Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-17

Yours is the first kind word I've heard sirce
death sealed her lips. Look herer' she said.
dra wing from her bosom miniature beau
tifully set in pearls. noticed some psrti-
cles Of earth upon it, observing which, she
said:
"Ohl have kept It buried beside a bed
of hyacinths. Had Mrs. Martin known
this she would have broken it it is nv on
| ~ treasure, Lis my mothers picture. Is it
not beautifulsn
L immediately drove around to Mrs.
Glens, (my aunt) ordering her wardrobe
on the way. placed my young protege
under her care, knowing she would be
mother to her, having no children of her
own. | made proper arrangements with
regard to her education; and should never
ret1lrn from Europe shs shall never want.
You cannot conceive, gentlemen, what in
terest have taken in this poor desolate or
phan. l ana convinced the sphere in which
l found her was not hers"
81 fear you are so much interested you
win forget the heartless coquetry of Clara
Lansing. Then should be deprived of
your kind guardianship to Europe. You
know my dear mother supposes wind an d
wave would be more prOpitious in your be-
half"
Cummings, this is most unsind."
aCan blighted buds e'er bloom again?o
said Wilson, as tide Of sad "reminiscences
| flushed his broad brow.
"Pardon me, dear Harry; my thoughtless-
ness was unkind. 1t grieves me 10 see
heart like yours wasted on a vain, heartless
woman
"Gentlemen, am interested in Corde.
lia," exclaimed Phillips. "How old is she?
| Is she beautiful?"
'She is fourteen" said Wilton. "She is
certainly not beautiful, and probably such
| connoisseurs as you are would not pro-
nounce her even pretty. She has, howev-
er, brilliant and expressive eyes. Usually
silent, she makes them the medium by
which she conveys her ideas. The manner
in which she has been lately treated has in
jured her health, but hope her constitu-
ton has not been materially affected. feel
for her the affection of brother; the only
thing that renders her picture incomplete
is that she overwhelms me with gratitude"
"You are noble fellow, Harry; am
sorry you leave tomorrow. Don't forget
me, old fellow, in the Coliseum at Rome,
where the mighty spirits in silence linger
still-when gazing on the glaciers of the
Alps, or when fascinated by the soft glance
of an Andalusian eye. Remember that l
would enjoy this and all else that is beauti-
full, were withyou."
ave win remember you in the gay cafes
of Paris and will drink your health in good
old Bordeaux, which sparkingly supports
century's age"
''One glass before we part" said Phillips,
lifting the champagne to his lips.
Thus they sealed the holy bond of friend
ship with rosy, joy-inspiring wine.
CHAPTER II.
Five years have passed on the wing of
time, dispensing happiness and misery, hope
and despair, life and death. Cordelia Gray
has passed many vicissitudes in that time.
Kind friends have fallen into the gentle
slumber of death-new ones have folded
her in their embrace.
Wilton perceived the powers of her mind,
that had, Ike neglected garden, produced
nothing beautiful save a few early
flowers; 50 deeply had nature rooted them,
neglect could not steal their sweets. She
remained at a highly esteemed and
well known boarding school till she was
eighteen. She left with the honors of her
class and the hearts of tutors and pupils.
She truly merited all. The weak were sure
Of her projections; the afflicted sought her
FIRST for sympathy. From the balls of
learning Mrs. Glen led Cordelia in triumph
10 present her 20 the world. She was re-
ceived with admiration, and for one year
she was happy in comforting happiness upon
her adopted mother. Cordeiia received
the adulations of the gay world, but not
with eXuberance OF joy, as one who had
never known reverses: she better knew its
Torth-that smiles only on. the wings of
fortune. By means Of her mothers min
iature she had discovered her relatives,
and when death-delighting to turn SMILES
to tears, Joy to wailing-laid his icy hand
on the brow Of her benefactress, she was
not left alone. Sadly she parted from those |
she had learned 10 love. Long she lin |
gered near the grave Of her second mother |
before she left with her uncle, Mr. EV- |
erett, for his Southern home.
"Cordelis," said he, establishing her in |
bis magnid cent mansion, sit Is Kidd IN sou |
10 take pity on my lonely sts.e and draary |
abode by turning it into pleasant retreat: |
How swiftly will the hours pass! You will |
play and sing for me, and then come and |
sit you down at my feet, read to me from |
some old poet, till the beauty of the work |
and your silver tones divest me Of every |
earthly care, and L roam in land of dreams. |
But may not fel;citate myself from this |
picture; for you, of course, will not be here |
lore, aud the gloom of the walls will be |
deaRer, that your smile has illumined
them"
ooh! Uncle, 1 viii net leave you-how
could u"
swell, we will see. Meanwhile, as you
= g. "a
shall be Co7della Everett"
Cordelia had ever remembered Harry
Wilton with gratitude; indeed, the feeling
for him was the strongest of her life. When
she thought Of his disinterested kindness
and generosity, he appeared to her the
truest hero and the nobest being in exist
euce. Intense was the scorn she felt for
the woman who had dregged his LIES cup
with bitterness; yet she half pitied that weak
creature who could live on admiration, and
smile sweetly, while she knew she tortured
with her Iightness. Cordela could not &C
count for Harry's infatuation. She thought
could he see her in her true character, his
Iove-so noble for trifer-wOuld turn to
scorn, and would it not be right to rend The
vail and show the proud naughty woman
that he appreciated her rightly? When
Wilton first left ne wrote occasionally to
Cordels, but in course of time be was con-
tent 10 mention her name kindly in writ
ing to Mrs. Glen. This was mortifying to
Cordelia. WiltOn's generosity was unim-
peachsble, but the blush of wounded pride
would cause her cheek to burn, that he had
SO soon forgotten her who owed every hap
piness to him. She determined he should
be, at east, proud of her, and to accomplish
this she studied increasingly.
To convey soma idea of her attainments,
we will give the remark of young gentle
man, whose person was more deliberately
adorned than his mind: Goa! admire
Miss Everett greatly; her voice is enchsnt-
ing; but when she is done singing always
grasp my heat, for her conversation is so
blue, that am always afraid of displaying
my ignorance. 1 therefore invariably make
my most exquisite bow and withdraw"
On leaving Baltimore, Cordelia had writ
ten to Wilton informing him of her reno
val, giving him her address and begging
him on his return to hasten to Charleston,
that she and her uncle might unite their
thanks for his kindness.
The letter was never received.
"Permit me 10 present my friend Mr..
Wilton Miss Everett y said Col HavW GOD |