The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-05-12
INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION.

What do you mean BY too late?"
You shall hear. l ought to have
told you that Richard Wardour is in
the navy
Indeed? am more interested IN
him than ever. Well?"
One spring day Richard came to the
house 10 take leave Of us before he
Joined his ship thought he was gone.
and went into the next room. 1t was
my own sitting-room, and it opened
on to the garden"
"Yes?"
Richard must have been watching
me. He suddenly appeared in the gar
den. Without waiting for me to in
vite him, he walked into the room
was little startled as we'll as sur
prised. but | managed to hide it.
said, What Is it. Mr.. Wardour? He
stepped close up TO me; he said, in his
quick rough way: Clara, am going
come back promoted; and we both
know what will happen then He
kissed me. l half frightened. half
angry Before I could compose myself
TO say word, he was out in the gar
den again-he was gone, / ought to
have spoken, / know 1t was not hon
orable, not kind toward him. You
can't reproach me for my want of Cour-
age and frankness more bitterly than
| reproach myself"
MY dear child don't reproach you.
| only think you might have written
TO him."
Il did write
Plainly"
Yes. l told him In so many words
that he was deceiving himself, and that
l could never marry him" -
plain enough. in all conscience
Having said that, surely you are not 10
blame? What are you fretting about
now"
Suppose my letter has never reached
him."
why should you suppose anything
of the sort?"
What i wrote required an answer.
Lucy-asked for an answer. The an
swer has never come. What is the
plain conclusion? My letter has never
reached him. And the Atalanta is ex-
pected back! Richard Wardour is re-
turning to Northumberland Wardour
will claim me as his wife, You won
dered just now if I really meant what
| said. Do you doubt it still?"
in her chair. For the first time since
the conversation had begun, she let a
question pass without making a reply
The truth is, Mrs. Crawford was think
ing.
She saw Clara's position plainly; she
understood the disturbing effect of it
on the mind of young girl Still
| making all allowances, she felt quite
at q loss. so far. TO account for Clara s
| excessive agitation Her quick observ-
| ing faculty had just detected that
| Clara's face showed no signs of relief
now that she had unburdened herself
| of her secret There was something
clearly under the surface here-some-
| thing of importance. that still re-
manned to be discovered. shrewd
doubt crossed Mrs. Crayford's mind.
and inspired the next words which she
addressed to her young friend
MY dear" she said abruptly, have
you told me all'"
! Clara started a. II the question ter
rified her. Feeling sure that she had
\ A. II, To-.
deliberately repeated her question in
| another form of words. Instead of an
swering, Clara suddenly looked up. At
the same moment faint flush VI color
| appeared in her face for the first time
Looking up instinctively on her side
Mrs. Crawford became aware CT the
presence in the conservatory OF youne
gentleman who was claiming Clara "a
his partner in the coming waltz. Mrs
Crawford fell into thinking once more
Had this young gentleman (she asked
herself) anything 10 do with tne un,
told end of the story? Was this the
true secret of Clara Burnhams terror
AT the impending return of Richard
Wardour? Mrs. Clayford decided OF
putting her doubts TO the test.
"A friend of yours, my DEAR" sh.
asked innocently Suppose you in
troduce US to each other?"
Clara confusedly introduced la,
young gentleman.
Mr.. Francis Aldersley, Lucy. Mr.
Aldersley belongs to the Arctic Elk
petition"
Attached TO the Expedition" Mrs
Crawford repeated. Il am attached :,