Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-15
rARTINGIN ANGER,
OR,
The NIre's Last Token Of Affection.

was possible to meet. BY nature fiery,
impetuous and impatient, and deprived
at an early age Of the wise counsels
and controlling influences of a father,
he never learned to curb his passionate
and excitable temper. Tho never sui
len or vindictive. he could not or would
not govern his own spirit IN mo-
ments of irritation or disappointment.
This was the one dark shade upon
most honorable and otherwise Iowa
Bile character.
On leaving college, young Annesley
made choice OF the legal profession,
and pursued his studies with friend
of the family, in one Of the cities in
the Eastern part of the State of Ten
.nessee. Soon after entering upon the
practice of his profession. he married
the object of his first and passionate
love, the sole daughter of his legal
preceptOr. a beautiful girl of nineteen.
Mary Herbert, an only child, had been
from her infancy almost companion
less. just as she entered womanhooc,
her mother died. thus her character,
originally moulded in purity and soft
ness, was deepened and spiritualized
by solitude and sorrow, until it was as
ideal in its serene loneliness as it
well might be in our everyday life-in
our profoundly real age. Hers was not
a strong character. however, except ii
be in the strength of the affections
The single principle of love pervaded
and absorbed her entire being. Her
devotion was Rnbounded; it could not
be taxed too much or too often by the
one beloved. With the f0rbearing
meekness of a saint, and the depend
lug tenderness of a child, the young
wlfe's influences were not such
as were calculated to correct her
husbands peculiar faults of char
acter His too despotic and exacting
will, and his habit of giving way to
sudden Outbursts Of passion or petu-
lance, were strengthened by exercise.
1t followed. that toward his gentle
wife, who never allowed a word Of
complaint OF defence, much less Of
angry retOrt, to escape her lips, he soon
uneonsciously stood in the light nf a
master, one who would have been
feared and deserted had he not been
loved adoringly.
knowing In reality little of himself,
and far less of woman, Henry Annes-
ley had not the acute perception to re-
mark that the smiles Of his wife, after
a harsh and incOnsiderate word from
him. were forced and unnatural. He
little knew that, often while the wan
sunshine was playing about her qulv-
ering lips and dropping eyelids, there
were storms In her heart, that her
spirit was cropping in thick shadows.
Yet, might the Annesleys have been
what they seemed to the world, emf
uently happy in the marriage relation
had there not been wanting one ele-
ment of equality, from which come mu-
tual condolences and perfect under
standings. From the first they occu-
pied false positions toward one anoth-
or, from which it was impossible that
true and harmonious relations should
result.
But new fount of happiness, real
and unfailing, was opened in the hearts
Of both by the birth of daughter
The infant grew to be very lovely and
very much like her mother.
The spring that little Blanche was
threeyear old, Mary Annesley became
seriously alarmed for herself by pain
in her side, sometimes accompanied by
a palpitati0n of the heart, to which
she had been subject at intervals for a
number of years, but of which she had
never complained. OF this she finally
spoke to her husband; touched lightly
on the pain she had endured, but calm
ly expressed a conviction that she was
suffering from an organic disease of
the heart. a malady to which some OF
her family had been subject. Agonized
with apprehension, Annesley lost not
moment in summoning the family
physician, man of much science aud
celebrity. 1t happened to be near the
dinner hour Of the illustrious practi-
toner. So he asked a few hurried
questions of Mary, listened to the ac-
ton of the heart through his stethos-
cope for a moment, then briefly in
formed her that she had deceived her
self as to the symptoms; that she was
merely troubled with nervousness,
which would pass away, if she did not
nurse ii; prescribed more exercise;
complimeuted her on the beauty OF
her child, and bowed himself out,
bearing with him the comfortable con-
seriousness of having earned i ten dol
lar fee.
Mrs. Annesley, who had great faith
in her physician, as the door closed af-
ter him, lifted her suffused eyes, while
a fervent Thank Heaven" rose from
her lips But a sudden pang shot
through her heart as she pressed her
hand against it, and she was silent.
Her husband, not remarking her,
threw himself back in the chair, with
a sigh of relief, and exclaimed in a
slightly impatient tone:
There, Mary, you see how it is; all
a woman's fancy of your own What
would women do without nerves
What a fright you have given me all
Tor nothing"
why, Harry, one would think you
regretted that 1t was net for something.
What nonsense you talk, Mary
You know that ! am rejoieed |
thought Of all terrible things from the
time you madeyour startling announce
meut till | heard the doctor decision.
Why, Mary, dear, l thought ofyou as
as
Dead, Henry?"
There You are again, bringing out
that word IN connection with yourself
as coolly as if you were speaking of
that rose tree. All, by the way, Mary,
Is that the plant from which comes the
half-opeued rose that has been your
daily offering to me Of late p
Yes, Henry, it bears the prettiest
roses we have. l am sorry they are so
nearly gone.
Yes, and there is a sentiment in
your simple gift, rosebud, which |
may always find beside my breakfast
plate, whose sweet breath mingles with
the aroma of my coffee, and which |
may twirl in my teeth while / glance
over the Gazette. and wear in my but
toEholc halfthe morning.
One evening, soon after the above
conversation took place. Auuesley an-
uouuced to his wife that business called
him to New York Tor short time and
that he should be obliged to leave
home the next morning in the seven
o'clock train of cars. At her hus-
band : request, Mary, who was an ear
~ riser, promised to awake him in time,
and see thatan early breakfast was pro-
vidcd, rs, the depot being distant, he
would have TO leave by half-past six.
Poor Mary was troubled and restless
that night; she did not close her eyes
till near morning; and as natural
consequence oversight herself, She
was awakened by her husband calling
her name in a sharp. impatient voice.
She dressed hurriedly, and descended
Al l. I-H, - 60, en-