Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-06-12

knew it was unsought. As the nigh
wore on she became calmer, but on the
splendid features there settled war
dispair. She had succeeded in dim
| ming the light of her hearts sanctuary
and weird ftful shadows fingered il
its place. At the portals stood a grim
sentinel sheathed in ice. and on his
sceptre was engraven, s'Non, sum
qualis, cram" She, the desecrated
priestess, stood shivering at the thought
of her own desolation. The bell tolled
three as she stood before her mirror
and took from her hair the glitterine
| pins that confined it. The hush OF
night had fallen upon the house Nor
pheus was holding silent reign over the
inmates. There came sharp peal at
the door bell, and Willis knew instant
iy it was call for the Doctor. The
servants, following the example of
employers, were fast asleep. 1t might
be a case of life and death, and she
prepared to answer the call. She
pinned the long hair back from her
brow, and taking small bronze lamp,
she fearlessly descended to the door.
She unbolted the lock and turned the
knob. There stood before her slend-
er, ragged boy. The keen wintry blast
struck through the insufficient cloth
ing and the little fellow shivered, and
mourned piteously. A ragged cap was
drawn over his eyes, and over the
white cheeks the tears rolled swiftly
and silently.
What is the matter, little boy ?"
she said kindly as she drew him in and
shut out the blast.
"Oh, madam, l come for the Doctor.
Mother is dying, and there is no one to
save her. Will he go with me? Oh
tell him she is dying, and the fire has
gone out"
Bitter tears stood in Willis eyes as
he finished his sad story. His mother
was dying; oh what world of misery
in those few words. He would soon
be an orphan, and feel the pang of the
mortherless when the world grows sud-
denly dark. The grand old earth
hides her beauties from our stricken
eyes and lite's music is set to dolor-
Gus chant. God pity the motherless
Of earth's masses, they who have fold
ed back to dust, she who reared them
through the tangled wildwood of
childish ills, and youths defeated
hopes, they who have taken the last
kiss from the fond, sweet lips, and who
have seen the eyes dim and glaze with
the mists of eternity. They have then
lost something that no wealth can re-
place, jewel whose worth was inesti-
mable. Aye, the mortherless of earth
are the poor of earth. Willis Waters
had felt the plng, and her great heart
yearned out in sympathy to the pauper,
the ragged, indigent child of poverty
who stood on the brink of that ter
rible, inexpressibie sorrow.
Poor little fellow" she murmured,
Il am very sorry for you. Come up to
my room and warm, while l see the
DOCTOR" She led the way up the
steps, and seated the child by her own
glowing CRATE. Stay here" she said,
land will see what can be done
She moved gracefully to the door,
and halted abruptly upon the threshold.
Her heart throbbed painfully. TWAS
certainly the most trying mission of
her life. She turned and looked at
the boy. The slight form covered
over the crate aud the little toes, pur-
pie and pinched, were perched upon
the fender. He had thrown the old
cap aside, and damp, matted curls
chung to his pale brow. His childish
grief appealed to her heart in. mute
elOquence, and she passed resolutely
from the door, adown the long hall.
She paused at his door to again quell
the fierce throbbing of her heart which
was SO strangely incompatible with
her outward mantle of dignity. She
tapped lightly at the door, and stood
waiting to see if it had aroused him
she looked like picture of the vail
ed prophet" as she waited there in the
dim shadowy hall. Dead black from
head to foot, long trailing alpaca
cl9ng to the matchless, willoWy figure,
finished with ruchings of black at the
slender throat and wrists. The IN
bound hair fell like sable vail around
her slight form, and the clear gray
eyes cleaned strangely dark in the
mid night shadows. In the midst Of
her reverie the door opened, and the
splendid form of Horace Hays st6oC
before her in the brilliant light Of hi.
ehandalier.
why, Dr. Hays, | thought you haC
retired" she said quickly.
Knowing some one else was shar
ing my vigil, the hours sped away un
Needed" he replied with hooking EN-
phasis.
She stepped back, and drawing he
! form up haughtily said, "Yov hav'
been prying around playing the nobl
: part OF the eavesdropper, Ell? Oh
marvellous magnanimity," she sneered
The dim light of her small lamp fel
, upon her features showing the cynica
: curve of the red lips, and the indignan
flush upon the marble like brow.
"Oh, no, Willis, you must acquit m
; If that degrading performances, and a
| the same time you must remember tina
/, your room is not a league from mine
D and your carpet. although soft, doe
? not entirely muffle the sound Of you
i tread"
e For minute they stood sternly con
$ fronting one another, one with 9
d amused smile playing upon his fault
{ less features; the other with indigna
S ton, and insulted honor plainly STAMP
: ed in the angry expression. lie re