Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-24

the silent home of the dead on week
days; now if it was a sunny sabbath
afternoon | should not be surprised.
/ Willis colored painfully, and laugh
ingly replied: Excuse me Miss,
Walker, I do not possess the power
or influence you ascribe to me; rest
assured | will never induce him to
desert your merciful banner" !"
"Oh," she said quickly, Il did not
mean to insinuate that my banner un-
furled the honor, but since you have
willed it | presume it will have to be,
that is, with the doctors consent" The
sunny brown eyes rested pleadingly
on Horace Hays face. He smiled and
bowed an assent, then, as if anxious
to turn the tide of conversation, he
said, is that your royal Longfellow,
Ralph, this is the first time / have
ever seen him, what's his shortest2"
well, to tell the truth, Horace, /
believe he could make the trip to the
moon and back in fifteen seconds, but
| won't wager my new phaeton."
Doubtless not, unless Jon were
possessed of an uncomfortable fit of
extravaganza" Minice claimed his
attention at that moment. and Ralph
turned to Willis and said, Miss
Waters, Clara has been quite unwell
for the last two weeks, in fact ever
since her return from the gulf, and
she desired me to say to you for the
sake of by-gones she hoped you would
come and see her soon. Not one of
those fashionable calls made by our
city bellies, but genuine visit"
THANK you," she replied, Il was
not aware that she had returned. Tell
her will be only too glad to make
the visit.
Hey, Miniee. hadn't you and
Horace better postpone the finale of
this conversation to some other time
when night-shades are not so abun-
dant ?"
Thank you, we have completed it
now, she said quickly. ''and 1 have
only one more item" She drew from
her embroidered chatelaine a cream
eolored note and handed it to Horace.
A subtle fragrance of wood-violet
arose from it as she passed it before
Willis, and she shuddered as she in
hailed the delicate perfume. Could it
be possible he loved her, this butterfly
of fashion? Could as noble soul as
Horace Hays possessed be enthralled
by this moth of society? No, she
could not think it. Yet the blue eyes
had rested lovingly upon her, and the
thrilling voice had uttered her praise.
Now there arose in Willis Waters
heart feeling of jealousy against the
beautiful Minice Walker. There
dawned upon her soul light, knowl-
edge that her proud heart was no
longer her own, the revelation brought
with it bitterness and contempt for
her weakness. She would put it down,
and trample it under foot, no matter
if the cost be the crushing out of her
young life. She had Io right to love
him, this bright, tall type of manhood,
he with his soul all serene and un-
clouded, and hers wrapt in impene-
trabie gloom. She did not accept his
religion, but he was perhaps the only
thing that she did have real faith in.
He seemed to be ona some shining
summit, surrounded by light, warmth
and life, while she below in the valley
toiled YEARLY on forever, over rugged
rocks and thorny paths with sullen
streams rushing madly by that she
could never cross because of her
shrouded soul. Aye, the dark waters
of the Acheron and Styx roll at her
feet, and there.is no friendly Charon
to ferry her over. All! the struggle
has just begun, that lonely bark has
many a Scylla and Charybdisye C to pass
which may dash it into fragments, or
engulf it in the yawning whirlpool.
TO BE CONTINUED.