She regarded me earnestly as she
said,--
"Will you become Willie's wife?"
I knew not what reply to make to a question so unexpected. At length I
said,--
"Willie has been a long time absent. He may have changed his mind; or,
he may be already married."
"I will answer for all that," replied Mrs. Leighton.
"Willie is here. He arrived two days since, and would have called to see
you ere this, but I begged him to defer calling till I had seen you, and
acknowledged my former injustice to you; for I am now sensible that I
wronged a worthy and noble girl."
Remember, kind reader, that, although I had expected never again to meet
with Willie Leighton, I still loved him with all the strength of a first
love.
Before I could frame a reply to the last remark of Mrs. Leighton, the
door opened, and Willie, accompanied by his father, entered the room.
I pass over our meeting. But Mr. Leighton, soon after, placing my hand
in that of Willie, said,--"God bless you, my children; may you be
happy."
When I returned home that evening, it was Willie not Lewis, who
accompanied me.
CHAPTER XXII.
CLARA'S MARRIAGE.
Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our
marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until
the ensuing spring.
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