Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-09-13

IOle you, ESSfe, deYOteQIy, mac
e ly, and that is my excuse. O Ess;e.
D there no pity in your heart? Hav
. you been toying with me all this tim
to cast me of at last. May / not dar
to cherish one faint hope that you vii
yet repent?"
; But Essie Blair drew back from hin
} as if she feared contamination an,
her proud lips cusled scornfully as sh,
replied.
How dare you talk to me in tha
way, Wallace FAREWELL How dar,
you speak of love-to ask me to be
come your wife, rude and unculturec
as you ara poor mechanic, without
wealth or social standing and so fal
above yoal Leave me-go away-you
have lnsulted me, and may l never see
your face again"
HIS lace grew as white as ashes
Pressing his hand upon his heart he
reeled backward, grasping a chair to
save himself from falling.
My God You cannot mean it.
Essie r he gasped. You who have
led me on all this summer: giving
me every reason to suppose YOU loved
me-take back your cruel words. /
pray you don't make my life barren
waste forever"
Mr.. Farewell, you must be strange
Iy blind, not to distinguish meaning
less Irritation, which | have carried on
with you asan amusement simply, from
something of deeper portent; she re-
piled: L never meant to marry YOU
and what is more never shall.
U Essie, how have mistaken youl"
he groaned. " | thought you had
heart, | fondly hoped"
Go, she interrupted, scornfully,
for | will hear no more"
he said not another word. As in
dream he left the room, passed through
the hall, and out into the street. The
long bright vision had faded at last
like apples ofSodom, leaving only dust
and ashes in his hand.
After he was gone the woman. who
had been so cold and proud before
him, knelt down beside the window.
and burying her face in the soft dam
ask of the curtain sobbed as though
her heart would break.
:" | did love him." she murmured.
| love him madly now. o, Wallace
Wallace, how can l give you up?
How can [ live my life through and
not see you, or meet you only as a
stranger2
Suddenly her mood changed. The
sobbing ceased, and rising to her feet.
pale, proud and cold, she muttered-
=" o, what a fool | am to give him
single thought Poor as poverty,
and it is wealth and luxury l crave.
He is plebian-I wish to shine in
higher circles-I could not be the wife
of mechanic"
That evening, when Colonel Har-
mon, old and wealthy, called to place |
his name and fortune at her feet, she |
put her hand in his and said:
o, Ralph, this is the happiest mo-
ment of my life" And from the joy
ful look upon her face, no one could |
think she spoke aught but the truth.
Ten years passed swiftly on, Wal
lace Farewell had long ago left B
and gone out West. Essie had mar
ried Col. Harmon and gratifed her
taste for wealth and show, but she had |
not been happy. The Colonel had
proved tyrant, and many time she
thought of the true heart she cast
away so coldly.
Then Col. Harmon died, and Essie
shed few cold, heartless tears above
his coffin, turning away rejoicing that
she at last was free. Perhaps thought
of Wallace Farewell came to her then,
but he was far away, she knew not
where.
One day a letter came from one of
her scholmates who lived in Washing
ton, and it contained an invitation
for her to come and spend the winter
there. Young, rich and beautiful, she
did not long hesitate about accepting,
for in the brilliant saloons of the cap
ital she felt that she could shine.
Arriving at her friends sometime
near twilight, was ushered into the
parlOr by servant. A tall man who
was talking to her friend rose up upon
her entrance.
Mr.. Farewell-the Senator from
RI should say Mrs. Harmon"
said Mrs. Mintum, going thro' the
usual introduction.
Thank you, | think we've met be-
fore" the Senator replied, extending
his hand and coldly touching the tips
Of Mrs. Harmon's fingers.
Can it be possible !" she murmur-
ID. How you are altered. | scarce
" should have known you. had you
Time changes all, ;" he bravely an
swered. Ten years ago was poor
er man than now-it might be hap
pier"
A sudden impulse seized her.
And you are married now% she
'aid inquiringly.
Not yet"
Crossing the room she whispered:
You know the question that you
asked me once. All my whole life the
answer has been regretted"
All, then you love me he asked.
l loved you all the time. 1t was
ny wretched pride that parted us.
Now that is gone, there is nothing
stands between US, was her reply.
He dropped the hand she placed in
MS as if it had been coal of fire.
My love for you died out long
lgO," he said. You are no more to
ne than any other woman. Our paths
must lie apart"
So she had thrown her heart at his
eet as his had laid at hers ten years
before, only to be rejected.