Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-05-25
WHICH WAS THE HEIREss.

halr blown away from the blue veincd
forehead, and soft violet light shin
ing in her eyes, and she stood there, a
living picture, framed in by creeping
vines and swinging sprays ofclematis-
that was the last glimpse that Henry
Dalmayno caught of Lilias Raymond
on the summer evening when he went
away TO seek his fortune.
He had found it already, in a certain
Isenso--in 20 far as man may find treas
ure trove in the rich abundance of a
woman's love; for Lilias loved him,
and Lilias' heart was a gold mine in
itself.
She turned and went back into the
glisting dew of tears upon her cheek
and mournful quiver on her lip.
How silly | am she murmured
to herself. 1t will be but for year
or two at the farthest, and he has much
more to endure and battle with than
l."
And Lilias rcpined at the fate as
signed to her in the great play bill of
the world. 1t was hard to realize the
truth of the blind poets words, that
" they also serve who only stand and
wait"
If she could have worked to earn
money and help. if she might also
have been privileged to bear weapon
in the strife. Alas it is hard to count
the seconds which must elapse ere the
crisis of our fate dawns upon the lead
en- horizon of life.
| So Henry Dalmayne went to Lon
don, and Lilias stayed behind to bear
the separation as best she might.
Engaged. eh ?" growled old Mr.
Peckham, Henrys maternal uncle,
whose skin had turned yellow with the
reflection of much gold, and whose
heart was harder than the marble of
which his mansion was built "Ncph-
ew, you're fool! Engaged-at two
and twenty"
But, Uncle Ralph, she is the sweet
est girl that you ever saw
Sweetest girl Sweetest fiddle
sticks " roared the irate old gentle
man. There, there, don't talk senti-
ment to me. I've no patience with it. &"
Henry was silent. The glitter of the
frcscoed ceilings-the fash Of silver
and cut glass-the exquisite aroma of
the rare red wine, and the velvet flush
of hothousc peaches, became distaste-
full to him, all at once. Uncle Peck
ham had promised to make his fortune
for him-but Henry was not at all sure
that he wanted his fortune made on
these terms. One glance, one smile
from Lilias-were they not worth all
these hollow pageantries?
Here" said Uncle Ralph, tossing a
card across the table. i've got you
an invitation to Lady Bruce's party
tonight. You'll meet some people
there that are worth the knowingl
Henry Dalmayne hesitated; it was
the evening lie had set aside in each
week for writing to Lilias. She would
miss her letter-but, after all it would
only be one days delay. He could
write as we'll upon the next night
SO Henry Dalmayne went to Lady
|, Bruce's under the wing of his uncle
the wealthy stockbrokeT.
Well |" quoth uncle Peckham
when the festivities were over, and
they were once more sitting beside the
! fire that shone and sparkled like deer
hucd rubies beneath the carved arabes.
ues of the marble mantel in the rich
mans dining room; how do you like
Sarah Esterbrook 2"
! Very we'll, sir"
"Ve-ry we'll sarcastically mimick
cd Mr.. Pcckham. DO you know
that her father is worth quarter of 8
million
rs he, sir >"
SIS he, sir? Henry" roarcd til,
i, old gentleman II believe you're O
fool. Why, there are score of tn,
wealthiest young men in town witt
Y would give half they possess-ay, tht
2 whole of it, if need be-for the smile
and glances Miss Esterbrook vouch
> safed to you this very right"
:, "She was very polite, sir said Hen
= ry, with rather of puzzled look
;. "but-
Polite And pray what would yol
have, Mr.. Dalmayne? Do you want |
woman to tell you out and out, in $,
many words, that she likes you, betor
you can take hint?"
Henry colored like girl. 1t wa
impossible to be quito insensible TO tn
charms of this flattery, the NOR
especially as uncle Peckham was no
ordinarily one who "buttered hi
phrases" as the expression goes.
"Yes, my boy" went, on the stock
holder, tapping the table emphatical
ly, with his fngor ends; "she doe
. like you And I'm not the only per
# son that has noticed it.
. But uncle, she is so plain"
q "What of thath All women can
3 be Veuuses, and the prettiest of 'eI
; have a grinning skull and cross bone
9 under their pink and white skins an
@ fair extcriors. Beauty is only ski
; deepl"
A Henry thought Of pretty Lilias, wit
4 thrill of tender recollection. Mis-
, Esterbrook, with all her golden charms
n could never hope to rival her
n Yet, as the weeks went by, hi
q thoughts and ideas insensibly changed
:. The yellow lustre of the gold-wor
O Shipping atmosphere in which he live,
seemed to wrap him round the surfac
glitter of society; ideas gradually up
n rooted the old dogmas and axioms o
h his youthful faith. And ono evening
4 carried away by the witchery and en-
q chantment of the hour, he proposed I
a Sarah Estcrbrook, and was accepted
G Congratulations poured in upon hir
the next day.
9 You're the luckicst dog going, Dal
Y mayno. cried one.
q Il only wish ] were in Your shoes |!
d echoed a second and Henry, dazzle
by the brilliancy of his prospects, be
lieved that he was really most fortu
7 nate man.
/. For, according to popular rumor h
q was going 10 marry one of the riches
d girls in London Aud Uncle Pech