Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-10-02
Ricbard CIavering's fine face or

stealingfrom childhood into beauti
ful girlhood, and was undeniably
beauty. fa
Camilla, 1 am going away, but vii
you wait for my return p
Wait for you? lam not going I
run awayi' la- Dsaa
~ You do not comprehend me. Well
tits better so. Perhaps twoyears late
you may understand me. Good bye
Camilla. Kiss me good bye .
ltwas very quiet street, and s,
Camilla lifted her head and kisse,
him. In all probability the ehil'
would have kissed him In the mail
thoroughfare as soon as there, and
only mention the fact of the street be
ing a quiet one to silence the startle,
propriety of those WHO are shocked a
the publicity Of it.
Well, there they parted. He to q
over the sea, she to remain at HON,
and improve the opportunities he hac
placed before her. urofn
III.
The great heart of the music loving
public was agitated with mingled emo
tions of joy. pride, astonishment and
awe. A new songstress had been criti.
cized, picked over piecemeal, ground
down to the finest point, dissected, ex-
amined through the most perfect mu.
sical microscope, and pronounced per.
feet. And now the manager of first.
class. fashion patronized theatre had
engaged her for a single night at an al
most fabulous sum, and the world was
to hear her voice.
The night came. The theatre was
crowded from PIT to roof. The orches-
ira pealed forth grand overture, the
expectant crowd filled the air with per-
fume, and soft murmers of whispering
voices and rustling silks arose in sub
dued sound; and then the broad cur
tanned rolled up and disclosed the ele-
gantly fitted stage.
Suddenly there was q hush in the
vast building, and eyes grew bright
with eager anticipation as from the
wing came the debutdnt.
A tall, graceful girl. with cleaning
shoulders, and white, perfectly shaded
arms, with a crown Of purple black
hair upon the regal head, with great
dark eyes scanning the crowd and
then, with almost childish shyness,
yelling them beneath the long lashes ;
a mouth, soft, tender and beautiful,
aud cheek as fair as the pure white
satin of her sweeping robe; aud they
had seen the long-talked of and high
appraised beauty.
A roar like the rushing of distant
waters sounded in her ears, and then
swelled into a thunder of applause,
and coming slowly down in the splen-
dor of the footlights, her beautiful
head erect, her eyes glowing with ex-
citement, her beauty enhanced by the
elegance of her custom, Camilla, the
poor little waif, the child of poor old
Paul Smith, the protege of proud
Richard Clayering, received the homage
of the assembled crowd. a..
When the acclamations had ceased,
the orchestra began soft symphony,
aud then through the Luilding echoed
the clear, pure notes of a voice that
sounded far away, dreamy, mystic
voice, full of hope, of doubt, of pain.
Nearer, still nearer it sounded, and
drowned the doubts, bat yet a plain
tive sorrow seemed to remain. 1t
came nearer, aud the sorrow was a
half-expectant trembling glimpse of
something better. and then suddenly
the strange voice broke forth in tri-
umphal strain, and listeners held their
breath as tie wondrous notes rang out
upon the air, and then died away. f,a.
For a moment o deathly silence
reigned, but it was for q moment only,
and then the building vibrated with a
crash of enthusiasm that came from
the music-crazed audience. Men arose
in their seats, and hundreds flung their
floral tributes at her. .f5L-./
In one of the boxes, above the one
where the music-master and manager
sat, an old, odd-looking man waved
his handkerchief and cheered, with
great tears falling down his wrinkled
cheeks; and Camilla looked up to that
one box, and gave him the only smile
that crossed her lips during the night.
But at length the curtain fell, and
Camilla, weary and worn, went up 20 the
dressing room. Some one stood in the
shadow of a slte-scene, and when she
asked permission to pass, caught her
by the hands aud drew her out into
the light.
Camilla, little Camilla, is it your
Have / been listening to my little girl
all this glorious evening? Speak to
me. | am bewildered and blind"
Mr.. Clavering, when did you come ?
Oh! l am so glad, SO very happy! !" she
exclaimed.
Are you glad? Are you happy? Oh!
is this my welcome? Have you waited
for me, my love, my darling ??
She put her bands oyer eyes, mour-
ming.
You do not mean your words! |
am dreaming! L am mad
You are here, wide awake. Camilla,
and l am asking you to love me, and
to be my wife.
She drew him away for a brief mo-
ment and laid her weary head within
his arms. Then she passed on to her
dressing-room, and when she returned,
she put out her hands, saying:
"Oh, Richard, take me awayl lam
soul sick OF all this"
And you will only sling"
in your nest. Come, we must not
forget Uncle Paul. He is waiting in
the box for me. :"
The box was near at hand, and in a
moment they stood near the door. LII
was ajar, and Richard pushed it open
to allow Camilla to enter, and saw the
old man sitting in one of the luxurious
chairs, his head lying back upon the
soft cushions, and his hands peacefully
folded.
Uncle Paull'' cried Camilla. "Why,
you are fast asleepl-Come, it is time
to go home. All !"
She started back with a cry, for the
hand she touched was icy cold, and
fell back. stiff and helpless.
Camilla. darling, come away!
will attend to him"
'Oh, Richard y
Hush. love; heis beyond US now:
Those strains Of music have carried
him to heaven, from whence they came.
The poor old man was dead. Will
the eonsummation of his hearts wish
his quiet, unpretending. unoffendinl
life had passed out into the new ex'
istence.
There were large growls IN the mu
sic loving world. but nothing evel
came of them, for Richard Claverinl
removed their singing bird so deity
that few knew the cause of her fight
nd nou she SINGS only to him and Il