Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-04-06

ing in his ears, our friend Melville
Graham was like one who walked in
his sleep.
Sweet memories came crowding
round him memories of lovely girl
with soft, tender eyes, who had once
hung upon his arm, and made the
earth paradise for him. Something
in the sweet face that he saw pceping
over the railing reminded him of that
other face, and something in the form
he saw fitting up the stairs aroused all
those sweet and bitter recollections
from their hiding place.
He sought his room that night, and,
sitting down, buried his face in his
hands and gave himselfu to dreams
of the past. He recalled that fatal
day, when, i'll and feeble, he had
sought his darling's presence, and had
been met with bitter taunts and accu-
sations, instead of the loving carcss he
was wont to receive. How unpardon
ably hasty he had been himself, in
rushing away without even demanding
explanation. So sorely had his heart
been wounded, that for nearly two
years he had vigorously excluded her
from his thoughts, and he deemed his
love all vanished; but tonight, as
memory brought her before him in all
her beautiful and loving innocence, he
found that he loved her just as fondly
and devotedly as when they elapsed
their hands in betrothal.
AS he reflected he took up the
little white messenger that had fut-
tered down into his face that evening
aud began turning it over and over,
holdingi it up to the light, and finally
his eyes rested on a name. He looked
closer, and read in tiny letters" Susie
Bradford" the name of his lost love
That she had seen and recognized him
and dropped the handkerchief down on
purpose to attract his attention was his
first thought, and manlike, his vanity
was hugely flattcred. His next i'm
pulse was to rush around to the hotel
and seek her out that night and have
the explation that should have been
made two years ago.
Acting on this impulse, he rushed
round to the hotel and examined the
register 20 make sure. There it was
the sweetest name in all the world tc
him. On making inquiries, to his
great chagrin, he learned that she hao
retired for the night
| The next morning he called again
and after sending up his name and ;
pleading little note, he began tramp
ing up and down the floor to conceal
if possible, his agitation. Aunt Han
nah entered, and Instantly recognized
him as the roaring lion" she had hat
an encounter with, the evening before
She had related the affair to Susia, ant
took considerable credit to herself fol
her shrewdness in "bluffing" him off
Seating herself in large arm chair, il
the middle of the room she watched hi
movement with the eye ola lynx. Sh,
knew he was after mischief, probabl!
he meant to carry off the silver ic'
pitcher. At any rate she would sc,
what he was up to.
There was heard light step trip
ping down the stair, the rustling of ;
silken robe, and Susie shot through
tile door and into the open arms Of tn
suspected man. Neither spoke, boil
hearts were too full for words. Aun
Hannah sat dumb with amazement
At last look of intelligence darte'
across her kindly dear, old face.
Susie, she said, twitching at he
niece's sleeve, didn't YOU drop tina
handkerchief over the railing all.
Yes Aunty."
did you drop it on purpose
! NO, dear Aunty, it was purely acct
dental"
u God sent that handkerchief as
messenger to bring you two together
and what He brings together, let no
man put asunder. Young mani &
right off and get the parson. Their
will be wedding here to-day. n
more misunderstanding, mind You"
And that same day, up in Aun
Hannah's sacred room, with only tn
necessary witnesses present, the twai
were made one, and went on their wa
rejoicing. EsH
The unconscious little handkerchic
that had brought all this happines
about was laid away in perfume
box, to be taken out again afte
awhile, it may be, and used as a shaw
for dolly"
So cndcth my story.