Finally, Clara resolved to entrust honest Cap with so much of her story

as would engage her interest and co-operation, and then confide to her

care a letter to be placed in the post-office. Clara had scarcely come

to this resolution ere, as we said, an imminent crisis obliged her to

seek the further aid of Capitola.

Craven Le Noir had never abated his unacceptable attentions to the

orphan heiress. Day by day, on the contrary, to Clara's unspeakable

distress, these attentions grew more pointed and alarming.

At first she had received them coldly and repulsed them gently; but as

they grew more ardent and devoted she became colder and more reserved,

until at length, by maintaining a freezing hauteur at variance with her

usually sweet temper, she sought to repel the declaration that was ever

ready to fall from his lips.

But, notwithstanding her evident abhorrence of his suit, Craven Le Noir

persisted in his purpose.

And so one morning he entered the parlor and, finding Clara alone, he

closed the door, seated himself beside her, took her hand and made a

formal declaration of love and proposal of marriage, urging his suit

with all the eloquence of which he was master.

Now, Clara Day, a Christian maiden, a recently bereaved orphan and an

affianced bride, had too profound a regard for her duties toward God,

her father's will and her betrothed husband's rights to treat this

attempted invasion of her faith in any other than the most deliberate,

serious and dignified manner.

"I am very sorry, Mr. Le Noir, that it has at length come to this. I

thought I had conducted myself in such a manner as totally to

discourage any such purpose as this which you have just honored me by

disclosing. Now, however, that the subject may be set at rest forever,

I feel bound to announce to you that my hand is already plighted," said

Clara, gravely.

"But, my fairest and dearest love, your little hand cannot be plighted

without the consent of your guardian, who would never countenance the

impudent pretensions which I understand to be made by the low-born

young man to whom I presume you allude. That engagement was a very

foolish affair, my dear girl, and only to be palliated on the ground of

your extreme childishness at the time of its being made. You must

forget the whole matter, my sweetest love, and prepare yourself to

listen to a suit more worthy of your social position," said Craven Le

Noir, attempting to steal his arm around her waist.

Clara coldly repelled him, saying: "I am at a loss to understand, Mr. Le Noir, what act of levity on my

part has given you the assurance to offer me this affront!"




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