Show The Hidden n Hand Handi i f By Mrs E. E D. D E. E N. N Southworth Continued from Yesterday l Morning J Now Clara Da Day a Christian maiden malen a l recently bereaved orphan an and an a af af- ll bride I had too profound a aret are re re- t I gari for JOI her duties liti-j toward Go God hei hel fathers father's will sili and her betrothed hus hands bands rights to treat this attempted invasion 0 of or her faith In an any other than the Uw most Joost deliberate serious and dig dig- I- I manner I I 1 am yer very ery sorry Mr Ir Lo Le Noir that It hn has haat at len length th come to this I thought I I 1 i had hall conducted m myself gelf In such a manI manner man man- ncr ner a totally to discourage any an such i purpose as this which you havo have just honored me b by disclosing Now however how how- ever that the tho subject may mar be set at rest cst for forever forer er I feel fec hound bound to announce to you that m my hand is already plighted plight plight- t. t ed 1 said Clara gravely rn cy But Dut m my fairest t an and dearest t love o e your youl om II little tile hand cannot be in plighted 4 without lt the consent of or your yom guardian who never nevel countenance tho the impudent im Im- pretensions which I understand to to tn be 10 made l h by the low born young oung man manto manto manto to whom I T presume you OU allude That 4 ensa engagement was a er very ery foolish h affair m my n-Iy dear lI gf girl Irl an and amid only to be he palliated upon the ground of or your extreme child child- s at the time of oC Its being beIng- made mae You r must forget forJet th the whole matter my swe sweetest test love and prepare yourself to listen to a suit uit more worthy worth of or your our soch position saul said Craven Lo Noir attempting to steal his arm around her waist Clara coldly repelled him saying I Ill am at a a. loss o s to understand Mr Le Ie Noir what act of or levity on m my part has lias given you the assurance to offer me mo this affront Do you OU call it ft an affront fair fait cousin cousin cou con sin that I 1 la lay my nn hand hanel and heart and I fortune fortunat at your yom feet I have e called your our act sir by Its Us name Under the circum- circum I I might have called It an outrage outrage out out- Ja rage c And Anil what ma may be those circumstances circumstance's circum circum- stances stance's that convert an act of adora of-adora- adora- adora tion tion-tinto an outrage m my sweet COllI con cou- sin I n Sir you know mow them well I have ha not concealed from froni your yourself el or fir m my guardian that I am ani tho the bride of Dr Rocke nor that our troth was wa plighted with the full consent of or my dear deal father ather said aid tid Clara gravely ravel Tut Tot tnt tut tUl tut tnt m my charming charming- cousin that wa was mere childs child's play play play-a a schoolgirls schoolgirl's schoolgirls schoolgirl's schoolgirls schoolgirl's school school- girls girl's romantic whim do o not dream ream that your our guardian will ever e permit you 1 16 tJ throw yourself awa away upon uon that bred low fellow Mr r 1 LP Noir If Ir you permit yourself yourself your your- our self elf to tn address me In this manner I Ishall Ishall shall shaH feel compelled lIed to retire I cannot cannot cannot can can- not remain here to have m my honored fathers father's will and memory and the rights rights- of ot my betrothed In insulted in m my person saIl said Clara rising to leave heave the Join om No stay No sta o-sta stay Forgive me ml Clara pardon par par- loll don me gentlest girl if Ie in m my great love Jove for or you I 1 grow Impatient of or any other othel claim upon ullon your heart especially from such an unworthy quarter Clara j you are a mere mero child full fill o of generous 4 hut but sentiments and auth dangerous danger danger- ou ous impulses e You extra vie vic j Ilance Hance and firm exercise of authority on oil the time part of your yom guardians to save sav you l from self sef Ant And some iome day sweet girl you rou will thank us to for Jre preserving you ou from froni tho the horrors horrors hor liar of e such a a. mc said ald Id Craven Crayen Cra Cra- yen ven L Lo Le NoIr gently detaining defaming her Itell you OU Air dr 11 Lc Le Noir Noll that lint your yourI j. j of or speaking of or In my betrothal I- I w r-Js' r js in Insulting to In myself eJr Dr noc Roche and and- my mr dear lea father who never ne would have plighted our hands had he considered our prospective marriage o 31 I l Nor r do I suppose he ever did lil plight whIle ls while In his right senses senies en s Oh h. h sIr Ill this has been discussed be before he- he fore fame I he beg of or you OU to tel let th the subject drop remembering that I hold hoel mH myself tr sacredly betrothed to Traverse Ho IO and ready when really when at itt my legal majority he shall claim me to inc to re redeem re- re cC deem leem m m my ne plighted faith by hv becoming I his wife Clara this is madness It must not be he nor noi shall not I 1 have ha sought to win your heart by bj showing you the great extent of m my mylove love hut hove but be careful how you ou scorn Icorn that love lo or continue to taunt me with fth the mention of or an unworthy rival ri For or though I 1 use gentle means should I find them fall fail of their purpose I Ishall