Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-05

DO IL. Had she not spoken his name with
all her heart in her voice only a minute AGO,
leading him on by the tone She used to tell
his secret to her in the hope that she would
be brave, and avert eventfll misery from
them al? And now she was telling him
that If she had known him first she would
have loved him best, and that she could
not for her names sake break her word to
his uncle 2"
1t was CHASTITY state of affairs, and as
soon as he could, Theo. Bligh made an
END Of going away. The two men had no
verbal explanation ON leaving taking, but
| they parted as comrades who had been
wounded in the same fight might part.
And then Theo found that though exist
ence was not embittered to him, the SAVIOR
had gone from the old pleasures.
II was decidedly not worth while now,
he felt, to try and do anything good or de-
finite, for he could never find woman to
share his glory or smile upon his success, who
could put Bonnie Dundee out of his mind;
| after her other women did and would al
ways appear to be wanting in something.
She had the trick of making others appear
tame and pale, and insufficient, and-well,
the man who has been shone upon by a
star, never feels that there is much warmth
in a taper.
He banished himself so effectually that
he heard no tidings from the Chase for six
| months, and then he ventured to send his
address to his banker, and to have letters
| forwarded to him; but before these letters
are read, retrospective glance at the Bonnie
Dundee must be given. E
She bore his departure very bravely. Re-
| member how many other interests were
| claiming har aftapfin,a Of vi 80
member the ardent, impressionable, changea-
bic nature of the girl. There was good
| deal of the woman. She had the faculty of
| feeling intensely for the time, and of getting
| over things. Is not that characteristic
the secret of many women keeping right,
| and many others going wrong?
1t brushed the bloom of the peach rough
| ly when he went away, for that yelled idOla-
| try Of his had been very pleasant to her;
nevertheless she bore it bravely, and made
the best of that which remained to her. 81
am so sorry, for l was SO fond of him." she
said to her lover, with that disarming frank
ness which women of her ealibre know so
well how to use. And Mr.. Bligh, hearing
her, did not wonder that his nephew had
| been scOrched by the fiery ordeal through
which he had been passed. ~
There was this about it, too, that it was
such clean fire that even her own sex
| could not despise and condemn and proph-
esy evil things concerning Miss Dundee's
warmth. Just as she loved light, and dane
ing, and flowers, and sweet sounds, so did
she love to be loved; and though it made her
dangerous, it never made her despicable.
And somehow men understood this, and so
fOstered her other foibles, because of their
gladneSs that she was free from greater ones.
1t was only about a week before the day
fixed for their marriage, that Mr.. Bligh ven
tured to speak decisively to her. Very ear
nestly and gently he spoke, beseeched her
to open all her heart to him, and to tell him
if any other image had ever displaced him.
And Madge listened to him thoughtfully,
and analysed her own emotions, and finally
answered him. .-...........
off he had come first, should have
loved Theo desperately; as it was l didn't |
dare let myself. You're not afraid, are
you?" ...-...---...--..
"Only for your happiness, my poor child"
he said, "nOt for my own honor.n
~ like you so much, you know" she |
said energetically-s'it does seem so hard |
that one can't express all ones little grada- |
tiOnS of feelings in wOrds-I like you so |
much-but it's dark to me now without |
him." she added, with a sudden passion |
that carried her out of herself, and con- !
WINGED him that she could never be his |
wife. ............
"He is the younger man-and-you are |
right" He tried TO say it calmly, but it was
an awful blow; and again, as the strength |
of his manhood was shaken, Madge wavered,
and strove to comfort him:
"Let things 90 on and | shall forget him,
or grow indifferent to him; know myself /
Il shall live it down."
"You need not, poor child, for he loves ]
you, too"
eyes, know that" she answered with |
the reckless Openness that made her what |
she was.
After that, such Of the world as knew
the Blighs and the Dundees had a fresh |
and delightful source Of wonderment for
time. The marriage between the owner
Of the Chase and Madge was broken of,
and still they were friendy;and still neither
would listen to one word against or COM
ment on the conduct of the other. Time
would tell, people said sapiently, reserving
their belief as to what time would tell to
themselves.
Six months pasted, and then Theo Bligh
received those letters of which mention has
been made. One was from Madge, and
contained these words:
"You uncle has promised to explain eve
rything. l need only say shall always be
your faithful friend, Madge Dundee"
The other was from his uncle, and con-
tanned free forgiveness, (this was only i'm
piled, not cOarsely volunteered,) and a full
account. "COme back and win what |
have lost, and as 1 love you as my son, so
will love her as my daughter That was
something like an invitation from a defeated
to a successful lover!
Once more fate was against things right
ing themselves in the clear and good way
that was so open. Theo had by this time
taken a situation in mercantile house in
New YOrk-a situation Of trust, which he
could not hastily quit, or place another
man in rashly. Great interests were in
volved in it, which he could not endanger
by his absence, for a year at least. But
life was bright to him again, and he bore
the delay bravely, having illimitable faith
in the girl he loved and in himself Had
she not calamity won this faith, by avowing
her love for him, and losing the richer man
and the better position by the avowal? Had
she not, of her own free will, written to him
those few sweet words of promise? Small
NOllNltI IlldG IC GOlliu i've COuItuICulN ]
through the present, when such future
doomed before him.
At last he was free-free to 90 home and
win his bride, and obtain personal absolu-
ton from his uncle for those sins which
love had made him commit. Fate favored
him now. The steamer was a fast one,
and in a fortnight he was down at the
Chase, grasping his uncle's hand.
"And now you know what my next move
will be, y he said, when the greetings were
over, subduing his own gladness as much as
he could, out of respect for the sorrow by
which his uncle had bought it. ''What is
the matter ?n he added in alarm, seeing a
change in the kind cordial face that was
bent on him.
''You know have come to ask her to be
my wife"
Il have borne an awful grief and disap-
pOintment, I'd bear it again rather than
have to tell this to you, my boy. You have
stayed too long"
"GOOd heaven is she dead?"
"Not dead, but as lost to you as if she
were; and you must 60 back, and she must
never hear you have come, or she will be
true to herself, pitiful and overland, and