Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-10

| would be the fault tllab drove thee iron
thy brothers side. Come back to me, daT
ling! Come to the arms that yearn to en-
fold thee" His burning glance vas ixe'
upon the shapely lips, half apart as thougl
ready to speak, while the ilpturned eye
seemed to gaze fondly into his. Rousin!
| at last from the fascination OF the pictured
eyes, and, untying the bundle of letters, hi
pored over the lines traced by sister,
| loving hand. When the last one was read
with deep-drawn SIGH, be pressed kisl
upon the mute lips Of the picture, and re
placing it, with the letters, in their hiding
place, locked the escritoire, and left the
apartment where he had kept his midnight
vigil. But better feelings had entered the
heart, steeled in pride, and he felt more
charitably towards the cousin from whom
he had parted so angrily but a few hours
before.
The following day dawned bright and
beautiful, but Mr.. Selwyn arose unrefreshed
from his brief, but troubled slumbers, and
after late, scarcely touched repast, ordered
bis horse, thinking a ride in the cool, inyig-
Grating air, would quiet his nerves, and
Danish the disquiet and unrest 10 which he
was still prey.
He was returning after rapid gallop, in
happier frame of mind, the bracing air
acting as tonic upon his unstrung system,
when, as he was more leisurely nearing the
city, he beheld young girl standing in the
open gateway fronting a neat suburban
villa. Her cheeks were all aglOw with the
rich coloring which health aud exercise had
impaired, and as she stood, with one hand
holding back the waving, jettv tresses that
a sportive zephyr blew in a riotous mass
DER her glowing face, she was picture of
unstudied, unconscious grace. She turned
her head at the sound of approaching steps,
and giving one look into the radiant face,
Mr.. Selwyn sprang from his horse, and with
outstretched arms advanced towards the
lovely vision. The subject Of his dreams,
seemed to have arisen in his pathway-and
in glad voice he exclaimed, Found at
last, Aline, my Aline!"
With a cry of alarm, the affrighted girl
rushed to the house, closing and locking the
door after her, while Mr.. Selwyn stood as
in trance. Slowly be realized that his
vision had fed; his dream had ended, and
slowly his Outstretched arms relaxed and
fell to his side.
Fool, mailman that ami Time seem
ed to have stood still, and the bright, radi-
ant sister of my youth appeared to my en-
raptured vision. How like, how STRANGELY
like; and yet old Time can scarcely have
dealt so gently by my darling. My Aline
must be blooming matron now, while yon
sweet girl is in The bloom and blush of early
maidenhOod. If l have not offended past
forgiveness, must endeavor to become ac-
quainted with one who unquestionably
hnara q roorlyoA -, 8
Thus solilOquizing he proceeded to mount
his horse, which had remained quietly graz
ing near by, but he was arrested in his pur-
pose by a voice, exclaiming:
"AVast there, sir. Your strange, insult
ing conduct must be atoned for, ERE YOU
leave. demand an explanation, for YOU
must be a fit subject for lunatic asylum"
CHANGING backward, he beheld & portlv
man, whose rubicund visage was afame
with wrath, approaching in menacing at
titude. Thoroughly ashamed Of the i'm
pulse which had led to so humiliating a
scene, he waited until the Justly incensed
man drew nearer, and said, with a courtly
bow:
My conduct must, indeed. seem mex
plicable to any sane person, and | can only
attribute 1t TO the very marked resemblance
the young lady, your daughter, presume,
bears to sister whom lost years ago. SO
exact was the resemblance to nv lost
Aline, il seemed as if she had arisen before
me bodily, as though in answer to nv
prayer, and / invOluntarily cried out. The
young lady must, indeed, feel aggrieved, and
regret exceedingly, that this has occurred,
and owe an apology fer my unintentional
IF or oil
here, you must know | would scarcely be
The one to wantonly insult anyone. Here
is my card" and, drawing enc from his
pocket, he handed it TO the gentleman who
was gazing into his face as though fascina-
ted.
"Selwyn," he calculated, reading from
the bit Of pasteboard; then, quickly extend
ng his hand, grasped that Of the banker in
/ fervent clasp, while he said in CHEEKY
.ones:
"Mr. Selwyn, 1 am mos happy to form
your acquaintance, even under such ad-
verse circumstances, and l accept your
apology in the spirit in which it is intended.
If my Aline, you see the names too are
IDENTICAL, is as mach like what your sister
was as she is like yourself, l can scarcely
blame the impulsive act which has termi-
1ated so happily. But come into the house,
and let me introduce the young lady her
self If you are the relative Of Horace
Melville, then | assure you q ready forgive
ness"
care you an acquaintance Of Ho-ace's ?"
asked Mr.. Selwyn.
81 am happy to name him amongst my
friends and, though l have travelled in
many lands, have never met a finer speci-
men of the genus homo anywhere. l am an
excellent decipherer of character, and you
nay rely upon the instincts of tie veteran,
Charley Tracy"
"Ah!" exclaimed Mr.. Selwyn, ''you are
Capt. Tracy then, of whom l have heard
Horace speak"
"The same" he replied, rapping at the
'ame time on the door, which was opened
1y tidy servant girl. He drew the re-
listing banker into cosy sitting-rOOm en-
ivened by cheerful fire, and presented
hin to his niece, Aline Tracy, who was
standing near the window filled with flower
ng plants. With quiet dignity and native
race, she acknowledged the Introduction
md received Mr.. Selwyn's ample apology.
The three thus strangely brought togeth- !
IT, conversed for time on general topics, |
while Mr.. Selwyn found it impossible to |
his gaze from the lovely face OPP !
'osite him. Unable longer to subdue his |
citation, which mOmentdrily increased, he |
IOruptly arose, eyclaiming:
"Miss Tracy, your presence humans me. |
Zach unstudied attitude, yOar speaking |
the very tones of your voice, |
III remind me SO forcibly of my sister as | !
aw her last, that il is hard to divesL myself |
# the belief that she is near me. Even |
ou, Capt. Tracy, remarked your neice's !
to myself.and as Aline was my
win sister, you can imagine how nearly |
like We were. know naught as to her |
ate. parted from her in anger years ago, |
nd have since lost all trace of her whom l
lve better than life ITSELF Death may
ave quanched the lOve-light in her dark,
right eye, or some obscure spot of earth
nay be her abiding place. 1 have been
lmded by passion. The pride of the world
Or a season triumphed over natural affec-
ion, and dethrOned her fair image from its
brine in my heart, but only for q season.