The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-05
have hit Of something 70 eat b:tween

| WnllcS
Il don't want YOU to work cheap.
said the squire. assuming an aspect OF
unwonted gruffneSs TO cover the sym
pathetic thrill in his voice. Il never
grudgcd moneys worth for good. honest
work. As for the barn my housekcepcr
can put you up in one OF the vaca 1t
back chambers over the kitchen. and
there's always enough TO eat at Pendcx-
ter Farm"
"Pendexter Farm -
The woman. who had been sitting on
the messy cattle trough. slowly lifted
her head here and pushed back her worn
sunbonnet.
where are We. Isora? Whittier have
VIC come? knew man named Pen
or once who"
Yes said the squire. who had given
little start at the first sound OF tia,
Caprivil To think that fate should
have brought us together again after
all these years.
The pale woman struggled to her feet
and clutched at her daughters slim.
strong arm
Let us go, Isora." said she. we
we have made a mistake" Give me my
shawl. Quick. Let us gor
But, mother, why ;" Soothed the girl
who scarcely as yet compreheadcd all
this byplay. Don't you hear what the
gentleman says? We can have wor;;
here. and food and shelter. Mother.
SIT down againl You are trembling all
over"
Il tell you, child. you don't know e.
said impatient Clara. posses ed with a
sort of wild, unreasoning terror. eve
we must gow
assuming the direction OF affairs. the
child is right. Let bygones be bygones
You don't suppose | would turn you
from my door,"
Clara looked into his face.
Have you forgiven me, them" said
She
Forgiven your Yes years and years
ago. Let us be friends again, Clara"
FOR his heart ached TO see how pale
and wan she was-how haggard were
her cheeks. and how like smouldering
fires the light burned in the sunken
eyes.
She told him all that afternoon. while
pretty Isora was stripping the clustered
hopS from the vines with 4 dozen Girl
as pretty and as blooming as herself.
how her life had been an aimless wreck :
how Carlo Caprivi had been no count.
after all. but nameless pretender. with
neither honesty nor money: how he had
LETT her. with the baby Isora on her
hands to shift as best she might for her
self, and was killed in gambling
brawl; how she had struggled on for
years. constantly feeling herself less
able to wage unequal warfare with the
world.
Clara" said tho Squire. when she
had finished, why didn't you come to
me?"
Because ! had wronged you so deep
ly' she faltered
You might have known I would have
been kind, even to Capriv's child. Well
1t doesn't matter now You are here.
and you must stay here. Do YOU hear
me, Clara? Must! Bless my heart
You'll grow strong in these country
brcezcs. and that pale girl OF yours will
get color in her face"
30 they stayed at the Pendexter Farm
and beautiful lsora Caprivi grew fairer
to look upon with every passing day.
Clara said the blunt squire one
day. that girl of yours is prettier than
ever you were"
j know it, said Mime. Caprivi.
And as she spoke the words pang
OF jealousy struck sharply through her
heart Yet was it not natural enough
that Squire Pendexter should take note
OF lsora's opening loneliness?
And in her room that night Clara
wrestled with her own heart and con-
quered it,
he will marry Isora." she told her
self 'lsora is beautiful. and he is in
the prime Of life. 1t is as it should be.
While II am only a wreck waiting on
the shore Of time for the usual billow
to come and sweep me away. God bless
his noble heart God bless my sweet
soued girl And God grant that they
may be happy together for many. many
long and happy years -
he squire came TO Madame Caprivi
the next dav with rather an embarra, sed
face. 1T is coming" thought Clara !.
L knew it would GOMEZ
Clara" said he. I've question 70
ask YOU"
She held out her hand with a smile.
Ask it then, freely" she said gra-
ciously.
Should be making a fool of myself
It. at my age / were TO marry"
You would be doing the most proper
and natural thing in the world" Clara
answered still smiling. although her
heart seemed to stand still within her.
hen. by Joyc I'll risk it," said the
squire. iubilantly Clara. will YOU have
mc2 Shall we begin OR disjointcd lives
over again, my girl"
Madame Caprivi grew pale. then red
Halloo /" said Squire Pendcxter
have spoken too abruptly. Have
you"
No" said Clara. family. "Bnt-bnt
l thought 1t was Isora that YOU loved %
Then YOU thought wrong" said the
squire. b-iskly 81 have never loved anv
woman but you. Clara. and never
shall"
So they were married quietly and tbe
autumn OF life shines softly over them
as the yelled unight hangs its golden
haze over the picked hop fields Of Pen.
dexter Farm
And poor Clara is content at last
WGUeriy Magazine.