Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-03

did, IN fashions, operas and parties
and they could not follow hiIr int
the regions Of literature, or symDa
thize with his enthusiastic love O
nature.
But Clara, aiming only at q good
natured endcayor to put the strange
more at case, found herself repaid b,
a cOmpaniOnship far more cOneenia
than any she had before found q
C.. The young farmer had bcel
student in a Western college, An,
had love of reading euualied e.
keen appreciation of the best H6ra
ture of the day. Loving deeper stud
les, he could enjoy also the beautie:
Of poetry and fiction, and meet Clari
IN many an animated discussion ol
her favOrite authors.
He was fond of music, too, lnd
Clara soon dropped the waitzes And
polkas she at first thought suites to
his comprehension, to give him ~
musical treats IA her exquisite -
| dering of MendelssohR and Bee l.
ven. Coming IN from walking -
morning, when her cousins went Ost,
| Clara heard the grand piano wet
by a master hand 10 q glorious marf j
quite new 10 her. She entered tte
drawing-room softly, and took sett
unperceived IN Il far corner. from
which nook she watched Charles
EastOn, as he took, one after auOtheIs
the sheets of music from her Portfszl y
and played the airs sith grand
touch that invested them with new
power and beauty. It was like a
trumpet blast after the flute, to hear
his rendition after her own.
Then he played other new music
from his own memory, till suddenly
rising he turned to face his audience.
In moment he crimsoned as if de-
tected in theft.
GLOW long did you propose to
share ?" Clara asked, very graYely.-I
81 hope you admired the Jenny Lind
polka and Uncle Ned as much as you
said you did, the morning after you
2"
Twill tell you what l did admire"
he answered, earnestly, Il admired
the gentle kindness that prompted the
fingers to play what was presumably
suited to an ignorant ear, instead Of
trying to dazzle the country mind
with grand display of brilliant exc
What more might have followed |
can only be imagined, for a. that mo-
ment the Montagues entered the
room, and the bewiIdered Charles 1
found himself the center of most
smiling attentions,
Mrs. Montague, sweet and gracious, |
paid him more compliments IL five 4
than she had found time for
IN the entire previous week. The /
girls found cousin Charles was the /
very man they wanted for a series of !
iuture festivities, and Irene was all
ready sketching scenes for the intro 4
duction of q blonde giant in FORTH
coming tableauX party.
Walter, meantime, was lowering
around Clara, trying to regain some |
IF the ground lost by certain sneering |
criticisms of his cousin by loudly de- |
,laring he was ''tirst-rate fellow" |
md he wished he had his inches and !
strength,
That was the introduction for the
second week.
Charles accepted the overwhelming |
of the family as cOolly as
le had their rudeness, making himself .
agreeable while in the house, but find
ng much employment outside.
While Clara West had been listen
ng TO the music of the grand piano,
Mr.. Montague, in his Office, had been
signing a check for a family shopping,
md as he presented it TO his wife. he
said:
Ibid you know Charles is negotiat-
ng for the purchase of the WilPs
place"
"What 1 thought it was worth
fifty or sixty thousand dollars"
"Quite correct. He talks of settling I
"But the motley gasped Mrs. I
"Oh, nc can well afford it. His
ather gave him start in the grain
business two years ago, and lie is now
worth two or three hundred thousand
lollars. Besides, being an only child,
le will fall heir to all his fathers i'm
nense wealth. The old folks talk of
coming here i'll n year or two If
Jharles concludes to stay"
"And you never told me!' cried
Yrs. Montague. "Have you no in
crest in your own girls %
"Oh," said papa, grimly, 'that's
he idea, is it l am afraid, my dear,
-ou are too late
And Mr.. Montague was right. In
pite of Walters elaborate compli-
nents, rare bouquets and deyoted-at-
entions to Clara, her interest in the
Western Cousin could not be shaken.
IN spite Of ''the girls " sweetness and
lew dresses, their readiness to chat
With "dear Cousin Charles" " TO play
or him, dance with him, ride, drive,
walk with him, his allegiance to
Jlara's violet eyes was firm.
And when the Wills place became
'Easton's place." it was refurnished,
decorated and beautifed, the master
hereof brought home a willing bride,
whose naTue was Clara West, but who
bears now the title of Mrs. Charles
Easton, wife of the Western Cousin.