Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-10-05
BETRAYED;
Or
a DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of Love, intrigue and
Crime.
BY MRS. ALICE P. CARRISTON
CHAPTER XXIV-tContinued.,

OEtAl hAAN-NO
He thought it bad taste in Clara not to
have maintained longer the high ideal his
innocence had created for her.
Nevertheless. when he approached her
house, and had the presentiment of her
approving pres-nce, he was toubled.
Doubt and anxiety assailed him.
When he suw through the trees the
window of her room his heart throbbed so
violently that he h 4 TO sit down on the
root of a tree for moment.
Il love her like a madman!" be muir
INJURED. Then, leapng up suddenly, he
exclaimed: But she is only O woman
after all. 1 shall go on.
For the frt time Clara received him
in her own apartment. She was sitting
in an arm chair, and, contrary TO her
CUSTOM had no work in her hands.
She appeared calm, though two livid
circl,s surrounded her eyes She had
evidently suffered much, and wept much.
On seeing this dear face worn and hag-
gard with grief, Leland forgot the neat
phrases he had prepared for his entrance.
He forgot all except that he really adored
Ter.
He advanced hastily toward her, seized
in his two hands those of tho young lady,
and without speaking interogated her
eyes with tenderness and profound pity.
1T is nothing" she said, withdrawing
her hanl and bending her pale face
gently; Il am better; may even be
happy, if you wish it.
There was in the smile, the lCok and
the accent of Clara Denton something
indefn0ble, which froze the blood of
Leland.
He felt confusedly that she loved him,
an vet was lost TO him; that he had be-
fore him a species of being he did not
understand, and that this woman, sad
dened, broken, and lost by love, yet loved
something ese in In world better even
than that love.
She made him a slight sign which hs
obeyed like a child, and he sat down be.
side her.
MIR. Leland, she sail, in a voice trem-
u'ous at first, but which grew stronger as
she proceeded, 81 hear ou last hight
perhal with little too much patience.
/ shall row, IN return, ask from you the
same Kindness. You have told me that
you love me; and l avow frankly that
entertain a warm affection for you. Such
being the case, we must either separate
forever, or unite ourselves by the only tie
worthy of US 10th. To part would affect
me much, and | also believe it would oc-
casion grief to you. TO unite ourselves
for my own part would be willing to
give you my life; but l cannot do it, l
cannot we'd you without manifest folly.
You are Younger than l am, | think. !"
Then hurriedly:
But there is another reason. do not
belong to myself. l be ong to my daugh-
ter, to my family, to my past. In giving
up my name for yours l would wound-I
would cruelty wound all the friends who
surround me, and, believe, some who
exist no longer.
We'll, sir" she continued, after a mo-
ment's hesitation, Il have discovered q
way by which we may avoid breaking off
an intimacy so pleasan and sweet to
both of us-in fsct, to make it closer. if
anything. My propos may surprise
you, but have the ndness to think ever
it, and do not say no at ouce.
She glanced at him, and was terrified
at the pallor which oyerspread his face.
She gently took his hand aud said:
Listen patiently"
Speak on, he muttered hOalsely.
Mr. Leland, she continued, with her
angelic smile, you have seen and d.
IN red my hearts darling-my friend and
COmD30lOn, Mlluleu j6btOI- 1Ou hHOH
how much she is 10 me. Since she fir t
came to us 1 have learned to love her with
all my heart. She is more than friend
more til n g sister to me. Having
watched ov. her so long and constantly,
l have all a mothers feeling and affec-
ton for her She is, she must ever le
the same TO me as my own child She is
beautiful far more beautiful than I am,
and since she has wholly recovered h
physical health, her mind has developed
with marvellous rapidly; and although
portion of her life is yet blank. in edu-
cation and refinement she is the peer of
any lady in the nd. Warren Leland, 1
desire YOU to make Mildred Lester your
wifel"
Leland started abruptly to his feet and
seized the woman b the wiist, casting
searching look into her eyes. Then, as
he realized the full purport of her words,
he sank back as one tbunderStIuck.