Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-01-03
THE PRESERVE CLOSET.

Colonel Templar sat 10 his bachelor sane
tum where the rays Of an April sunshine
shone in lines of glittering gold among the
Neapoltan violets In the window, and drove
the little canary half-wild with silver-voice
delight--a sanctum crowded with miscel-
laneous confusion Of meerschaums in differ
enta stages Of color, dressing gowns, cigar
boxes, newspapers and gorgeous velvet slip
pcrs-he contracted his brows moodily over a
letter whose pink paper and delicate scent of
foreign perfume betokened troublesome
lady correspondent.
"Dear Sydney"-Yes, I'm always "dear"
when Bertha wants disagreeable commits
sion executed-what hypocrites women are,
TO be sure-''an eligible house, somewhere,
In some nice locality, II surely can be ne
trouble to engage one for u.s.
No trouble, quothal that's just a woman's
random ideasl No trouble to rush from pill
lar TO post house hunting, Where's the in
demnity of bachelornood, I'd like to know
might as well be married man In good
earnest, IL Pm to be saddled with all the res
possibility Of the thing. won't be imposed
upon-rll write to Bertha at once and tell
her.
Colonel Templar gave his jet black mus
taches savage jerk, and pulled his writing
desk resolutely forward. Then q softer
mood seemed to dawn athwart his mind-he
hesitated, biting the handle Of his pen med
\ tatively.
"Poor little Bertha-she always was my
pet cousin, and suppose Il Is rather incon-
venient for her to come all the way here to
look for house-and her husband win be
in India till the middle Of May, and-well,
the upshot of the whole matter Is that I'm
doomed to victimize myself and the sooner
it's ovet the better. Heigho! where's the
newspaper I'll just look over the TO Let's
first, and then I'll go to the estate agencies
| The sun was peeping from behind masses
of flying clouds, like shy beauty who al
ternately smiles and hides her face-the air
was full of the faint spring odors, even In
this brck-aId-mortar wilderness, when Col
mel Sydney Templar sailed forth, armed and
equipped with the various references, direc-
tions and addresses, to engage in the moment.
Gus business of house-bunting.
He was not a handsome man-yet you
would have turned involuntarily to look af-
ter him as he sauntered by, attracted by The
deep smothered FIRE of his dark eyes
and the firm outline Of his lips. Eo-Colonel
Templar was not handsome, but he was whot
the ladies term interesting Moreover hi
carried an empty sleeve where the left arm
should have been-an everlasting memorial
of the red battle-clouds.
at seems odd for me to 60 house-hunt.
ing" unused Templar, as he strobe onward
through the dusty streets. "For me, the sol.
litary, homeless recluse of one-and thirty
years old. Four years ago things appeared
differently to me-four years ago might
have dreamed of house of my. own, with
Marion Caryls bright eyes to light up it
hear;h-stone. All, mel this is world Of
changei A careless word little misuuder.
standing-and here I am, a crippled soldier
while Marion Is probably the sunshine O
eome other mans life. Hold on II am get
ting maudlin and romantic) eh, Sydney Tenn
plar2 This will never do, old fellow"
The Colonel gave his heavy black locks q
backward toss, as II impatient at his own
folly, and vigorously directed bis attention
to the list of eligible residence in his pocket
book.
"No. Al - street; here's the very place
Wants painting badly on the outside, bu
within. At all events wen try"
|
ing of servants in the hall, faded lady il
dyed silk and hair in crimping pins, appear
led.
"Is this house to let, madam 2" inquire,
our Colonel, deferentialy.
swell, yes, it's to let but can't see It NOW
"Can't see It now2"
"No," snarled the lady, vindictive!y
"Hours are between two and four"
"Pm quite sure that female in the crimp
ing pins is an old maid" decided the Colone
mentally. "and think she must have break
tasted off broken glass and cambric needles
! wonder If the people at No. Ill -
street will be any more affable."
A pretty blue-eyed woman. in torn wrap
per and slippers dow at the heel, answere,
the door-bell.
"Can see this housc2" meekly questioue
Colonel Templar.
Gould you call again in about an hour?
asked the blue-eyed one. any husband I
out, and we've been 80 troubled with thieve
and respectable looking agents who carry
keys with them thae--'
"Oh, beg your pardon. Under the cir
cumstances will not intrude," said Colon,
Templar, with comic elevation of his eye
brows. Perhaps, however, you will
good enough to see that leave the door ma
behind quite safe"
ats well didn't let him come in," wa
her internal comment. ale looks as II b
might be little crazed"
While Colonel Templar stroked his mu:
tache and pondered obviously within him
self 81 wonder # do look like rogue'
|
"Herbertl Derte! don't you hear the door
belli BERTHE, | sayr'
The gentleman apostrophised as aBertie
was sitting at an old fashioned mahogan
desk absorbed in a pile OF blotted manuscript
. with disheyeled hair, and middle finger deer
ly stained with ink-evidently a young au
thor, very much in love with his profession
, Directly before him stood the speaker,
young lady oftwenty-three or thereabout
She was exceedingly pretty, with the In
nocent, dimple beauty of white kitten or
pet rabbit blue-eyed, with complexio
:. where faint roses seemed to glow throug
the Transparent skin, and mouth like das
Of scarlet velvet while her lovely hair VIZ
fastened stiaight back, In a great lustrou
Il twist. Bndishabiiis evidently, but quit
pretty enough to excuse all defects of fiou
= sprnkled hands, and hair half loose.
door bellI' repeated the young maj
starting vacantly.
. ayes, some one to see the house, SUI
pose, and such figure DO please, go to ii
door, BERTHE; that's jewell Mary has gone
the grocers and see what a state I'm in"
She held up both dimpled hands, and noe
dcd arcbly In the glass at huge fury pate
on the peach-bloom cheek.
"There II goes againl Do make has
r Dertie, and on your life, don't show any OF
into the kitchen. Tell 'e,n it's gem OF
little kitchen, but don't let 'em in; for Il
cake is half made and the bread is Ia
!, baked, and I'm ha.r distracted; and the 70
ling-pin aud and spice-boxes, and egg-bea