Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-12-16
The Broken Promise.


able demand, Lilly. Is it possible that
you can so doubt me-?' Lilly put
her snow white hand, sparkling with rings,
with half playful vexcd motion, in his.
"That's not the question at all. My
betrothed husband-the man who is to be
honored with this hand, which you will
persist in holding so rmly-don't squeeze
it so hard, ST. Jamcs-must give me his
solemn word of honor that from this mo.
ment hencolorth, not drop of vine shall
ever pass his lips. | will never have my
life endangered by that sparkling ser
pent.
"My darling Lilly, you do not discri
inmate. There is wide difference between
the tiny lass of cham agne, taken among
gay social circle, and the far grosser and
more injurious stimulant, which has be-
come necessity to the wretched victim
of intemperance
II make no distinction" said Lilly
Brooke, firmly. "You do not know, ST.
james, how fatal and insidious an enemy
is that one glass of ruby wine and, in
my eyes, one glass is as obnoxious as ten
thousand !"
''St. James Ellingham drew up his mag
ni6ccnt figure with indignant pride. II
understand what you mean, Lilly" he
said, "but, believe me there is no danger.
Do you give me credit for no self-control
and no judgment whateyer2 | should
despise myself" he exclaimed, in a tone
Of unuterabe hdaieHr, "did | not know
when to stop"
"Do you promisc?' Lilly simply re-
piled
"You show little confidence in the moral
strength and judgment Of him who is to
be your future husband, said st. James
much piqued. .....rt
Dear 81. james, said Lilly, pleadingly,
a. she drew nearer to him, with a soft
tiuge Of crimson on her lovely cheek, "do
not let us dispute longer on the subject.
Only promise me, dearest.
"Well, then, said Eilingham, smiling
involuutmily, although he had resolved to
be very stern, II promise, yop provoking
little witch are you satisfied now?'
"On your solemn word of honor
"On my solemn word Of honor?'
Lilly was so smiling and raident, her
happy triumph at havn carried her point
that st. james stopped his tall Lead to kiss
her bright lips, and secretly thought
What happy dog | am to call this beauti-
ful little creature my own" No sacrifice
whatever, could be too great to lay at the
shrine Of her pcremptory little will, and
so Mr. bingham thought.
And who will venture to blame Lilly
for thinking, as she stood at the satin
draped windows, watching her departing
lover, that he was the noblest and hand
soonest man in the whole word Do not
all maidens think 80 at the same time OF
their livcsp
GA glass Of wine, bingham, my boy?
queried young Altamount as bingham
stopped at his rooms at the st. Nicholas
that same afternoon
ono said st. James, carelessly putting
aside the tiny acorn she'll Of cut aud gild.
ed glass and brimming with crimson wine
which was proiored to him, | don't care
for it, thank you "
"Nol' exclaimed Altumount, arching
his eye in eXtrcmc surprise.
~ "No,' returned bingham, somewhat
embarrassed "Tho truth is, that, not one
half an hour ago, | promised my wife tina
is to be, never again to drink glass o
wine and | must keep my word.
so, ho" said Altamouut, laughing
$50 you begin to feel already the galln!
yoke OF Hymen, in spite of the flower
that cover it! What tyrants these wo
men are T.
St James made some light reply, but il
his secet heart he was irritated, botl
with himself and Lilly. re haps h
thought she had beou arbitrary and unrca
sonable.
Beyond all question the handsomcs
couple at Mrs ttrangur's grand soiree tina
night were st. James Elhngham and Lii
liam Brooke, and many an enyying an,
admiring glance was cast on thom rs the
passed into the crowd. Love- youth
wealth and bcauty-evcry circumstanc
was tingod with the brightest coirlT de roS
for their young eyes, WHY they wer
standing together in an alcoye full OF bios
Foming myrtcS and creamy roses, reposin
from the iatigucs of brilliant waltz, Dam
Gossip in the reircshmcnt saloons wa
busy about their affairs.
Where are that devoted couple Eflng
ham and Miss Brooko2' inquired BE
Stanley, dashiug young coquette, VIII,
rumor whispered, had been intensely dt
appointed at loosing the brilliant Efing
ham for herself
"Oh, talking sentiment somewhere r.
piled MIR, Altamount, who was helping h,
TO Charlotte Russo. by the way, mu
tell you something glorious about )
James. Would YOU believe that his II
amorata has cxacted the solemn promir
from him, never again TO touch wtney,
"You don't tell me SO o' said Bell
surprise.
Its a fact--I heard it from st. jam
himself,
"What foil G said Bell, curyins h
earlet lip coutcmprously, "lll Nag