
a first class carriage, where I let the
'apcr5 lie on my knee and dreamed my
5ual dream-Clara, Clara, Clara. ..
The stations raced by, ChisIehurst
)rPi0gIon. looked idly out at tie
iasion gardens, all roses and plnks and
oceTsucklc, the havens wherein por~
ers TOOK refuge from the Crime OF rail.
'ay life.
AS VIC swept into Halstoad station /
ooSed OF, with q torpid curiosity as to
ho gardens there, and saw CIaraI, she
'as standing on the = up,plstform,
unoh .! red and pink roses IN her. hand.
he had oo gray dress with black rib.
ons and q large gray hat with black
eathers, and she, had just the same
Teet, dear little face and. curling hair.
Whizz !-zzi zi-whirrI : The train hac
not past the station, the carriage win.
ows ratified, the train vibrated and pul.
lted with the increasing ; speed, and
very pulse and every vibration a.wa,
arrging me away from my hearts heart.
leaned out of the window, dazed and
:cpid with the delight at the mere
Gbt OF her. could still just see he,
ray gown and bright flowers, ther
'Tno one on the platform stepped be
"eea Eer and me, and my senses re-
lra2d 10 NE. In flash I ssw that If J
en-: oD 20 Sevenoaks and got q trsiu
sck, she, who was obvlouly waiting fol
e next np-tIsin, would have left the
alton lnng before reached it. !: prob.
'ly she was only spending q day at
alstesh, sqd any search for her woulI