Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-08-17
WOMAN'S LOVE AND WOMAN'S
HATE. Ia


Florence Barry said she hated Leonard
Hastings, and she meant what she said.-
Certainly, if woman ever had come to hate
man, she had to hate him. True. her hatred
was not likely to be Of much detriment to
him, for she was only a woman, poor and
friendless now he thought, and be was an
elegant gentleman, with means and popular
ity at command. He had good reason to be
careless Of woman's hatred, you see though
he could not help wincing and getting . lit
tie white-faced when she turred upon him
in her dark, passionate beauty, and rung out
her defiance and adherence in clarion tones.
He had vowed to humble her, but 1t was
but half humiliation which she took so
regally.
Mrs. Florence Barry had been the belle
three seasons two before she married, one
after. Not being particularly In love with
anybody else and ut lo0 to occapy her
time and thoughts, being pretty and some
what fascinating, she naturally enough fell
to experimenting with those bright eyes OF
hers upon the hearts of those about her,
She became, in short a married dirt. She
did nothing deliberately. She was simply a
giddy, careless butterfly, thoughtless because
she had never been taught otherwise. She
had married the husband chosen for her,
and he, satisfied at having chosen beauti-
full matroE for his elegant home, went his
business way and letl her to her own devices
lfshe had possessed the bulwark of hus-
hands fond affection, II she had ever been
taught anything but frivolity, she might
have been better woman. As II was she WAS
idle, and Satan found the mischief for her he
always finds for such hands. When young
Passmore, home from college at vacation
time and exposed to the fascination Of her
airs and graces, had the temerity to fall on
his sophomore knees and declare, in
maudin Terms, the smitten state of his affec-
tons, pretty Mrs. Barry did not know
whether to be most angry or amazed. She
ended by laughing in his very face.
Young Passmore never forgave her his
own impertinence, or that musical mocking
at his folly. He played the ruined man, the
young man with blighted soul, TO perfection.
He refused to go back to college, took 70
smoking and German metaphysics, long
hair and night-walking. He left bis beard
grow, and neglected his personal appearance e,
and looked as forlorn wretch as his roman
tic soul could contrive.
Leonard Hastings, the elegant man of leis-
ure, coming home from n European tour,
found the young man in this state. The
twain were cousins, and Hastings had fond
ness amounting to foolishness for young
Passmore. He accepted the blasted collie
gians story, patiently listened to the young
mans highly colored recital of his wrongs,
and vowed inwardly to avenge them.
Florence Barry did not know of his rela-
tionship TO her boyish admirer. II would
have made no difference IL she had known
She experienced no emotion but Of amuse-
ment when she recalled young Passmore and
his folly. Her share Of the comedy had
been too small to leave conscience even ten
der.
Gifted personally and intellectually beyond
most of the people Mrs. Barry was in th,
habit Of. meeting, handsome, eloquent and
popular, Studying all her tastes aud humor
ing all her weaknesses, spending the elabor-
ate facinat ons Of thoroughly facinatinl
gentleman upon this pretty, careless trifer
Undins suddenly awoke 70 the consciousness
that she possessed a heart. With the dis
covery came a timid wisdom, q dawning ter
ror of the gulf whose brink her unwary fee
had pressed. She began TO avoid Leonart
Hastings, but it was too late. Relentless a
the hunter upon the track, he followed her
pursued, peIsecuted, enticed, bewilderes
with sophistries, and intoxicated with tender
batteries, and there was nothing but her owl
vague intuitions Of right and wrong 10 pro
tect her from him.
She broke away from him at last. In
sort of desperation Of terror, she ran away
thinking to hide, herself from him In littl
country town where she had once visite'
before her marriage. rss
Unfortunately shs left the note which as
counted TO her husband her going and wher
she had gone, where Leonard Hastings foln
Il first, and pocketing 1t, proceeded by Gu
across the country To intercept the trai
which bore Mrs. Barry.
Her horror at beholding him was almo
Overwhelming but he affected not to PEI
ceive it. and seating himself he, quickl
} made her forget everything but that sf
; loved.
lie had left town with some ostentation. =
He meant that they should both be ni.sss
together. Il need hut that after the whit
/" flirtation," to FIX upon poor Florence u
odium Of suspicion and iniamys That VI
part Of the vengeance he mediuted.
lie went 10 the hoiel with Mrs. Barry, aI
( when she insisted upon his leaving her ther
n y. - -