Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-05-15

ieellng of unutterable scOrn for he
! self she strove to suppress the rap
"a beating. He was nothing to her, wi
should she rejoice at his coming? Z
lie was only superior. genuine gentlem.
moving in her sphere, that was all. E
was nothing to her. Fearing her pre-
!. ence would be discovered, she glide
quickly from the verandah out I'M
. the moonlight, on, on to the sprin
She looked like some dark queen
night with the sable folds of her DIRE,
! falling gracefully around her. TIL
white Grape shawl slipped back frol
! her head, and trailed carelessIy acros
her shoulders. The dusky hair wa
arranged in coil fastened with tw
large jet stars, and one long, dark cur
crept down to her waist. The cora
lips, trembling with joyousness, an,
the beautiful eyes cleaned ftfully il
the moonlight. She sat down smooth
white stone, and the kissed wa
ters rippled at her feet.
"She looked above, below and around her
All was beauty, glory and grandeur"
The tall old forest trees around tn,
spring sighed like musical sentinels
The cool October breeze dimpled the
waters and famed her throbbing brow
The moonbeams creeping through the
branches, made gorgeous fret-work on
the moss below. Nature seemed sleep
ing, so tranquil was her sigh. Every
thing was at rest save her own heart,
and her thoughts flew back to girl
hoods years. Great tear-drops hung
on her lashes as she thought of the
unruffied peace and cloudless faith OF
those years. long fed. She was happy
then in that humble cot before she
had tasted of the worlds fatal knowl-
edge, and Moore's pathetic poem came
up to her lips:
LOT in the Silly night,
Ere slumber's chain hath bound me
Fond memory brings the light
OF other days around me-"
Would the light of peace shine no
more on her clouded soul? Say, was
the darkness there for eternity? She
shuddered as the hopeless thoughtpre-
sented itself, and murmured aloud,
surely, my soul, thou art possessed of
a weird, unruly spirit that will accept
no theory. however plausible"
"You underrate yourself, do you
not?' said low voice at her side.
She glanced up, and saw Horace
Hays standing near. II was only COM
plimenting the prince of darkness that
has taken possession of my soul" she
replied.
Which means simply yourself" he
said, taking seat on the rock beside
her. 'did that unruly spirit prompt
this walk by his Unsuitable desire for
moonbeams ?"
mo, mylove ofthe beautiful prompt
ed this walk, and this is a generous
recompense, dom you think SOP"
"Yes, like it, but should you not
have chosen companion for this starry
ramble? ?" The blue eyes fell upon
her questioningly.
A hot flush rose to her cheeks, and
she started up, and stood before him
angry and proudly defiant. With with
ering tones she answered, you are in
teresting yourself in affairs that do not
concern you, and of all base characters
| do denounce interlopers. L am suf-
ficient unto myself. The companion
you spoke of would simply have an
nOyed me"
He feigned not to understand this
home thrust, and said pleasantly, "oh,
l did not mean to dictate, L only
thought it imprudent to be alone at
this hour and place, with the railroad
station so near. | only meant to ad-
wise you"
My father does that" she replied
curtly.
We'll, suppose we change the sub
ject. | did not follow you here for
contention. How have you been en-
joying yourself? Has the dignifed
city girl become sylvan enough in her
taste to wander through these beauti-
full woods in search of satyr, so as to
surprise her fashionable friends on her
return by telling them of its piercing
eyes and keen raillery?"
No, sir" she replied, Il search af-
ter things of more Importance than
fabled demi-gods."
Il doubt it, he said coldly. if you
are still looking for proofs of atheism.
By the way, Willis, are you any nearer
the truth than when | last saw your
He watched her features eagerly.
Sbe raised her eyes, and he saw they
were misty with tears. "Oh, sir,
my earnest pleading for truth
learn that the mildest mercy of life
is a smiling sneer. l am lost, | can
not see, and you must aid me, she
crisd passionately.
He saw that she was hopelessly bow
ed down, and answered, mo, Willis,
cannot help you, denouncing the Bi-
BILE as you do. | would that it'were in
my power to tighten your burden"
II am wretched, hopelessly wretch
ed" she said, but do not think the
Bible could give me any consolation.
| have studied it closely day after day.
I have examined the proofs against it,
and they confuse. madden me. / am
waiting for the uprising of some wing |
under which may creep for warmth
and rest, waiting, starving, shiyering,
and she drew the white wrap closely /
around her, as if suiting the action to
the word.
You will never be less wretched,
Willis, until you discard all works of
skepticism, and pray in earnest, her
companion replied.
Pray! Willis Waters pray! What !
a mockery. Why the divine words |
would CONCEAL on my lips. l would |