Ishall shall know how to avail myself of or harsher ones Clara disdained reply except by permitting her clear eye ec to pass over o him him from head hend to foot with an nn expression sion slon o of consuming consuming- scorn that scathed him to the thc mid quick I r I tell you OU to lO be hc careful Clara Da Day I 1 come colic to you rou armed with the authority author author- fly ity of 01 your youl Je legal nl guardian m my father Cather Colonel le Lc Noir who will forestall your foolish purpose of throwing yourself yourself your your- self and your our fortune awa away upon u u. beggar even en though to do 10 so o he tr his authority and coerce you Into taking a a- amore more suitable compan lou ion said taid Craven Le r rising Impatiently Im Im- patie patiently and pacing the floor But no I sooner had he spoken these words than he saw sav w how he ho had in injured In- In his cause and repented them Goin Going to Clara dura and intercepting her heras hern herns n ns as she was about aboul to leave the room he gently too took her hand and dropping his eyes cye to the floor with a look of humility and penitence he sai said Clara Ciara my sweet cousin 1 know nat not how sufficiently to express my sorrow SOITO nt fit having ha been hurried Into harshness ss toward you you toward toward you ou whom hom I love lovemore o e more than my own sou soul and whom It Itis is the fondest wish o of m my heart to call wife call wife I can only excuse e myself for fOI this or nn any future extravagance of manner mannel by my excessive ive love Jove for that maddens my you OU and the jealousy brain at al the bare mention of or my rival That flint Is it H it sweet girl lrI Can you Oll forgive or lve have hurried hur hur- I one whom love an and jealousy jealous ned ried into frenzy frenz Air Mr L-C L Noir the thc nUde Bible enjoins me mo moto to 10 COl forgive lve injuries I shall hu endeavor avor I can calm to forgive you OU though for 01 forthe tho the present my heart Is still burning under the tIme sense of s rong ron done toward whom I love lo and es este es- es s m t and tho those e te teem and the only imly wa way in which you youcan ou can call make me forget what has just the offense of- of of 0 to repeat repent will be be nevel never Passel passed feH S An And with these words Clara 1 head and passed from the thc 1 rn room CoUld C she he have seen een tho the malignant scow scowl an and gesture with which Craven CIa Lo Noir Nail followed her departure she sho would woul scarcely have haC trusted his hits expression expression f sion lon of or penitence head he lie his Lifting his hh arm arni above after her and fiercely shook hook his J first r t mimed Go Go on Insolent girl and imagine that you vou have han humbled flit me hut but the tho I tune no shall shaH be in changed by this lIa day monin for be before ore that time Om whatever ur the the tho hJ hond ovel the law aw gives gl IO C o b be hr property shall hall and her his ifo I you vou and ancI your pose ons shall hall see who hio shall hall be he Insolent Inso Then Thou we lent Jent That wo we sha shall shah F- F see FC C whose WhOM proud da after day dare dure t te blue eye shall lay day and rebuke rebut me nit Oh to ge go gorou look up girl Not ot tha thu thaI thui my 11 power into In my lilY you rou moon faced creature lre but hut I i love lovo you which is quit want your Our possessions ions inc strong stron lie hc au an fell Incentive Into nV thought lie He e ha ham haman a. a Then of or scowling and hit I uSI ugly way nn an brooding ove deeply his nails when a 11 t tj L- L j an any subject and now he walked slowly slowly slow slow- Ov- Ov ly up an and down own the floor with his head heal upon his breast brea t. t his hits brows drawn over o hl his his' no imoe e and his four fingers angers between his like wild teeth gnawing gnawIng- awa away aay a l beast east alt while ho he mutter muttered She he is not miot like the other one She Sho SheI I has more SN souse sense e and antI strength th she will give us more trouble Wo We 0 must continue continue continuo con con- to tr try fair air means a little longer It will ho bo difficult for I am am not accustomed tomed tomell to control m my passions even for fora a purpose e. e Yet penitence iet penitence and aud love lovo 0 are aro the on only cards to be ho played to this In Insolent girl for the tho present Afterward Afterward After After- ward ward ward- Here his soliloquy mut muttered Itself Into silence his head hend sank deeper upon his breast his brows gathered lower over ver his hits no nose c and anil he walked and gnawed his nails nail like HIte a hun hungry ry wolf Th The immediate results of his cogitation cogitation tion ion was that ho he w wont went nt into the library an and wrote off a letter ettel to his father tellIng telling telling tell tell- ing Ing- him all that had hall transpired be between he- he tween himself and ail Clara Clarl and asking ing his Us further counsel I He lie dispatched this letter and walled an answer During Durin the time week that ensued before he tie could hope to hear from Colonel Colone Le Ie Noir Noll he treated Clara with marked ell deference and anti r respect And Anti Clara on omi her part did not tax its hits forbearance by appearing in lii his presence oftener than she sho