Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-21
2 |.
"A Noble Husband You Have
Found Me"

Down the stairs, one bright August
morning. Clara Trevelyan came sing
ing blithely, clearly and purely, and
sweetly as a lark, her young voice
dashing off the forid runs Of "Ombra
leggiera.' Full of light were the
great dark eyes, a half smile was on
the curved and naughty lips. a soft
flush on the creamy skin, the rare
beautiful sunlight ~glintering on the
gold of her hair. which Was twisted
into one long Marguerite plait. Beau
tiful, happy, loved. what else but sing
blithely as a bird could Clara Trevel-
van do? Nevertheless, this was the
last morning that Clara came bound
ing down the stairs, pouring II her
heart in these rouladeS and shakes
the last hour that the young eyes We're
unshadowed, the naughty lips parted
in an unconscious smile!
At the foot of the stairs the girl
! paused and stopped singing, silenced
by the beauty Of the scene that lay
beyond the open hall door. Then she
went forward and stood under the
| arched portico, clasping her white
hands before her, on the finger of one
of which was a turquois ring. Before
her lay sloping lawns and gardens bril-
liant with flowers; beyond those, to
/ right and left. spread wooded undulat-
ing park-land, extending to the very
edge of the cliffs, and straight in front
edge of the cliffs, and straight in front,
beyond the park, the sea lay, blue and
green. and orange-colored, simmer
ing under the yellow August sun
Clara smiled softly, and her eyes
took a deeper, graver look from the
thought that came to her, as they
wandered i~nvCluntarily to the stately
towers of Stanhope Castle. 1t was
only the thought of the previous night.
when she had stood and watched, half
shrinkingly, the proud, grave master
moving among his guests, speaking a
few words to her sometimes, with that
rare smile, that softening of eye and
lip that was hidden from her, that
might have been unconscious wen to
himself.
Then she was wandering in thought
through the perfunled gardens, a dark
face of winning beauty bent to hers,
a voice all sweet and gentle speaking
words that made her heart thrOb
quickly, that brought a glad light to
her eyes, a peach flush to her cheeks.
! She had understood it all before; had
he not told her a hundred times how
he loved her. and had she not prom
ised him faith and love?
at is a very old story.
But it ever abideth new"
And so she had not wearied of 1t,
and had given her heart to reckless.
handsome, winning Rex Verner-or,
perhaps, the surface only was stirred,
the real golden depths were not
reached.
A boy. slender and handsome, with
somewhat of Clara's rare beauty of
feature and form, came springing to
her side; and she turned, every line
of her face changing as she saw her
young brother.
"Ah! Will" she said. with her bright
smile, passing her arm round his
shoulder, "here you are at last, lazy
, boy! Late hours don't suit you,
brother"
"Ohi that's good!'' cried the boy,
laughing. Il heard you leave your
room; you haven't been here so long
t 81 have been up " since seven"
returned Clara. 81 looked into your
room. and you were in the land of
dreams"
II say, Clara said the lad, breaking
off into a new subject, "Sir Lionel's
worth a HI ndred of Rex, isn't he?"
"That's true, Will. 1 suppose he's
worth thousands more han poor Rex"
answered his sister, smiling, no change
in her face that the attentive eyes Of
her brother could discern. $50 you
like him?'
Rather; you know he's awfully
grave and-and-"
Gold" Clara said, and ~involuntarily
shivered a little-HcGld, icy, like that
marble statute yOnder."
Wilfred looked perplexed, and puck
cred his brows.
$50 he isl" he agreed; "but still, for
all that I think he's kind, and-I tell
you what believe he has eve so
much more principle than Rex"
"Rex seems quite out of favor with
YOU said Clara, with a smile, which
covered the sudden pang her brothers
words gave her.
Witfred paused a moment before he
answered, bluntly:
"He's q great deal too fond of you.
Clara, to get him into my good graces."
Into the girls face came a naughty
flush, which passed quickly, leaving
the clear cheeks pale again.
"You are a foolish boy" she said
half smiling. "Rex has known me
since we were children together. All
you are jealous of Rex, WHIP"
"Not jealous, of course, only-only-'
The boy stopped, confused. He had
a dim notion that he was thrusting
a very profane foot into his sisters
affairs.
81 don't believe Rex hangs about now
as if you were a nursery baby-thaf'
fat-and 1 should hate him if he
married your
Flush. Will-oh! hush," said the girl
under her breath. "You must not tall
so. I am too young to think Of mar
rage yet-you will not be alone"
VI " r-J-zl 1o-aIs--1 s-Lo ~