Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-05-29
For & he CHEostcLE.
WILLIS WATERS.
AZ HIIDA.
+ cIixrER XVI.

| ~
aMfiHons, in those solitudes, since first
The flight Of years began, have laid theI
I down
In their last Sleep g i ~
She had sunk as deep, and the sun
kissed waters glided on unruffled, a
though no human being frcightea wit
the hopes of years lay speechIess, life
less in its lucid depths. The pale gree
willow swayed TRANQUILITY on the mar
gin, and the silver-throated robin war
bled joyously on. The crowd on tn
bank had stood breathlcss with fright
and now they ran confuselly to AM
fro, shrieking and imploring for help
except Willis, and she sat mofionles
as the rock beside her. A white shad,
of agony had stolen over the marble
like features, and the terror stricker
eyes were still gazing on the spot where
Ruth had gone down. She uttered nc
cry from the whitrhed lips, and the
slender, quivering form sat upright
and quiet, as though petrified Will
fear. Her heirt seemed as though il
had ceased beating, and her breath
came in quick, fabored gasps. She
loved Ruth with all the constancy oil
her proud heart. had enshrincd her in
her souls sanctuary with all the stern
fxedness of her nature. Now the
golden haired woman was deep down
in the lake; the bluc-eyed darling OF
society was reyeling in the dominion
ofOceanus. What did all the homage
Of her coterie avail her there? Could
they make the waves that encircled
the delicate form in murmuring en-
brace, less chilly? Gould they shield
with their love the trembling, inani-
mate woman tossed beneath the un-
rufiled surface by surgiug biliows Z?
Aye, verify. no, but there is one watch
full eye that has probed the depths /;
one strong arm that will encircle her
with its sustaining power. He prom
ised this aid when He established the
clouds above; when He strengthened
the fountains of the deep; when He
gave to the sea this decree that the
waters should not pass His command
ment, when He appointed the founda-
tions of the earth" and this is the cry
our joy-burdened souls, Il will ever
sing unto the Lord because He hath
dealt bountifully with me- He was
with Ruth Clifford there in the rip
pling waters. Ralph Ray flung off his
coat and dashed in to her rescue. She
arose and the white arms were thrown
wildly up, aud the white lips called
wildly for help but before he could
reach her she was again swallowed up
in the liquid depths Oh! God, must
she die thus? the pettel darling Of
every throng! Must she die there
among the water lilies rearing their
graceful, pallid check as though they
were striving to vie with her own i?
Oh! shall the lightof existence flicker
ou. in the sight of all her friends, who
cannot aid her? But look theresh
is again among the lilies. not grasping
as before their Saeile.forms, but float
ing pallid and gray. Ali he has
reached her, and she is now in Ralph's
strong arm. She went in joyous and
sparkling, but she returns wan, life
less, waxen. She is lying in Willis
arms pale and breathless. They have
wiped the water from the dripping,
golden hair; they have chafed the icy
hands, and still she lies silent, silent
The blue serge dress is shrunken and
soiled, and the curling white feather
is limp and watcry. The dainty boat,
upturned, still fingers amang the lilies,
and the red breast robin trills on, un=
heedingly, his evening song. The
green, sweeping willows bend caress-
ingly to the waters dimpled BOSOM
and days messenger, the sun, has sunk
beneath bed of lofty oaks. They
have sent for aid, but will it never
come? At last they return with brandy
and force il between her rigid lips and
at last, oh what an eternity it seemed,
the blue eyes unclosed like violets uu-
der snow drift. She was borne quick
" to the hotel, and there life quivered
between the confines of earth and the
world ely,ian for many weeks In
some of her wild moods she divulged
the secret of her heart, and at such a
time Will. excluded all others, and
often kept lonely vigil the night
through. She watched by her side
day after dly until the wearied limbs
would almost sink, and the burning
brow and f,vered pulse told plainly of
exhaustion In her widest rawlings,
one touch rom Willis hands would
quell the sorm and she would remain
quiet aud tocile as a controlled child.
She was very i'll, and all the pent up
bitterness If her heart clamored for
dissolution A maddening fever thrill
ed through her veins, and reasons
pedestal ms' shaken and tOttering.
Eternity's waves were almost upon her;
they almost laved the weary feet.
"Life's little, hot day was almost at
close, afterwhich comes delth's long,
cool night. .iH :sH .t.-
Her unce had come down from the
city to attend her, and under his skill
full treatment she rallied slowly. One
night, as he came up from supper,
Willis, as usual, was at her post Of
duty. Sh, had been sitting up sue
cessively for many nights, and ex-
haustion vas plainly written on every
noble feature. Still she was there /;
brain might reel and ache, temples
might thr,b, but the pale woman was
ever at tuty's helm. Horace Hays
flung himself in an easy chair before
! the glowing crate, and fastened his
splendid blue eyes on his vis-a-vis
She was seated ia an attitude of wear
mess. Eer arm rested on stand be-
side her, and the pale slender hngers
l.. IL IL IL Ii ....n...