Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-02-19
THE BITTER SECRET.

was both a man and gentleman In
the strictest meaning of the term.
Beauty, too, had lowered both, she
with rippling tresses of the deepest
auburn; eyes so very blue that shad-
ow changed them almost to hazel,
and puzzled the beholder; complex
ion vof ,,the purest white through
which the tell-tale blood curdled in
roseate bushes; nose as dainty carved
as ever sculptor dreamed; and q small
mouth whose coral cleft lips revealed
u line of regular and dazzling white
pearls within. And yet there was an
about those little lips that
betOken q firm will if the heart
should ever be called upon to battle
for the right; an expression such as
has carried heroes through the whirl-
wind of battle, and made martyrs
die triumphantly and with songs of
at the faggot bound stake.
For him, if be was the opposite in
his strongly sinewed form, and his
eagle eye, in his black and straight
hair, and somewhat strongly marked
features, he was still gifted far more
than is usually the case with manly
just such one as true
hearted woman would look up to and
lean upon-just the human oak
around which the more tender human
ivy would clasp it's tendrils lovingly
and cling to, even though want or
shame should come, to the bitter end.
But there could be no fear of this
Cor them. Education and wealth
even the thought of such u
future ; and when the soft moon
through the interstices of
the cherry trees and made. the ripen-
ed fruit glitter like globes of blood,
they fell upon as true heart-plight-
ing as was ever seen upon earth.
Yet the next nightth met again,
and how all was changed Sunlight,
starlight, all of hope and joy was
banished from their young hearts,
and dense darkness reigned alone and
there. A few short
hours, and the trail ofthe serpent was
over all the love-flowers, and the pois-
on was distributed into every bud of
glorious promise. -rs, ,~o~.-
my, God, Maude" was tile excla-
of her lover, as he came to
the very spot that had thrilled with
the words of endearment, and saw
how ghastly was her face. t'Oh, my
God +! Maude, what is the matter with
you?"
"Nothing."
The accent was firm, although the
words came from trembling lips
lips now robbed of their coral hue
and wearing almost the ashy one of
death.
"But something is the matter" he
replied, as he sat down by her
side, and stretched out his arms to
clasp her to him.
"Did not say "Nothing?"..and she
repulsed his caresse's and moved
further away.
"Maude, darling, will not be put
off in this manner. Something ter
rible is the matter, and 1 have right
to know what IL is." I .t
"You know all that you ever will /:
all except one thing"
care you mad, Maude, that you
talk thus ?"
mad .? Oh, heaven!I l fear that
soon shall be. Oh that | could die
die ~
But tell me what is the Natter
far more than common
must have driven you TO II state of
feeling like this"
eyes, something has happened;
something more than than TERRIBLE y
And she repeated the words as if
well their Importance
Something that you will never
know-that none but God and DIR.
Malcolm will ever dream of un-
til the grass has grown green above
me.n
"Maude, Maude, this is terrible
You will not, you cannot, keep this
secret from mc.n
81 must, and will. Ny life, whole
life is blasted; but as God il your
judge, think no evil of me, for am
either in thought, word or
deed, of any thing wrong.n
"Maude, | will not listen TO such
words. You shall tell me this secret
that is crushing you to the earth
Think of last night; of the promise
you made in the sight, rs it were, of
God and His holy angels, and refuse
me if you can"
"rhat spell is broken, that promise
Is void" she answered, with n sigh
that was more like the wailing of a
broken harp-string when suddenly
struck by a careless hand, than a hui
man voice. ayes, that dream is bro
ken. Happiness and l are strangers
and forever. Here is your
IL. 1t shall never rest
upon finger of mine again. With
its parting take back all that |
have promised. l cannot, will not be
your wife,
"Not my wife ? Now / know that
you are mad indeed"
mo, you wrong ne. IL you only
knew all, you would not Judge ne
thus harshly.n
"Maudc, Maude, what am TO
think? You are suffering, suffering
far beyond your nature to bear, and
you deny one the POOR consolation of
your sorrow, ofattempting to
tighten your burden"
"lou must think what YOU will,
only 10 wrong of me; | have not the
power of altering il. AS | have al
ready said, when the grave closes
over me you will learn all, hut until
then, nothing.n
"rhen you never loved mew
"NcVer loved you? Great Heaven!
! have never loved you half as Wild
ly and deeply rs at this very mo-
ment."
"Take back this ring and tell me
ALL"
"Never! You know not what you
ask
An hour of vain eiIort--an hour of
Cntrcaty, urged 10y eloQuence and in
tensitiod 10y love, satisfied him that she
so gentle and yielding to him before,
had become iron in this. She would
not rcnew her would not take
again the engagement ring-and he
bowed his head upon his hands, and,
strong man as he was, wept, wept
like "A little child