Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-08-19
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
THE RECONCILIATION,
Story of Two Proud Hearts
CHAPTER I.

A mild May morning, fresh and pleasant
and bright the soft air full of the songs
of happy birds ; the wild flowers lifting up
their heads in the sunshine; and the green
leaves rustling and waving in the woods.
as if they were whispering secrets to the
gentle wind that stirred them.
1t was q lovely day--a day to be happy
in and yet a sudden look was visible on
the sweet face of Faith Egerton, as she left
the door of her house, and slowly went
down the gravel walk that led to the road
gate.
Her home-the home of her husband
and children-was pretty brown stone
cottage, overhung with vines, and sur
rounded by beds of fragrant flowers. Be
hind the house was level and beautiful
grove, in whose cool recesses she had of
ten lain as child and watched the flick
ering light and shade come down uron the
ground, for the earlier years of Faith s
life, as well as these later ones, had been
spentin this quiet place. Here she had
been born--here her kind mother had
died--here she had lived with dear and
only brother-here she had married her
| first love and here her children were spring
ing up around her, and here she hoped
to close her dying eyes, with all the old
familiar scenes smiling in beauty around
her.
She leaned upon the little gate. and look
ed wistfully up the road. She was waiting
there for the coming of her earliest and
best friend, and the sound of wheels made
her start, and seut color into her pale
check that had long been stranger there.
A dusty stage coach came whirling up be-
side the gate--stopping long enough for a
lady to alight and give some orders re-
specting her baggage, and dashed away
again The new conner did not see Faith
for a moment, so SCREENED was she by the
branches Of wild rose that grew near the
gate. The traveller lifted her vail, and ex
posed broad high forehead, shaded by
silky masses of black hair, face well fea
tured but grave and full of thought, and
deep. dark eyes, whose glances were kind,
and her smile was beautiful
How strange contrast between these
two women the one fair haired and soft
Z eyed, with meek and quiet face, or whose
features conteutment and home happiness
were most plainly stamped the other, dark
and proud, and self fsustained, with a look
that said to the most careless observer
oh I have suffered p To one, life had
been a fair summers day. with only now
and then dark and unhappy cloud to
the other-ah what to her but a bleak
and stormy winter, where everything she
loved withered aud died? And yet they
we're of the same age, of the same station
in life and side by side they had sat at
school, and played at home, in the child
hood they had left behind them.
The tears sprang unbidden to the eyes
of Faith Egerton, as she saw the steadfast
look with which her visitor regarded the
scenery around her She lifted the latch
of the gate and stepped out beside her.
Gertrude-Gertrude Alewynne-won't
YOU speak to me?' she said
"Faith, dear Faith, is it your said Ger.
trude.
They were clasped in each others arms
at once. Faith wept bitterly, but Gertrude
was pale and calm, and smoothed the fair
hair of her friend with caressing gesture
such as one might use to soothc child.
"Come, Faith" she said at last, as il
weary of her tears "this is but sorry
welcome to give me after so long a jour
ney. You know never liked to see yor
cry"
'"But you are so changed, Gertrude 7
replied Faith.
"Well, if | am, said Gertrude, at has
Y been some years since we met, dear Faith
= and they have not been marked with rost
II g., ,,,a Won t,,uet 4, ~ nv raot m,
to be quite the same at twenty five as a
fifteen. Life changes us all, you know.
II know answered Faith, sadly "bu
: | never knew it so well till nov"
"Well, we will let that drop" said th'
other. And now, are you not going to asl
e nc in, after my long journey
"Prry. forgive me, said Faith, blush
ing at her nattention. II will show yol
to your chamber myself 1t has been read.
for YOU all this week" f"
They went up the walk together-Tw
fair haired children ran out to the door t
meet them. The youngest, a boy of som
, two summers, held up his little hands t
Miss Alewynue, with a sunny smile. Sh
stopped down and took him in her arms
II aud walked along through the hall wit
: Faith,
+ care these your only children?' aske
Gertrude.
- oYes, and they are trouble enough fc
me-" replied the mother, looking at tn
children with fond smile that betraye
how little the "troubie" was felt.
Gertrude sighed and said brokenly, 9
don't know, Faith, why every one cal
me cold and proud perhaps | am. B'
when take a little innocent child in IN
arms, something stirs in my heart th
nothing else can touch | might ha,
been better and happier woman, Fait
liz had married,
pa "Yon know we'll, Gertrude, what M, !
" vorite plau alwsys was IF You had on