Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-24
CHAPTER VIII.
Hope tips with light
The waves of life
However bitterly they flow

However bitterly they fiow."
Tine summer was gliding quickly
away. Bright-winged August was
holding her sultry reign over the city.
Many had left for the refreshing cool
ness of springs, but our young friends
still fingered in the heated Metropolis.
Old. Mr.. Clifford's health was very
precarious indeed, and the quiet of
home was prescribed as best for him.
so the girls relinquished their plan OF
a summer resort, and gave great deal
of their time to him.
Willis found the society that visited
her fathers house, both intellectual
and cultivated. She went among them
continually, and assisted in arranging
pic-nics, soirees and boat excursions
with astonishing zeal to herself. She
had once thought they would be a
perfect mockery to her, but under
Ruth's genial companionship she was
led on, on. She was thrown day after
day into Horace Hays society, and at
last her proud heart acknowledged that
he was superior to any man she had
ever seen. She was not in love with
him, oh no her pride disdained such
weakness, but somehow her heart
would give an odd little hutter at the
sound of his tread. She was strangely
contented in his presence, and the
quaint melody of his voice thrilled her
as no other could do. She was not in
love, oh no.
She also often met Mi1ice Walker
She found in her the perfect lowell
ness described to her the night of her
arrival. she also found her devoid OF
soul and truth and womanly principles
Willis considered her dangerous there
fore repelled her every effort at intl-
macy. She knew she was schemer
and kiss of Judas lay temptingly on
her coral lips. Miss Walker knew
Ruth Clifford's contempt for her char,
acter and quailed beneath the glance
of her guiltless blue eyes. She still
held Horace Hays in the meshes Of
her bronze brown hair, and lured hin
still farther on by the smiles from hel
laughing eyes.
She was the only child ofrich, infu
ential parents, and her faults were nul
to the throng that worshipped ant
fawned upon her. She had brough
: men to her feet, honorable, noble men
whose love was priceless, and then II
a capricious moment sneered at ther
affection. She had queened it over so
ciety for years, bright will-o-the-wisI
that lived on the frothy nonsense o
mans admiration. Her aim was lofty
and scores of souls had she wrecked b
the wanton smile of her lip. HOrac
Hays was the only man she had eve
met. whom she could not by her witch
cry betray. All of her arts, and dart
: failed signally upon him. She woOe
him to her side, and held him in bon
dage month after month, but no wor
of love had he ever uttered. He kne
the history ofthis fair Gree, and dare
: not trust her. If her narrow. corrup
e ed heart was capable of loving, st
: loved Horace Hays. Partly becau;
he held aloof from her power. an
: partly because of his excellence
S But she sought wooed and charme
: him in vain. One evening, as hut
had gone out for drive with one
e her admirers, Gerald Ripley, Will
d tied her large sun-hat on. and starte
: out for the cemetery. She allowed l
2 week to pass without visit to h
b mothers grave Asshe passed dow
the hall she met DIR. Hays.
i Going out to search for sunbeam: