Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-12-03


earnestly, as if TO read her hecrt, and then
pointed out to her some Latin translation
that he wished her to undertake, and with
kind word left her to her studies
The truth was, that the brief visit the
cousins had made to Mr.. Osgood and
family was only the precursor to many
more. West Point was only about twenty
miles to the north of the spot where Grace's
father lived, and the cadets, procuring
brief leave of absence, would dash off and
enjoy day, or evenings or both, in Mr..
Osgood's family, and return again, but al
ways together. These frequent visits were
the means of creating degree of friend
ship between all parties that fast ripened
into intimacy; and Ernest and Edward
were regarded almost as members Of the
family.
All the household thought that Grace
and Edward loved each other. Edward
was as attentive as ever to her, constantly
by her side, ever talking in his best strain
of wit and humor, and exuberance of good
spirits True, Ernest was often by her
side, but it was only to say some pleasant
little sentence, some .fc,o kind words, to
refer to somc beautiful thought that his
soul had given birth to, and then he re-
signed the field to Edward, who, as all
thought, was the favored suitor And vet
the father thought not So He did not
speak to grace upon the matter; that was
a subject that she must first speak to him
of. He had always been free with her in
all else but her heart, her love, her choice,
must be her own, and should receive no
prompting from him. 1t was true that
Mrs. Osgood spoke once or twice Of the
matter to him; but he told her that their
guests were honorable men high in attain
ment in their class, rich in worldly fortune,
and in short, that Grace might choose, if
she liked to do so, either Edward or Ernest
for husband.
The Intimacy We have described had
now existed for more than year, and
both the young officers had graduated high
in their class, and had received the usual
appointment of lieutenancy from the
President. Each had also received orders
to join the post which he was attached,
and they now came to Mr.. Osgood' to bid
the fami y a long farewell By Mr.. Os-
goods earnest desire, they resolved to
pass a week with him, when they would
leave for the frontier post
~ have found pair Of military gaunt-
lets, so small and delicate" said Edward,
to Grace, "that / beg you will accept them,
They will fit you we'll, and be very con-
venient, l think, to hold Romulus's curb
with" 'r
Thank you" said Grace, half blush
ing. 1t was the first gift Edward had
ever made her. II shall certainly wear
them"
Ernest knew the gift, and he saw her
wear the gauntlets several times when they
all rode out together. OF late, he OBJ
served that Grace had grown less joyous,
and that she eyinced less of that free
hearted spirit and merriment thatso much
became her. He presumed this to be ow-
ing to realization that she was soon to
part from Edward for long period, and
he sighed within himself that it was not
his lot to possess so dear being as he felt
Grace Osgood to be to him.
"Grace, have been looking for you, {"
said Ernest, approaching her at the head
Of the garden walk, just at twilight, the
day but one before they proposed to take
their departure. II have just found a
moss rosebud, dainty one, still wet with
the dew it has been slipping. Will you
accept it, Grace p
"Thank you, Ernest" she said, for they
all addressed each other thus Familiarity !;
and though she did not say so much to
him on receiving this his first gift, she
blushed more deeply as she took it, than she
had done at Edwards more available pres
ent.
But Ernest's heart sank within him as
he saw her turn away into the house.
"She avoids me" he said. ~ have
offended her, perhaps; alas, alasl Grace
loves Edward, and why should complaint
He is generous hearted fellow. All the
class loved him better than they did me.
The world will love him better than it can
ever love me; and how can Grace help low
ing him best9"
Ernest was sad and unhappy, but he
stroye not to show it, He joined the par