Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-08-19


it was Faith that sighed.
"Oh, Faith, spare me, was the hal
: laughing answer.
"But you would have loved him if yo,
had only seen him" persisted the other
"He is so noble, so generous, so handsome
He is only my half brother, you know; bu
if he had been my own | could not have
loved him better"
"By this time they had reached the room
which had been fitted out for Gertrude
"Why, you have made a little paradise for
me, " she said with pleased smile, as she
looked around her chamber. II shall
never want to leave you, Faith"
off any pains of mine will keep you, l
am content" replied Faith.
"But, Faith, said Miss Alewynne, de.
tanning her friend as she was about to
leave the room; II never knew before that
your paragon was only half brother.
Your maiden name was Faith Anderson
now pray what is his name?"
Walter Roscoe" she replied. lie was
the son of my step-mother. My own
mother died when | was very young"
What was his uamc?" The tone was
sharp and inpatient but the speakers face
was turned away from Faith.
"Walter Roscoe" she repeated. any
boy is named after him, Walter Roscoe
Egerton."
"The jeweled hand that had been play.
ing with the child's soft curls was drawn
away as suddenlyas if "a serpent had stung
it, and Gertrude turned white and rigid
face toward her friend, as she put the boy
down and pointed to the door
Gertrude, what ails you2 Are you ill?"
cried Faith in terror. She caught the bell
rope in her hand, but Gertrude Alewynne
grasped her arm firmly.
Don't ring shall be better soon" she
said in a low voice. "And, Faith, for the
sake Of the olden time when we were
school girls together, say nothing of my
illness to any one, and ask me no questions
now. Leave me for little while, aud to-
morrow | will tell you all"
Wondering and perplexed Faith, with
her children, left the room, and went down
stairs. Her husband met her in the hall
and stopped to speak to her. HAS your
friend arrved?' he asked.
Eyes, Alfred, she replied. Have you
seen Walter
II went up to his Office as you requested
me to, my dear, and asked him to come
and dine with us to-day. He consented,
and was talking to me as usual, when l
happened to mention Miss Alewynnes
name. lie started up and turned white
but here he comes, Faith you can see for
yourself how strange he is" He stopped
speaking and both turned towards the door
as Walter Roscoe entered, pale and agita-
ted.
"Faith, is it true--is she in this house?"
he asked wildly.
"NIiss Alewynne is here, Walter" she
replied.
He struck his hand upon his forehead,
saying "Why was | not told she was
coming?"
Don't look so angry, dear Walter,
pleaded Faith. IL intended it as pleas
ant surprise for you both" He half ut
tered an oath, and Faith, bursting into
tears, cried, "0h, Walter, don't Don't
swear and here before these little children,
too! You never did so before"
ct was only on account of your plea
SAINT surprise, ,"8he answered, bitterly.
"Don't ever try another, Faith, l have
only come to say good bye The same
house can never hold Gertrude -" he
paused, and then added, as with an effort,
"Gcrtrude Alewynne and myself"
"But why Walter?' asked Faith cling
ing to him as he was turning away. "Haye
you ever met her before?"
He look d at her with strange smile,
as he replied, "Ycs, Faith--We have met
once too often"
"You knew Gertrude, and yet never
spoke to me of her, when you knew how
much | wished you to love each other, )"
said Faith, reproachfully. ooh Walter |
always thought had your conGdence!"
"And so you have, Faith; so you have
except in this one thing" he said, kindly,
softened by her evident distress. "And
when she has left you, will come and tell
you all. )"
"Not before she asked personal---very..
"Not before, Faith, he replied.-"Let
me go now,
"Oh, Walter, l would almost give my
| life if could only sec you two happy to-
gether."
Faith, Faith, how little you know of
what YOU talk! That woman has embit-
tered my life she has destroyed my con
fdence in every human being, she has de-
ceived, betrayed and disgraced me. And
vet know if but once look upon her
face, | should forgive her all for loved
her, Faith.-I loved her more than my
life, Sister, l must not see her When
she has left you, l will come back again
till then, FAREWELL
He kissed her fondly, shook hands with
her husband, patted the golden heads OF
the children AMI was gone.-Thc young
husband and wife looked after him ws;t'ul-
ly A cloud seemed to have covered the
bright spring sky, and the little parlor OF
the cottage seemed lonely and deserted
when they again entered it, because of the
mystery, which might be guilt, that even
then was sheltered within its peaceful
walls.