Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-04-26
AFTERLONG YEARS.

tits the most absurd thing in the
world"
Matte Caldwell spoke as if it was
as irritating as it was absurd, this con-
tretemps she was apostrophizing. Ii
was so noble thing to see Matte in
even an imitation of a fit of temper,
that Charlie Caldwell, her equally
even-temperd husband, put down his
newspaper to gaze at her In sheer
amazement.
What is the matter?"
Edith. She won't go to Newport
with us, and, and declares her inten-
ton of going down to the Hill farm
for the summer.
1.-The Hill farm Why thought
"Of course you did," broke in his
impulsive little wife; you thought
she and had suffered sufficient tyran-
ny and unkindness at the Hill farm to
make us hate the very name, much
less the sight of it. / do"
And Edith wants to go back again?''
Not to stay, Charlie; only for a
few weeks. Charlie and here Mat
tie drew over her pretty face mask of
solemn mystery in expression l be-
lieve in my heart it is because Douglas
is coming home"
DO you? l never could under
stand why he went away so suddenly.
So you think it was Edith? ?"
" I'll tell you all | know about it, "
said Matte, perching herself on her
husbands knee. Before you came
to the Hill farm, Douglas had been at
Seaton for summer"
Il know that. He sent me there. p"
He met Edith at some village
gathering, and certainly was pleased
with her. You know it was not very
easy to court anybody at Hill farm"
$ 1 should say not" said Charlie
with a wry face.
Uncle James seemed to consider it
his duty to Edith and me, after poor
mama died, to keep us hard at work
and certainly to allow no male Visitors.
How many times did he set the
dogs on me?'
Il don't know; but he treated
Douglas after the same fashion. Still,
Edith sometimes saw him. and certain
ly received letters from him. One
morning she came to my room with
the last happy face | ever saw her
wear, and asked me if | could endure
the hard life little while-and then
she would send for me to join her in
her new home. She would say no
more; but the next day, with a white
set face she told me to forget her fool
ish words, and later l knew that Doug
las Fisher had suddenly left Seaton. "
He came to me, Matte, and told
me of the farm and of Edith. Ger
tainly he loved her, but | inferred from
his half confidence that his affection
was not returned. He spoke of some
sudden change in her, and the next
news / heard he was preparing to go
to Europe. He had written to me
from Seaton, and the next summer L
too visited the little village. | confess
to you [ wondered how Edith's cold,
impassive beauty could attract so sunny
a nature as Douglas had, especially
with her pretty saucy sister near it"
But, Charlie, she was not cold and
impassive then. There was not a
brighter, livelier girl in Seaton than
Edith, before Douglas Fisher left her
so unaccountaBy."
You think she loved him?"
am sure of it.
And am sure he loved her. And
now, after five years of separation,
you think she is running away because
my cousin Douglas.is coming home p
Il think so; and she has no home
but this since we were married, OF
course she has no place to 90 except
ing to Hill farm"
Matte, to try to find out her side
of the story. am sure there is some
mystery about it, and We may be able
to set it right yet"
"Oh, Charlie, I would give anything
to have Edith married as happily as
we are. Misery likes company" she
added saycily, and ran off.
She was not very skillful diplomat
ist, and finding Edith sitting rather
forlornly alone, plunged headlong into
her subject.
Edith, why are you running away
from Douglas Fisher?
The pale stately girl looked at her
brightyoung sister moment in haugty
amazement, but reading truly the love
and pity in the fair face, answered; :.
Il had rather not meet him, Matte.
But why?" persisted her sister.
"He,is Charles cousin, and know
they are like brothers, so you see ne
will be here constantly: Matte,
could not bear it! I could not meet
him here day after day., and know
him so false as he has been. Let me
60, dear. lam a woman now, and
Uncle James cannot tread me down a;
he did when we were mere children.
but, Edith, how was he falseT
You know, darling, how hard oul
life was now any change seemed like
sunshine and you know how Douglas
tried to win my love. | never went Il