Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-10
For the Union and American.
THE WAIF OF THE WRECK,
BY "DAIsY DEAN

! on the tiny, Orm0lu CLOCK on the low marble
mantle pointed to the hour of eleven, and
restlessly up and down the luxurious apart
ment paced the owner Of the magnificent
Park, Allen Selwyn, the wealthy banker.
As the silvery chimes of the time-piece
pealed forth the hour, he started, impatient
ly calculating:
"What can keep Horace so late te-night?''
A moment after, as though in answer to
his query, the door opened and a young
man entered. Drawing off his gloves, he
advanced towards the glowing anthracite
fire, while he said in CHEEKY tones:
You seem troubled, Cousin Allen. Has
anything occurred to annoy or distress
you?"
"Much has occurred to annoy me, Hor-
ace, and l was awaiting your arrival to have
a conversation with you on a most impor-
tsnt matter. But what detained you so
late?"
u was not aware that 1 was out later
than usual. But you know how light
winged are the hours spent in agreeable
company"
"Your company must have proven ex-
ceedingly agreeable to make you so needless
Of the lapse of time. Were you at Capt.
! Trlcy's?"
Il was" replied Horace, pleasantly.
Sand were the old sea captains yarns so
thoroughly entertaining as to render you
Ohlivious to the duty yOu owe society? How
! W Il the elegant Miss Lester receive the in
| telgence that her favorite, Horace Melville,
/ pr ferred the stupid nonsense of a tiresome
| old man, and the associates he has around
him?"
81 have never aspired to the honor of
| Miss Testers favor, and can assure you l
| derive more instruction, as well as pleasure,
/ in Capt. Tracy's little parlor, than in the
! more elegant mansions to which | am in
| yited. Capt. Tracy is a gentleman and
scholar, while his niece is highly accom-
| plished, true lady in every sense of the
word; infinitely superior to the petted bellies
Of society, who tonight discourse soft MOTH
! ings in Miss Testers reception rooms"
Horace Melville! what instinct Of your
nature inClines you to such perverted tastes?
That you, of the Selwyn blood, heir of Al
len Selwyn, you who have the e7ltree of the
halls of wealth and influence, should prefer
the society Of such cdnGille, is to me a
mystery" and with an air of hauteur, he
made q gesture as to the contempt be, the
owner Of Selwyn Park, with its vast reve-
nues and wide spreading domains, had for
the common herd of mankind.
"You wrong them greatly, cousin Allen.
No lady of your circle of acquaintance is
more polished and refined, more winsome
and beautiful than Miss Tracy. She is
lovely enough to warm the heart of an an
chorite, and bears such strong resemblance
TO yourself one, ignorant Of the fact, would
declare her a Selwyn born. This strange
likeness first attracted me-"
An OminOus frown gathered on Mr.. Sell
wyn's brow, and he angrily exclaimed,
mo more of this, Horace Melville. This
artful creature has woven spell DER you,
from which it we're time / interfered to save
you. You have known for some time my
wishes in regard to your future settlement
for life, and as Miss Lester is of noble line
age and splendid fortune, and, moreover,
regards you favOrably, it is my wish that
you bow at more worthy shrine. As my
ward, and prospective heir, command that
from henceforth all communication between
you and Capt. Trscy's household shall
cease. Do you understand me?"
81 cannot comply with your commands,
Cousin Allen. have gone too far to re-
cede, had l any desire TO dc so. Miss
Lester is nothing to me, nor ever can be,
while / love Miss Tracy too well to quietly
resign my hopes of winning her."
"And you dare defy my wishes, dare dis
obey me who has every resOn TO expect a
sons respect and obedience from yOu," eX-
claimed Mr.. Selwyn with great indignation.
"a tine return you make me for my years
Of care and protection"
You have indeed enacted a fathers
part by me, Cousin Allen, from the hour in
which you took me, an orphan boy, to your
home, and the sinCerest love and gratitude Of
my heart flows out to you. In every other
respect will give you sons obedience,
but l cannot part with my manliness at
anOther's behest. In such a case as this,
involving a life's-time happiness or misery,
l think every one must decide for himself,
after mature reflection. l do not love Miss
Lester, and will not insult her by a hand
proffered without affection. do love my
pure, gentle Aline, and will win and wear
the precious pearl, if can, and endeavor to
prove worthy the pTinCeless treasure of her
love-" Horace answered in feeling tone.
"You are reCreant and traitor to your
race, Horace, and as such, | disown you.
L no longer wish to look upon your face
unless nights reflection makes you cog
infant Of all you lose, when you, in utter
opposition to my wishes, cut yourself adrift
from my care and protection. | assure YOU
no scheming, Inbred girl shall rule in
mansion where the proudest beauties in
the land have queened it right royalty" and
with a move Of the hand, he signiied that
the conference was ended for the present.
Stung TO the quick by his cousins bitter |
language, Horace exclaimed as he moved |
toward the door:
"Methinks am not the only one who |
has proved recreant to the Selwyn race,
dear cousin"
"Begone, sir, instantly" burst from Mr..
Selwyn's rigid lips. "How dare you recall |
the long buried past with its troop of phan- |
tom images" aud, as the door closed upon /
Horace's retreating form, he sank into a
chair, and with low moan buried bis face |
in his hands.
For some time he remained plunged in a
deep reveric, while the fire burned low in /
the polished crate, the deep stiffness I'M
broken, save by the ticking of the clock, I'm
til its silvery peals announced approaching
dawn. Raising his head at last, he reused
himself from the bitter retrospection of the
past, the memories evoked by a single
chance allusiOn. Going to an escritoire in
the room, he touched a hidden spring, and
from areceptacle thus revealed, drew bun
d. Of time worn letters, and miniature,
oCO III SOlu dllu p6siilS. htSHNlilG Tue seat |
he had vacated, he gaze9 long and earnestly
at the exquisite cOuntenance of young and
lovely girl. Long, curling locks Of jet fell
IN clustering mass DER shoulders Of per-
feet mold, and the eyes that seemed TO
gaze with wealth OF love into his own,
were large, tender and full of a mournful
sweetness. The pictured face in its femi-
nine )veliness, was strangely like the dark,
proud face that bent so intently DER il,
Turning it at last, as though spell bound,
he read on the golden case the inscription,
40 Brother Allen, on our mutual birth
day." with the month and year included.
These simple words seemed to break the
spell that bound bin, and clasping the pic
tIIre to bis head, he exclaimed in anguished
tones:
saline, Aline, twin sister Of my soul!
Where art thou, my dazzling, my darling.
o, for one glance, as Of yore, into thy true
loving eyes, for one to1eIof the sweet voice
that wooed ma from care. Gladly forgotten