The Black-Sealed Letter | Page 3

would be charitable on
your part to spare a few of those luxuriant caresses for poor Frederick;
a slight sprinkling of balm from your roseate lips would work wonders
as a remedy to his breathing apparatus. Just come and see how many
dozen of blankets he has wrapped around his throat: enough, I am sure,
to supply the beds of a whole household on a winter's night."
"Why, Frederick, how did you get such a cold in your throat?"
interrogated Clara.
"By sleeping alone during the cold nights of the past week," retorted
Holstrom, ere Frederick could get time to breathe out a more respectful
answer.

At this moment the subject was immediately dropped through the
timely interference of Mr. Charlston, reading a paragraph of interesting
news from the Times. After an hour's conversation on various topics the
young woman arose and announced her intention of leaving;
whereupon Holstrom sprang up, bade them all good night and
immediately departed. Clara shortly afterwards left also, promising ere
long to repeat her visit. It was customary for Frederick to accompany
her home; but on account of his illness that night George offered to
convey her to her residence, distant about one mile.
"Thank you, George, for your kind offer," replied Clara; "but there is
no necessity to do so to-night; a female acquaintance who accompanied
me to a friend's house a few doors from here, is expecting me to call for
her, and perhaps I may be detained for some time, therefore, dear
George, excuse me."
No sooner had Clara departed than Frederick, disguised himself in his
father's old hat, overcoat and muffler, and immediately started in
pursuit of Clara.
CHAPTER II.
Before proceeding further it is necessary to inform the reader who
Clara and Charles Holstrom were; and, also, to narrate the varied and
complicated circumstances of several years preceding this eventful
night.
Charles Holstrom was the youngest son of a London tradesman. He had
attended school with Frederick, and was now working in the same shop
and at the same business with him. He was possessed of a robust
physical appearance, somewhat coarsely featured;--of a bold, but
humorous disposition--at times impertinent, and even repulsive in his
manner. Frederick had really never considered him as a confidential
friend; but their long acquaintance with each other, and the many
associations of their united course in life had induced him to consider
Charles as a respected friend rather than a fellow companion; and from
these circumstances alone the Charlstons had received him as an

occasional visitor to their house.
Clara Hazledon was the only daughter of a poor but respectable widow
with whom the Charlston family had been long acquainted. Previous to
their removal to Fleet street they were next door neighbors. Mr.
Charlston and Clara's father had been early companions of each other.
Their children had grown up together, and had been associates at the
same school, and although now in unequal circumstances, still looked
upon each other as very familiar friends. After the death of Mr.
Hazledon, he having died when the family was young, his wife
struggled hard against adversity to bring up her little ones. But five
years after the death of her first husband she married another, who,
unfortunately turned out to be only a worthless and degraded fellow.
Clara, by her expertness at needlework, had procured a good situation
in a millinery shop. Her brothers, all younger than herself, were also
respectably employed.
Frederick and Clara had been passionately fond of each other when
children, and as they grew older their affection became more matured;
and at length the sympathies of their love were more firmly united by a
marriage engagement, the consummation of which was purposed to
take place as soon as circumstances would render it favorably
convenient. But the basis of life's future prospects, however substantial
it may be, is often undermined by some casual innovation; and there is
no earthly hope, however bright its radiance may appear, but is liable to
be darkened by some event that may suddenly loom up from the
horizon of life. Such was the case amid the quietude of their affections.
By some inadvertent impulse of human nature their chastity was
sacrificed, and Frederick and Clara became parents before they had
sanctified their affections upon the altar of matrimony.
The event threw a shadow into the homes of both families, and served
as food for the tongues of idle gossips among their acquaintances.
Mrs. Charlston and her daughters paid a respectful visit to the house of
Mrs. Hazledon--or Mrs. Collins as she was then named,--and with
whom Clara was then staying. They carried with them presents of
various sorts; and even Mr. Charlston himself, although chagrined at

the event, evinced a charitable spirit by placing twenty guineas in the
hand of Clara,