cou could possibly possibly pos pos- sib sibly o a avoid At the end cud of the week weel the expected otter letter came It was short and to tho tIme purpose It ran ian thus Washington Dec I 14 H. H A. A IS 18 My Iy Dear Craven You Craven You are ure losing time Do not hope to win the girl by bytho bythe bytho tho the means you propose She is too acute to bo he deceived and too firm to tobe tobe tobe be persuaded We Ve must not hesitate to use ue the lie only means by ly which we w-e can coerce her hel Into compliance I snail shall follow ollow this letter hotter I b by tho the first stagecoach stagecoach stagecoach stage stage- coach and anil before the hc beginning of or orthe the next month Clara Day shall shah be your our wife Your affectionate father ather GABRIEL Jg in NOIR NOIrL OIn o Q When hn CI Craven cn Le Lc Noir oh read this letter loiter let loi ettel et- et ter tel his thin white face ace and auth set deep e eyes es lighted up with triumph But Craven Le Noir Noh before he was out of mf the woods woos He lie had hall not calculated cal cn- upon ullon Capitola The next da lay day Colonel Coone Le Lo NoIr Noll came cameto cameto to th the Hidden House Ho lie arrived cil late hate in the afternoon After refreshing himself with a abath abath bath hath a a. change chane of clothing and a light luncheon he lie went to the the- library where whore he passed the remainder of oC the evening lit in a confidential conference with his son Their supper was wag ordered order order- ed to be le served up to them then there And for that lint one ono evening Clam Clma had the comfort o of tal taking in her hel tea alone The result o of this conference was wa that the the next morning after breakfast break break- fast Colonel Le Noir arose and antl courteously courte courte- hand handed cd her hem to a chair and then seating himself beside her said My 1 I dear Clara Clam the thc responsibilities of a guardian are alwa always al s very ery onerous oner oner- ous and his duties not always er CI very agreeable lC especially when his ward Is Ism m el i n I i. i VIII u. u H l n II JUI jJ U J 1 i L and the time object of pursuit b by bv fortune fortune- 3 hunters an and male malo and I 1 female When such Is the tho case the duties and amul responsibilities of oC the lie guardian are augmented a n hundred hundred- fold Sir Kir this cannot bo be so in iii nt my case you ou are oro perfectly aware that my cJe lIs is Is humanly sp speaking speaking-al- al already ready decided lcd replied Cia Clara ro with c firmness s. s As A how I pray pra you ou fair fall ward You cannot po possibly bl be at a a. loss to understand sir You have been heen al already already already al- al ready advised that I am betrothed to Dr Rocko Roche who will vilI claim me mc as his hiI wife tife Ife upon the day that I shall coin coin- my tW twenty first Jt year Miss Clara Day no more Q that I hc beseech you It Is folly perversity fr frenzy freir But lImit thanks s to tho th wisdom of legislators lit the tho law a w cr very properly inVests invests in- in vests the guardian with aith great latitude of if discretionary power ver over o the peron person per per- son on and property of or his ward ward ward-to to be used of course for that wards ward's best Interest And thus m my dear Clara It t Is m my duty while holding holling this power over o cr you to exercise it II for preventing the he po possibility o of your OUI ever either now or at an any future futuro time throwing yourself your your- our self seif awa away upon a mere adventurer To do o I this I must provide pro you OU with witha u. u i suitable h husband My 1 son son 1 Mr dr r. r graven Craven Lu Le Noir has long loved o and wooed you ou He lie is a 0 young oung man maim of good reputation and fair all I 1 entirely approve O his suit and amid as your guardIan I command you to receive him ilm for fOl your OUI destined husband Colonel Colone Lo Li Noir this is no time for fOl bated hated lim-catli lim nth and whispered humbleness humble humble- ness floss I 1 am but hut a simple girl of seventeen seven seven- event t teen eon cn but I 1 understand your jour purpose an and that of oC your our son sun just as well as though hough I 1 were an old man o of the world You the arc are hunters fortune and It f is the fortune of ur the time wealthy heiress and friendless orphan that you ou are arc in pursuit of Jut hInt that fortune like my hand and heart is already promised to one ono I Ilove Iove love ove and to speak very plainly to you oti ou I would die ere mo I 1 would I point him hit or 01 wed your son ald said Clara Clam with rith invincible firmness I Die Ole girl There are ale worse things than death In the world said Colonel Colon l LC Le Noir with a threatening glare I know mow it II and one of the worst voist thIngs in the world would woul bo be a union with a man nian I could neither esteem nor even endure exclaimed exclaim ell Clara Colonel Colone Lc Le Nob saw that there was no use in further disguise Throwing 0 off of then the last restraint of or good breeding he lie said And Anti there are sUI stil moro more terrible evils lIs for a woman than to be the lie wife of one ono she he can neither esteem m not nor endure Clara shook her head hend In proud scorn There ar are evils to escape which such a n woman |