Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-11-15
THE VELVET.HEADED CRUTCH.

THE VELVET.HEADED CRUTCH.
"wilw
Old Mr.. Asahel Lisle called out his
companions name so abruptly that
Wilbur Rentons cirgar nearly fell
from between his teeth.
I'm here, sir. What can l do for
you?"
There was a charming freshness and
manliness in the tone of Wills voice,
and when one heard it they decided at
once that it must belong to a noble
man.
He was a fine fellow, and no one
knew the fact any better than Mr.. Lisle,
in whose employ Viii had worked for
years.
What can you do, Ell? Well, in
short notice, you can marry Annie
Lisle, if you want to.
This time the pen dropped from Viii
Renton's hand from sheer astonish-
ment. Marry Annie Lisle
The warm blood surged over his
face, and he looked across the office
straight into Mr.. Lisle's eyes.
Il don't understand you at ALL" he
said, simply.
A sly twinkle was in the old gentle
mans keen gray eyes, but he answered
very demurely:
II can easily explain, my dear boy.
You have heard me speak often enough
of my niece, Annie, and it's of her |
sneak now. She's a dear good girl,
and want to see her married to some
one can approve. l approve of you,
Wilbur Renton, and if you can win
my little Annie's affections, I'll give
her to you, and a check for twenty tive
thousand dollars on your wedding
day"
Mr.. Lisle paused as suddenly as he
had commenced, and watched Wills
face narrowly, both while speaking and
when he had finished.
You understand me now?" he said,
after a momentary pause.
But Viii still looked the utter aston
ment he felt, When he answered he
spoke slowly:
Il certainly comprehend that you
have paid me high compliment, Mr..
Lisle, and placed at my disposal a
great honor. But l do not know why
Il is that it is necessary for Miss Lisle
to be presented with husband in this
singular manner. l know, from what
I have heard, that she is qualified to
be a wife for the most fastidious.
Mr.. Lisle's cheeks flushed warmly.
lyon have heard Alright. Annie is
refined, educated, of an amiable dis
position, and very pretty in face and
form"
Iknow l .ough ght to be grateful, Mr.
Lisle, but-but-"
"You are not already engaged p
Mr.. Lisle asked, almost anxiously.
A Joyous laugh from Wills lips seem
ed to prophesy his answer:
"Not 1. l am glad to say l am
heart-free as yet.
"Then come around to dinner to-
night. want you to see Annie, any
how"
He arose to go, but VIII detained
him.
Zone moment. Miss Lisle does
not know of this projected arrange
ment?"
Not a word. And she shall moi
until you tell her"
Would Viii go? For two hours af
ter Mr.. Lisle went away he leaned ovel
his desk, turning it over in his mind
TWENTY-FIVE thousand! 1t would make
him independent; he could buy for his
old mother the cottage she lived in
| away down in her country home. He
could send Phil to college, and start
himself in business.
Why shouldn't he marry her? Other
men married for money, and was he
such model that he should fling il
| away if it came within his reach
Besides he might admire Miss Lisle
she might like him; what could be
better than that?
And so vii Renton shut up the big
Day Book, and resolved to 60 to his
boarding-house and dress for dinner a
Mr.. Lisle's.
A long, large room, whose front wa'
huge bay window whose side win
dows looked out on a close-shaveI
lawn whose wickets and mullets sug
gested delightful flirtations over Gro
quet balls. :.
pictures of game, fruit and rare
flowers were hung against the tinted
walls; a carpet soft as plush, OF bright
cherry oak and orange, tinged with
dashes of light pink; table witt
covers for four. with its sweeping Grim
son and white satin damask cloth, anC
nankins to match, occupied the centel
of the floor. >.
AItogetber a very cherry, cosy din
;no.room Wilbur Renton thought a,
he chatted with Mr.. Lisle about thu
inevitable weather, and looked yer,
critically across the room to the TIVE
vonn0 girls in the big bay window.
So she was Miss Annie Lisle, tina
cbarminply beautiful girl, with a com
nlexion ali dainty pink and pearl Will
tbe ;ettv black hair and lashes ant
brows and the large, lustrous gra,
ewes She was very gracious to vii
and he felt sure, with certain delight
fnI agitation at heart, that either will
~ M w;fbout the check for twenty-five
thousand dollars for an incentive,
would not be difficult task to fall il
love with pretty Annie Lisle.
Then with almost tender pity 70
ber vii turned from Annie's radien
beanty toward the slight, fragile girl b
Ann,e's side, who was so quiet, so re
served and yet, when she smiled on
) of her rare smiles, vii was sure it wa
the most perfect revelation of woman
iv nurity and girlish sweetness he eve
had seen.