Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-06-26

piantlng ner banner upon the eminenc
ofright, whilst her companions trai
ed in the dust. He saw that she woul
not countenance dissimulation, an
that she would uphold merit, and brav
the sneers of the world. As they cam
In from supper, she dismissed her at
tendant and started out to little bal
cony when some enc came up benin
and without word drew her han,
within his arm.
why, DR.. Hays, you are very alb
rupt," she said laughingly.
Yes, that is an especial character
istic of my own, Willis. Lets go int
the cOnservatory?"
Hither they bent their steps, an,
found there Ludolph and Clara. A
they were strolling around, admirinI
the plants, Willis came to beautifu
white bud, and she exclaimed Here
Ludolph, come, cut this for me" =.
"I'llcutit, Willis. Ihase his knife ;
said Clara.
Very well, cut it carefully, Clara,
Willis answered, taking hold of the
stem to support it.
Clara, in her usual needless manner
severed the bud quickly, but in tn,
hasty motion the knife went q littl,
too far, and the sharp, glittering blad,
entered Willis blue-veined wrist. "A
low cry of pain escaped from her lip1
as the crimson current flowed in let.
from the wound.
oh! | am so sorry. Willis. Doe.
it pain YOU much ?" asked Clara, ex.
citedly.
No, it is nothing but little cut.
will soon get over it. DR.. Hays will
you please bind my handkerchief
around it ?" The scarlet tide flowed
over the rich dress and stained the
delicate white shoes.
"Sit down, Willis. 1 am afraid it i:
something serious. The knife certain.
ly penetrated the main artery, from the
quantity Of blood" he said, as he seat.
ed her in rustic chair and knelt be-
fore her to bind up the wound. The
color receded from her face, leaving
even the coral lips whitened. A vague
feeling of unconsciousness swept over
her, long shudder stole ever her
limbs, and she fell senseless into Horace
Hays arms. He lifted her in his arms
as he would have done some fragile
child, and bore her to the fount which
was jetting in and out of its reservoir,
singing lullabys of the Naiads.
-"Oh! Doctor, what is it? Is she
dead" raved Clara.
mo, she has only tainted. LudoIph
| wish you would bring Ruth here"
He unloosed the tight fitting dress
and took The gloves from off the slend-
er hands. She was whittier than the
marble Hector of the fountain, and the
long lashes dropped on her cheeks
like fringed jet. He bathed her broad
brow in the bright. lucid water, and it
rolled over the shining black hair in
diamond beads. When the faint wore
off, she opened her eyes and an eager,
wistful crowd was bending over her.
Their pallid, frightened faces amused
Willis, and a hearty laugh broke from
- - W. ---~~--:~ ,uas ordered
in the parlor. Clara, in her anxiety,
followed them home. and there was
gay little party assembled at Mr.. Cliff
ford's. The night was far spent, and
they determined to pass the remainder
in the parlor as the gentlemen left at
four. They had lunch served and the
hours sped away on winged feet until
they had only one half hour left. Poor
Willis Only thirty minutes more,
and then separation for months, per-
haps years. Thirty minutes. All !
she would have had them years, would
have lengethened their brief existence
into unending ages. Only few fleet
ing moments lay between them and an
absence indefinite, unmeasured. Gods
glorious coloring of azure might fade
away before they again met; the stars
might one by one be plucked forth to
gild some new creation in the extreme
of immensity natures God might be
desecrated, and the princely universe
shattered and nothing left to tell ofthe
throbbing hearts that were about to
be torn asunder, to be reunited no
more. Doubtless had it been in their
power they would have encountered
the swift feet of time with worlds OF
lead but, ah their wishes were im-
potent, for
''There is a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them as we laay.
Willis heart kept time with the
beating of her watch. One ceaseless
ticking was hurryiDg him away, and
the other, with fierce heart-throb, es-
sayed to stop its flight. He sat direct
ly opposite to her, lounglng indolently
10 an easy chair. His blueeyes gleam-
ed languidly in the warm glow OF the
CRATE upon which they were bent. His
hair was swept carelessly back from
the white brow, and the splendid pro-
file seemed as if chiselled in marble
He appeared perfectly Indifferent to
the light topics they were discussing
aud Willis was annoyed at his non.
chalant manner. Why did he MOI
speak? He knew they had only few
moments more for intercourse, anC
why, oh why, this Indifference.
Ludolph pulled out his watch anC
said, well, Horace, we have only
eighteen minutes more and, CousiI
Willis, you must give US one of thos'
bewitehing songs of yours before W,
leave old America"
with pleasure, Ludolph," she ans
wered, glad at any change to break tn
subtle chain of silence.
Ruth, you must play the accom-
paniment my arm still pains me.
She took her seat promptly at th'
piano and said, well, what shall !