LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3638, 8 December 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

' . CLA^iSSA^S OHf»nw. '

.: (4xgg*Vi)i : (Concluded) •"I think I TwwldnAfe i£ I were you," Dugdale ventures to- say, mildly. : "But I.sfcaJlvJSir-!: Don't talk to we! Pouf !do you Chink- the anger of the prettiest woman in Eyjepe coulid turn me from my duty ? Kerfir ?:" sajs, the Mijor, proudly. Dugdale .kaiftt smiles' a» they part company, and ho contm«£B bis- way to Weston. The hall door, a^Jie.ual, stands wide open during the glorious August weather, and, making his way to the*tu<ty where young Carew generally sits, he ent2K4, uiiann&Ußccd. - •: At the claorway, he stands mo!ionles9 a moment, waing Gorew in earnest conversation with Sir Wilfred ; Haughfon. Hearing him, they both-4ook, up^ and • Caraw's exprecsion changes fr»m cold . disapprobation to quick distress. " It i&-anlj, Dugdale," cays Haughton, with a curioKo-gleam ij% iis dark eyes, and a certain maddeaijig souse of triumph in his slow, deliberat* tonea, "No, do not go away, Dugchii^,.. you.are' a welcome friend here, and I ha\a..no desire to conceal from you the reasoai: of my presence here to-day. I havecome in. ask Carew's hand in marriage ! "?- Dcgdalo p&les visibly, and his browß con, tract -cothervyiso lie suppresses all outward *ymstQtns of eciolion. Then suddenly a wild, detei«iination lo enter . the lists himself, 10. decju'e aloud his affection for her, if only to. let lieivsee liow well, though silently, she has, been, beloved, takes possession of Ujp. Almost without allowing time for reflection, ho burns, to Carew, and says, with io^ad Cissipcaurd — "I too have come to Weston towy*:,',, bound on the eamo errand. I love your jiste'r, Garaw, and would ask her to marry me*. Lett iher chooso between us." j 1 Gieorgo rises slowly. He is still weak, aud ; ifcda a difficulty insuddenmovements^-aJpQk of per-plexity aud discomfort pervades, his handsome faco ; he trifles nervously, with, a, paper-knife that lies beneath his hai«U " You distress me," he says at Jeagth, adf dressing both the suitors. " I hawilj knpw whattoEay. Of courte I shall inform my sister of the honour yon have bot£,dono her, and— aud— you must abide by her, decigion. But it grievos mo to kno^- that sue qffvou— must — " * Ho pauses, and unconscious 1^ in his. ombarruasment, fixes his oyes uuon Dugdalo. Clive groans inwardly; to him: it is.a siiupjo matter, the translation of thair regretful look,, tho finishing of that broken sentence. •• Ona of you lmißt go lo 4j»o wall; — and. you, Dugdale, are the man." fclo he reads it; The brcther, knowing well the sister's feelings, had. tJiought kindly to give him gentle warning, ofi whatj is surely in store for him. That glance waa an Ul omon ! Well, well ! He throats up,hi& hfad in angry doGance of cruel fato> and draws big breath a little hard. At this moment, a light and well-known step crossing tho Xaljl oufcaido makes itso.f heard. It comes sparer ; tbd door is thrown opeiij and Claris^, fresh and sweet as the perfumed flowesa in her hands, stands upon tho threshold.. " Why, wh»t a solemn conclave ! " sho says, jestindy. " What long, long faces ! But that the siloneo of tho grave sctfma to roign, I should say you wore till indulging in a battle royal, What is it, George ? " laying her hand upon his shoulder with a soft caressing touoh. Taking down tho hand, Carow holds it closely in his own und regards her with silent scrutiny for a full minute. Then glancing at the two men, he says, aB though decided : <• My sister v here— she shall speak for herself. Clarissa, Sir Wilfrod Haughton and Clive Dugdale wish to tell you— that they— love you ; they havo como this aftornoon to ask your hand in marriage. It is for you to pithor refuse tliem both — or — make yoi\r ohoico botween them." He has spoken dispiritedly, but to the ytwv pose. Clarissa, growing white ai tho liliea in her trembling fingers, shrinks away from him, and letting her Honors fall, covers her faao with her hands. " Oh ! why havo you done this P" cries she } " it is terrible — it is cruel — '' "No— it i« tlie wisest course," whispers he, hurriedly. "It will ond at once all doubt and Buspenso. Bolievo me it is better so— and kinder." Looking