Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-03-06
For the Chronicle.
A sKErCH OF LIFE.
CHAPTERI.

Y
before us. The sun-fushed clouds o
joy had parted. and left Sydney Nor
row basking in Efe's glorious sun
beams. He had never fought any o
the worlds stern battles, and from tn,
marvellous gifts she had ever showereC
upon him, seemed to be a boy after
fate's own heart. He was now twenty.
one, that bright, fair Olympus SO crav.
ed by all boys, and was duly installed
as master of the princely fortune, left
him by his father nearly eighteen years
before, when he followed his frail wife
of one year to the grave, leaving a
troublesome legacy in the form of his
only child to his bachelor brother.
Having no guardian but an indulgent
old uncle, the boy naturally grew up
extravagant and Wild. Not sinfully
wild. but with ; heart full of resolu-
tions and plansto try all the good things
of life. On the other hand he was
rather inclined to be religious. His
uncle, rigid Episcopalian had instil-
led into his heart. from babyhood that
his faith. and his creed was the best
and the only one. Henceforth he es-
poused warmly his unclc's belief and
zeal. According to his church, he was
granted some privileges that other
churches denounced, viz; to indulge in
some ofthe excesses of youth. He
was sunny hearted and gay. this sgd
ney Morrow. He loved life's joys, he
shrank from its anguish. In fact he
knew nothing of its bitter dregs, save
the few darts of envy and disappoint-
ment he had met with at Yale. He
had always supped from jeweled gob-
lets, life's elixer pure, and sweet. Now
fresh from the walls of College, no
wonder he was fun-loving, girl-loving.
His frank manners, handsome face,
and renowned fortune soon gave him
access to the first families of the city,
and he was at once numbered among
the upper ten thousand" With the
ladies ofhis clique he was the pet and
catch, but with all this display of beau
ty and talent around him he could not
decide for chosen of his heart. He
admired all, loved none. Thus it was
with Sydney Morrow when one of his
lady friends announced to him, that a
schoolmate of hers was coming to pay
her visit. Miss Kelly was to arrive
the next Thursday, and on that night
was to be given the first ball of the
season in compliment to her. Well,
the ball and Miss Kelly duly arrived.
At "a fashionable hour, in fashionable
attire Sydney Morrow strolled in. As
he entered the ballroom he took the
crowd in at glance, Standing be-
meath chandelier, with the mellow
light falling softly around her, stood
Ethel Kelly. She was as pale as moon
light, saye the exquisitely moulded
lips, hereyes were of that rare sapphire
blue. and there hoyered around her
mouth conquering charm of sweetness.
A violet silk elung about the stately
figure, and soft white lace at the beau
tiful throat. She was,a superb crea-
ture, and shsltoksa1 IKE some large,
slender lily, whose stainless petals time
had touched daintily. In moment he
was captivated. He beheld in her the
most perfect type of womanhood he
had ever seen. From that night on, the
sunny-tempered Sydney was Ethel
Kelly's most devoted admirer. He
was her constant escort at the opera,
rode with her, sang with her, in fact so
completely monopolized her society
that the others, who had at first sought
a claim. one by one retired from the
field as the favored Sydney advanced.
When she left, six weeks later, they
we're betrothed and the marriage was
to be at an early day. Sydney was
with his choice looked upon
his chosen as combination of angelic
perfections. She was indeed a true
woman, merited all of the idolatry he
lavished upon her. She possessed
sterling principles, rigid rules Ofright,
that nothing could induce her TO de-
sert. She had established her stand
ard of excellence, and she determined
to live up to it, no matter what the
sacrifice might be. Such was Sydney
affianced wife; no marvel
that he gloried in her. They were
and Immediately started
abroad for two years. Never had
couple fairer hopes or brighter pro-
misses. They had nothing seemingly to
mar the beautiful dream. But, alas
where do we find heart without its
secret sorrow? Sydney, as we have
before stated, was jealous in his reli-
gion; his wife, also was equally Jealous
in hers. She was a devout Baptist q; he
an ardent Episcopalian. Their faith
and creeds were as far asunder as the
poles. As much as both loved, neither
chose to immediate their religion. Time
sped away, and still they fingered
abroad. They basked under Italian
suns, they revelled in Arctic moon
light, yet each successive Sabbath
found them vending different paths to
their altar of worship. Their creeds
were separate, hence they were not
one. 1t embittered their lives, instil-
led distrust, and yet they each secret
ly resolvefto never give up. Their re-
ligion had always been their guide,
and they determined always to sustain
it. Weary Of wandering they at last
returned home. Very different, though,
was their home coming from the one
they had fondly planned. They had
planned it as time when they should
commence life in earnest, when they
should return to home Of their own,
luxurious and retired They did re-
turn to that beautiful home, but with
a shadow of distrust between them
that would never grow dim. To the