Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-03-13
THE SECRET OF A LIFE.

Clarence Kane sat in his sumptu
ously furnished library, lostin thought
i evidently unwelcome to him, for hi
handsome face was olouded and tn,
stern lips firmly compressed, as h,
gazed vacantly into the red Goals in. tn,
CRATE.
Though forty years had passed ovel
him, neither form or face indicated
that age, for proudly erect and grace,
ful, besides possessing dark flashing
eyes, waving hair, and regular features,
he was a strikingly handsome man, ap.
pearing scarcely more than thirty.
Reared in luxury, for his parents
had left him millionaire when but a
college student, he had never known
poverty thro' necessity, though a
wandering life of many years in many
lands had shown him that there ex-
listed more want and suffering than
happiness and comfort In the world,
from lack of the almighty dollar, and
his noble nature aided ever, where cir
cumstances brought him in contact
with his fellow beings in distress.
Three months before that bleak De-
cember evening when he is seated in
the library of his magnificent Balti-
more home, Clarence Kane had re-
turned from wandering tour abroad
which had lasted for two years, and
the circumstance that had brought him
home again is the subject of this
sketch.
Sitting there in silent meditation, he
was awaiting the coming of one who
was very dear to him; though no wife
or sister had ever Frightened his door
way, or made happy his bachelor
home. Clarence Kane held the re-
sponsible position of guardian over a
young girl of seventeen, and having
received from the fair maiden tele-
gram that afternoon that she would be
with him during the evening, having
left her boarding school for the Christ
mas holidays, he had remained away
from the Club to greet her.
''If she had only stated by what
train, or at what hour she would ar
rive, so that could have met her" he
murmured, in rather an ill-humored
tone, aud then, as the sound of carri-
age wheels on the pebbly drive broke
on his ear, he started up suddenly aud
walked quickly to the door, which was
thrown wide open by the butler, to
usher in bright face, almost hidden,
as was the form, by warm wraps, for
the night was bleak and cold.
"Juanita; you are indeed wecome !"
exclaimed Clarance Kane, checking
himself as he was about to enfold in his
arms the maiden whom, in the three
years that had passed since he had last
beheld her, had grown from girlhood
to womanhood.
Thank you, my dear guardian; I
knew you would like little sunshine
this cold winter weather, hence | have
come" laughed musical voice from
beneath the wraps, and as if divining
the reason why he had not embraced
her, the young girl quickly raised her
pouting, ripe lips for kiss.
| will not assert that Clarence Kane
had never, in his varied existence,
kissed a lovely woman before, but
be that as it may, he appeared a
perfect novice on this occasion, and
was as awkward as school boy, for
his face flushed painfully, and then
turned deathly pale.
But recovering himself, be extended
a warm welcome to the maiden, and
then aided her in unbundling herself
from wraps, furs and hat, and his sur
prise was evident as he beheld what a
metamorphosed form his ward was.
A form supple, graceful, and slightly
above the medium height, yet perfect
in mould; face radiant with strange
ly fascinating beauty, for the eyes were
mid-night in blackness, liquid in ex-
preston, and filled with slumbering
fire, while the hair, rivaling them in
hue, was worn in luxuriantfolds around
the proud head, and confined by a
massive silver comb.
In undisguised admiration Clarence
Kane forgot his good breeding and
stood and gazed.
What was this the girl of four
teen he had left at boarding-schOol
few years before?" he thought, while
the object ofhis gaze flushing crimson,
said half timidly:
Don't pleaseyou, dear guardian ?"
With long-drawn sigh Clarence
Kane shook off the beauty-struck spell
upon him and answered honestly:
'Juanita, | believed only angels
could possess your beauty"
Thanks; bat your angelic ideas
will have fall, for I'll astonish you
by proving what afiinities earthly
angels can possess, for, do you know,
am most starved 2"
True, had forgotten the the po-
liteness of a host in my joy at your ar
rival, but | will now atone for it.
And calling to a servant girl, he
babe her conduct his ward to the room
prepared for her, promising to meet
her in few minutes at dinner.