Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-05-29

woman to keep vigil around the sic
bed. when he, strong aud powerful
had slept comfortably? His heart wa
anguished with reproaches as he sti
sat with his earnest eyes fixed upo
Willis. He noted the slender fori
that could scarcely brave a wintr
blast, the uneven throbbing of he
heart that 50 little could silence for
ever. and wondered how she could re
main Sc Indifferent, so incredulous o
the future.
Willis" his voice struck on the al
with painful sloxness, aud she raiset
her brilliant eyes with the look of
startled fawn. willis, you are look
ing exceedingly pale and haggard."
ut is constitutional" she answere,
bluntly.
mo, think you are mistaken" h,
said gently. He was acquainted with
her idiosyncracies and generally copet
with them successfully. There is {
low nervous fever preying upon your
yitals, and unless arrested will termin.
ate your life. You have worn away
amazingly In the last two weeks. Why
have you not spoken to me of this
illness ?" he asked.
$ am not ILL.," she answered scorn-
fully. Il am only wearied nursing
Ruth. As for my paleness, 1 have
never been anything else in my whole
life. I presume if faint flush had
come on my cheek when an infant,
they would have summoned physi-
clan with the belief that was attacked
with fever. Do not trouble yourself,
DIR. Hays, pale as l am, am sickness
proof"
Il grieve to hear you talk thus,
Willis. Weare none of us proof against
the devastating hand of disease, and al
ready my accustomed eye has discov-
cred its rapid march upon you. You
strive to conceal it, yet there in your
heart is the knowledge Of its existence,
and unless its progress be stayed, you
will soon be numbered with deaths
silent band" se''-F sit
As he finished speaking his beauti-
full eyes were brimming with unshed
tears. She noted his emotion and
said unsteadily. DIR. Hays, are you
physician of the mind as well as
body? Have you any balm for wretch
ed, harassed spirits :? If so, l give my
case Immediately into your hands,"
mo, )" he said eurtly, Il dc not pro-
pose to cure souls possessed of infidel-
ity, and who trample the holy writ un-
der their feet ruthlessly. Oh no, |
do not think | could relieve an
atheist" s.te5
We'll, she said, laughingly, THAN
atopsis triumphs over you. That gives
a balm for perishing souls. Says,
when thoughts Of the last bitter hour
come like blight over thy sad spirit,
and images of the stern agony aud
shroud and pail, and breathless dark
ness, and the narrow house make thee
to shudder and grow sick at heart, go
forth unto the open air, and list to
natures teachings There it offers
natures example as an antidote, and
what is that pray? Why with spring
come blossoms of beauty, hills clothed
with emerald verdure, and tall, sway
ing, leafy oaks. With summer comes
maturity and golden harvest, and in
sullen autumn they give back to dust
the attributes that made them beau
tiful, and rear their bleak forms, grim,
gray skeletons. Now if we list to
natures teachings, or rather draw
simile between us and her works, will
we not like wise surrender back to
dust our priceless souls, and obstinate
hearts ?'' .i'E .f.
William Cullen Bryant docs not
mean in his beautiful Thanatopsis that
we should liken ours souls to natures
perishing votaries. Oh no, he means
when the thought of death sweeps over
US and chills our hearts with the pic
ture of the pail, darkness and narrow
house. that we shall go forth and view
natures serenity. Nature, calm, witch
ing nature, who even when dying sue
cumbs gently aud without rebellion.
You would DO we'll, Willis, to mark
the last verse of that eloquent pro9uc-
ton where he says, so live that when
thy summons comes to join the in
Vulnerable caravan that moves to the
pale realms of shade, thou go, not like
the quarry slave scourged to his dun
geon but sustained and soothed by
an unfaltering trust. Oh Willis,
why do you refuse that trust? Why
do you live on recklessly, andungodly?
Because your heart grasps at a delud-
ed faith you should not attempt to en-
gulf Bryant, and cast invectives upon
his renowned Thanatopsis. You mis-
construed his meaning, as you do the
Bibles. Rational and intellectual as
you are, | cannot see how you are led
into as absurd -humbug as skepti-
cism." .. .u3yIr7Ge 81 53f t9ugf
He was watching her, features, in
tently to discern some change, but the
eyes were fastened on the glowing crate
as if to decipher there some data for
truth. Seeing that she did not medi-
tate an answer, he said, you mustrest
tonight and allow me to attend to
! Ruth" .dt .s.l.~ .is.l
"Ohl no, | am perfectly able to sit
up tonight. / am better here than in
my own room. Besides, know -P
Ishe stopped abruptly. "1
Know what?' he queried. at
Nothing, nothing. l believe | am
( dreaming"
We'll, Willis, | do not intend that
you shall sit up tonight. If you will
not care for yourself, some one must
care for you. Your nerves are fear
| fully wrought up, and only quiet and