The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-06-23
ONLY A CLERK.

| Cecle Horner was tall and brilliant
with deep hazel eyes, checks crimsone(
with happy excitement, and heavy coils
of shining brown hair shot through
and through with arrows Of gold tippec
with jewels. ..
Mary Horner, hel quiet little cousin
was as different from Cecile as light i:
from darkness. She was slight an(
small, with blue eyes that. had ell the
wonderful innocence of bGbys in
their azure light, hair of rcdsh gold
and q complexion pure and delicate as
a pink japonica. Nor did her dress
compare with Cecile's. 1t was plain
white muslin scattered all over with
knots of blue ribbon, and simple blue
ribbon was all that adorned her glossy
and luxuriant tresses. Mary Hornel
was poor; and all these graceful ad-
juncts to woman's beauty cost money,
ooh, mama, it was perfectly delight
full at the party to night" calculated
Cecilc enthusiastically. Everybody
was there. Mr.. St. John was there and
asked me to polka twice"
odd hei" questioned the gratified
mother. II hope You invited him to
call" o.
"Of course I did. Mrs. Emmons
says lie belongs to the Virginia St.
Johns and is very rich. Such ola
monds as he wears. mara! But Mat
ties the fayorite with him, I think
Cccile turned round and shook her
finger with 'affectionate arChness at
hluahing little Mary.
Don't, Cecile; it's all your fancy"
pleaded Mary, as il every drop Of blood
in her cheeks was turning to ere.
"Is it? Then what are you blush
ing celestial rosy red for? However, l
mean to marry him if l can catch him
Il always did fancy black eyes end
hair like ravens wing. And then he's
rich. and I'm determined to have rich
husband"
Mary Horrcr grew red and pale
opening her rosebud lips and shutting
them again without speaking. How
wrong it seemed flr any one to talk in
that manner of Talbot st. John, when
she only dared to thinl; CT him as o he
TO shrined ctar Off in the height of a
chivalrous romance.
Mrs. Horner only laughed, however,
as she was accustomed to Cecile's reck-
less chatter. Nevertheless che dis.
cerned through the light froth Of words
the under current of dc finite resolve
on her daughters part. Cecilc did like
Talbot St. John, and she was quite in
earnest wien che said che meant 10
marry him.
ITS IL o'clock, and after, girls. Go
to bed or you'll both be as pale as a
ghost tomorrow" said Mrs. Homer
The girls went, and both OF them,
girl fashion, dreamed Of Talbot St
John. While that gentleman himself
DIRE AIMED of only ono.
The bright winter sunshine was spar
king over the newly fallen snow like a
great universal a!chemist, who dealt
only in powdered diamonds Of the very
first water-the sky was blue with the
dazzling, wonderful blueress that you
only see when the thermometer is close
down to zero, and Talbot st. John,
guiding his blooded horses down the
crowded thoroushtare, felt the thor.
ough enjoyment of living that makes
life the sweetest OF all Injuries.
"Hallo" St. John reigned up with
an abruptness that brought the smok-
ing horses to their Launches.
"Grant Wyman! old fellow! come
for drive. It's the luckiest thing that
I happened 10 meet you"
The pale. worn-lOoking young man,
carrying bundle under his arm, stop.
ped-,he hectic glow mounted to his
cheek.
"Mr. st. John"
Poor fellow! how kcenly he fell his
own shabbiness at that momeptoe9 the
dasLing young Southerner leanedfrom
his stylish turn. out, with cordially ex-
tended hand.
Come-in with you, and we'll take
a turn in tue park"