Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-04-13


years older than you. Remember me
IN after days, and say to yourself that
these were the barriers that rose be-
tween us. My darling, nothing else
should keep me from you if | were
your equal in those two things.
Heaven bless you, dear. | dare not
kiss your lips. You will keep them
for the men You love and marry one
day when | am far away. But your
hand"
He raised it to his lips, and hot
tear fell with the long lingering kiss,
and seemed to burn in the soft, white
flesh.
Before she could speak or stop him,
he hurried from the room. The pleas
ant summer term was over" and the
handsome stately master" was gone
to return no more.
And twenty years passed by.
To Margaret they seemed to bring
little of trial or change.
She still dwelt in her old home,
though her fashionable mother had
long since left it to share the mansion
lof a merchant prince upon Fifth
Avenue.
Margaret felt no desire to share the
splendor of which the late widow was
so Unfortunately proud. The dear old
homestead was grand and good enough
for her, and all the dearer, if the truth
must be told, since that jaring presence
was removed. SO she dwelt there
qietcly, with maiden aunt fol
chaperon and companion; and she
alone remained as ever Margaret Gray
1t was not, however, for lack of of.
fers that she lived this single, solitary
life. Many lover had come to WOO
for brown curls and soft, dark eyes
and rosy cheeks and Grecian features
and perfect lips do not often go beg.
ging for purchaser when backed by
such fortune as Margaret possessed
She had suitors by the score until il
came publicly to be understood thai
she would rather see the suitors at /;
distance, or woOing some one else
After that, no one venturcd to try hi,
luck with Judge Grays heiress, anC
the rejected lovers consoled themselve,
as speedily as possible by marrying tn.
prettiest of her friends.
Margaret went cheerfully to eacl
wedding, wished the bridegroom joy
and gave to the brides some beautiful
and valuable gifts. Evidently she wal
then wearing the willow for no one
What could the meaning of celibac,
so determined be?
And the days and years went on
And birthday came at last, which
showed how the school girl of fiftcel
was now the woman of thirty-fve.
On that day, Margaret arranging he
abundant tresses before the glass, say
the first gray hair.
She stopped to look at it with
melancholy smile.
'Ah, he would not say | was to,
young, now, she exclaimed.
And just then tap came at tn,
door, and the servant entered an,
brought hera card.
"The gentleman is below, Miss Mar
garet and would like to speak W Il
you, if convenient" said the girl
Margaret looked at the card
ELLISON STRONG"
, The room reeled round and round
and she turned 80 pale that the cir
was then frightened.
Sure, Miss Margaret, it is i'll tina
ye are, and I'll go down and send tn
t gentleman away,
( mo, mol said Margaret, recoverin
? her cOmposure with an effort Hell
2 me to finish dressing, Kate; | must Sc
him"
Kate with woman's quicknes
guessed something of the truth, an
did her best to make her mistress loo
7 as pretty as possible.
+ With the old color in her cheek, an
r the old happy light in her soft, brow
3 eyes, Margaret stole down the stairs
, But at the parlor door sudde
, thought startled and checked her.
~ am thirty-fvc years old to-day
: and he is now man of fifty. He ha
: been away for twenty years. How ca
| hope or fancy that he has remember
: ed me all this time as | have though
r of him"
r A little sobered by this misgiving
. she opened the door.
I She looked for man almost
r strangers "A man bent and bowed wit
= the cares of twenty years; man wnOs
t statutesque beauty gone as if it ha
+ never been.
, And she saw before her Elliso'
: Strong as she had seen him the yer
r day of their parting twenty years be
, fore. Stately and as erect as ever, wit
r a brilliant color ON his check, and h
! Blue eyes flashing with all the fire 0
early youth, and not a trace Of care 0
0 sorrow to mar the beauty which sh
, remembered so well, lie sprang t
: meet her, and took her by the hand
and looked down into her eyes with
/ searching, almost imperious glance.
} Margaret, said the deep, swee
! voice, whose music was unchanged, :"
. have staid away from you a Who'll
} life time; aud at last, the craving to Sc
) or hear of you grew too strong TO b
denied. / came here expecting 4
I find you II happy wife, with your child
. rem at your knee, and here you are, sol
Q itary aud alone, though young an,
r beautiful as ever. How is that?"
l She could not answer with thos
I deep blue eyes searching her droopin
face so intently, But deep crimso
. blush rose slowly to her cheeks an
| spoke for her far more cloquently tina
r even words could do.
Il left you twenty years ago, my daI
t ling, because | was poor ma
/ and fifteen years your senior. ] al
r rich now but what about the year