med to have yielded at the same moment with the
coy Chloris, and parting--disclosed a stolen kiss! Grant's hand lay like
ice against the wall. For, disengaging Fletcher's arm from her waist
and freeing her skirt from the foliage, it was the calm, passionless
Clementina herself who stepped out, and moved pensively towards the
casa.

CHAPER XI.

"Readers of the 'Clarion' will have noticed that allusion has been
frequently made in these columns to certain rumors concerning the early
history of Tasajara which were supposed to affect the pioneer record of
Daniel Harcourt. It was deemed by the conductors of this journal to be
only consistent with the fearless and independent duty undertaken by the
'Clarion' that these rumors should be fully chronicled as part of the
information required by the readers of a first-class newspaper, unbiased
by any consideration of the social position of the parties, but simply
as a matter of news. For this the 'Clarion' does not deem it necessary
to utter a word of apology. But for that editorial comment or attitude
which the proprietors felt was justified by the reliable sources of
their information they now consider it only due in honor to themselves,
their readers, and Mr. Harcourt to fully and freely apologize. A patient
and laborious investigation enables them to state that the alleged facts
published by the 'Clarion' and copied by other journals are utterly
unsupported by testimony, and the charges--although more or less
vague--which were based upon them are equally untenable. We are now
satisfied that one 'Elijah Curtis,' a former pioneer of Tasajara who
disappeared five years ago, and was supposed to be drowned, has not only
made no claim to the Tasajara property, as alleged, but has given no
sign of his equally alleged resuscitation and present existence, and
that on the minutest investigation there appears nothing either in his
disappearance, or the transfer of his property to Daniel Harcourt,
that could in any way disturb the uncontested title to Tasajara or the
unimpeachable character of its present owner. The whole story now seems
to have been the outcome of one of those stupid rural hoaxes too common
in California."

"Well," said Mrs. Ashwood, laying aside the 'Clarion' with a skeptical
shrug of her pretty shoulders, as she glanced up at her brother; "I
suppose this means that you are going to propose again to the young
lady?"

"I have," said Jack Shipley, "that's th