Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-17
For the CHzoN1oIE.
WILLIS WATERS.
is BY HrLDA.
CHAPTER Nv.

Stains the white radiance of eternity"
1t was generally believed that Kat
8 Ferrill and Harry Clifford would on
day marry. Not SO with old Jerome
He liked Harry as the minister's son
Ebut did not imagine he should lik,
him as his own. Harry was rich il
manly endowments, but fnancialI,
weak. There was where the lack. ex
listed. e''-
| In course of time there came to Belle.
| field, on a visit, one Capt. Waters, a
man advanced in years, aud with the
silvery footprints Of. many winters
cleaning from his dark hair. He was
gentleman of culture, fine linguist
and exceedingly fastidious in his taste.
He had by sailing the seas over, amass-
ed an ample fortune, and he had now
returned to enjoy it, and to share its
amplitude with some fair woman.
When first he met Kate Ferrill he
was charmed by her freshness, her
vivacity and her marvellous beauty.
After he came to know her better, he
found these to be her least charms.
She admired Capt. Waters because she
considered ita conquest worth making
to draw that proud form to her feet,
and with wave of her dainty hand
tell him his homage was useless. 1t
pleased old Jerome amazingly. He
was beginning to think now that the
VOW she had made when she was blue
eyed infant would surely be verified.
After while it was rumored that
Kate Ferrill had rejected the wealthy
Capt. Waters. In the round it CHANGED
to reach the miller's ears, and with
darkening frown on his brow he strobe
off to seek Kate. He found her in the
parlor at the cottage piano dashing off
a sparkling waltz. He walked straight
up to her before she discovered his
presence, and with start she exclaim-
ed joyfully, why, father, you fright
ened me-" As she spoke she glanced
up, and the fresh bloom paled on her
cheek, the mirth died out in her eyes.
what is it?" she gasped, mother,
is it her?"
mo, my child, your mother is well,
but it is yourself"
"Myself!' she exclaimed, why,
what have L done ?"
you have done something, if freport
be true, that maniac should blush to
own"
"Oh, father, explain yourself, pray
you; [ have done nothing, nothing" "
she said breathlessly." "
"Rumor says you have rejected Capt.
Waters, have cast from you wealth
and position. Tell me; child, were you
guilty of such madness ?"
Now there rang through those cot
tage rooms laugh prolonged and sill
very as dripping water. Could it be
that this was the only cause of her ia
theirs Mortified expression? 1t seemed
so exceedingly ludicrous to this fresh
young creature, that again the mirth-
ful laugh rang ont. Her father was
in storm of rage when the joyful
sounds died away.
Tell me" he repeated IF you have
committed this folly"
Certainly l have, father, was l not
already engaged to Harry? You would
not have me invent new style Of
doubling the affair would your | for
one do not think it altogether honora
ble," she continued amusedly.
stop your prating, | shall send you
to the asylum tomorrow unless you
promise me here, now, at this moment
that you will forever give up Harry
Clifford, and write the Captain an
apologizing note"
"Oh, father" the agonized voice
walled ''do not say such awful things.
You know I love Harry. l can never
be happy away from him. Think oft,
father, think and retract. Would you
sadden my life, make my future a ter
ror to me by mating me to one whom
l respect, but can never love? Pity
me, save me from doom worse than
death"
In her extremity, she went down on
her knees before him. pleadingly, sup
plicatingly, tears streaming from her
upturned eyes, the delicate handsclasp- |
ed until the nails entered the pink
palms. AS we'll might she have plead
ed to a marble demi-god. This father
for the sake of seeing his daughter a
Captains bride would sacrifice her
heart, her hopes, would fold around
her the mantle of servitude and slav
cry to crafty the demon pride. Yes,
was willing to see her bark of life go
out from the parental roof, down into
a dark sea, strewn with wrecks, and |
breakers. Poor girl, thy fate is indeed |
deplorable. 1t does not matter if the
man you wed love you to idolatry,
should you fail to reciprocate that
feeling your household is as pedestal
with broken statue. 'Tis hard
enoughin indeed to brave this life's strug |
gle with love at the helm, but without
it no wealth that the world can yield !
will anchor you in contentment's har-
Dor. And now, that daughter, who |
had never dared disobey her fathers
slightest injunction, was as wax in his |
hands. Turning toward her, he again
repeated his command, and strobe out
leaving his beautiful girl to silence and
to God. Three months from that day |
the sunny-hearted Kate was Capt.
Waters laDguid bride. Harry Clifford |
was far away in a distant city. He !
could not remain among the old scenes
that were but torture to him, and sought
to drown this grief in the hurry and |
confusion of city life. Capt. Waters
and his wife settled down in a little
yine-embowered cottage in Bellefeld.