up, she glances first at Sir Wilfred, who is evidently anxious, but perhaps a little too assured— thon timidly at Dugdiile, who is rather in the background, with his head bent downward, aud his arms crossed upon his breast. Feeling the intensity of her regard, he raises his head, and meets her gaze full. In his eyes thero is a world of sorrowing, a passionate regret, a dumb agony, sad through its hopeless longing. '• Clarissa !" says Haughton, entreatingly, attempting to take her hand. " No, no !" she exclaims, hastily, waving him back, her heart boating painfully. Then, " Clive, will you not speak to me ?" ehc says, moving a step or two in his direction. The effect is electric. At her words Dugdalo starts violently, tho sadness disappears, and in itß place a great gleam of joy rises and illumines his face. Yet even now ho hardly dareß believe in his own good fortune. . Going up to her, he imprisoas her bands, and a«ks in a voice so changed the scarcely knows it to bo his : " Am I your choice ?" " Yes," faintly. " You love me, Clarissa," almost vehemently. " Yes," returns sho, again. And then, overcomo by lior emotion and the situation generally, 6he burst into toars ; whereupoii Clive, unmiudful of her brother's prosonco, or that of his disconcerted rival, catches her in his arms ; and with a cob, sho lays her head upon his breast. Leaving Weston about two hours later, ho has j vet reached the entrance gate, when he findi himself for tho second time to-day, face to face with the valiant Major, evidently bent on slaughter. " You see I have kept my word," says this warrior fiercely ; "I am not to bo frightened, even by a frown from Venus ! I have come to reason with Clarissa about this talkod-of-engagement." "There is no need. I can tell you all about it." "Well?" impatiently. "It is only too true. She is going to be married!" "And who, pray, told you that pretty piece of news ?" " I had it from her own lips," "You don't say so !" exclaims the Major, staggered ; then plucking up courage again, he advances a stop. ".All the more causo why I should not intorfere," ho says, with much determination. " I am afraid it will be too lato. Bho and he eeem very much attached to each other. I am almost suro'sho will not give him up." "She will when I prove to her what a despicable scoundrel he is ; and open her eyes a bit about his doings in London." "Oh, Major! that I should live te hear you say such things!" " Say them ! I have said them a thousand times, and I shall say them again. I tell you, this man she ib bent on marrying is a villain of the deepest dye !" Dugdale laughs. " Ah ! you may make a joke of it, Dugdale ; she is nothing to you, of course j you don't care about her future huppiness, poor child ! but I do, and I can't see her enter on «uch a wretched marriage without feeling grief." " I don't think, says Clivo, modestly, "it will be a wretched marriage." "I hope you may be forgiven," ejaculatos the Major solemnly. " Well," in an offended tone, " I shall go and fulfil my duty, and see what I oan do." , "Don't put an end to the engagement,Major," exclaims Clive, in. a tone of. affected dismay, " because if you do you wjll make Clarissa and— and me eternally miserable." , He has placed both his hands on old Hyde's shoulders, and is laughing, lightly. "Eh ? What ? , /ou don't meantfo say-P bloss me! — what have- you got to do with it?" ' ' • ':■*;". ..",•■: :' r "In me you behold „fche ooming bridegroom," says Clive, with an air of the pro* foundoet triumph. Tho Major is struck dumb for a full minute (a most unusual occurrence with him), and thon gives way to a wild rapture. "My dear Clive— my dear, dear boy, can it be true ? Oh ! you young scamp, not to tell me sooner. My dear follow, lam rejoiced," And then ho fairly gives way, and falling upon the unsuspecting- Dugdale, treats him to a hearty hug. ; "But, Major, consider* would you wed your pearl among women to a 'despicable scoundrel,' a 'villain of the deepest dye?' When are you>going to open lie* eyes to all my soandalous ' doings in London ?'":

"Noeeof your chaS," . says., the Major, threatabipg him with his- Stick, «• butoome straiglitJiome with mef. and let ub drink the futurasSliß Dugdaleffl, health ia a bumper of champagne." • , " •