Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-02-26


SO many. Forgive me, Frank has
some bitter experiences, though hav,
been fortunate in finding two nobl,
friends"
! Il am going to have my owr
way" he replied. II have spent the
months OF our engagement hunting
you up, and now | am going to marry
you right away--to-night. Don't look
so startled, aud don't say no, for
won't hear it; and then | will do all
the courtibg afterwards" he said
laughingIy.
Yes, darling. l will go right back
to the village now for the license and a
minister, and then what a surprise for
the companyl Good by now for a half
hour, my pet" he said, kissing her
again and again. "Do not tell any one
but Mrs. Markham; let the surprise be
complete"
How happy Eloise was as she fitted
back to the house, 1t was some time
before she could make Mrs. Markham
understand that she was to be married
that very evening.
But it's all so sudden, dear !"
Yes, | know that, auntie, but we
have been separated so long that Frank
is not willing to wait, aud it is just like
him, too.
Are you sure he will make a good
husband, child p
Wait until you see him, Auntie,
and you will not ask"
Eloise went to trunk in which she
had her best dresses packed-dresses
that she had worn in her prosperous
days--and from among these she Sc
lected heavy white silk and a point
lace Overskirt; also, quantity of lace
and tulle, from which she improvised
a vail.
You will have tostay up here, dear,
until MIR. Harwood comes--and why,
| reckon that's him now; he's got the
preacher with him, anyhow"
Mr. Harwood sent up an exquisite
bunch of tube-roses, cape jessamines |
and white roses he had been thought |
ful enough to procure.
Eloise clasped the grand rose dia-
monds, family heir-looms, hung them /
in her delicate ears, on her neck and |
armes, and then fastened the vail and
wreath with diamond spray. "She |
looked every inch aqueen," Mrs. Mark
ham said, excited and happy as possi-
BILE
Frank was waiting for her IN the
hall below, aud led her directly into
the parlor, where, amid the breathless |
surprise of the company, they were
made man and wife. To say the guests
were surprised, does not express it.
When at last they recovered sufficient
self possession, all crowded around the
married pair with congratulations.
But there were some faces whose smiles
were pretty evidently assumed to hide
their disappointment and chagrin-
Miss Craig especially, who had not yet
returned the jewels, was very much
Mr.. and Mrs. Harwood started the
next morning for an extended bridal
tour; but before their departure, Miss
Craig returned the coral set to the
bride, and took occasion, in Franks
absence from the room, to say to
Eloise:
You quite surprised us all, my dear
Mrs. Harwood; aud now that | think
of it, your husband must have recOg-
nized your jewelry by the way he re-
marked about it last evening, though
| thought nothing of it at the time"
For reply, Eloise took the necklace
in her hand, touched a spring and ex-
hibited to her the smiling face of her
husband in the heart of the rose.
Margaret Craig blushed with morti-
fication at the part she had acted in
the little drama.
Nothing more remains to be said,
only that Mr.. Harwood carried out to
the letter, in his everyday life, the
promise made ON the eve of his marri-
lge, Ito do all the courting afterward."