Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-18
THE "sS0W FLAKE"
Passages in tlle Lie Of a Woman.


1t was the last night Of the summer
term at F. Academy, and all the elite
of the town were assembled within its
spacious hail, to listen to the exercises Of
an .,Exhibitiou, - rendered as a farewell
by the students to those with whom they
lad 80 long and pleasantly asSOci9ted.-
There were tears in some beautiful eyes,
rs they watched the young graduates,
one after another, leave the stage for the
last time; and all the glow and glitter
around, all the storm of applause with
which each successful candidate was
greeted, could not quite Danish the un
welcome thought that OH the morrow
the familiar places would be vacant, and
the familiar forms far, far away.
\ stiffness, like death, reigned through
out the house, rs Il young girl, some six
teen years old, left her seat and assembled
the carpeted steps of the stage. She was
tall, but most slightly and deIicately
formed, with light brown hair, falling in
short, thick curls upon her shoulders,
high, broad forehead, sweet mouth, and
large, expressive eyes of the darkest and
clearest gray. She was dressed simply
in plain blue merinO, whose cOrsage
WAS fastened with small silver buttons,
similar to those worn by navy oflicers.-
4 delicate lace collar, fastened at the
throIt by a knot of blue ribbon, and lit
tie cameo pin, completed her attire, and
gave the finishing touch TO her pleasing
aspect.
Unfolding the roll of manuscript She
carried in her hand, she made a slight,
graceful salutation To the eXpectaut au-
dience, and began to read. IL was the
NaledictOry composition, which she had
been chosen to deliver, a poem review
ing the happy schoOl-days that had pass
cd like dream-speaking sadly and ten
1t Of
and hopefully of the Better Land, where
they all would meet one day, TO be sepa-
rated no more forever.
Two there were, among that crowd,
who listened and gaZed more eagerly
than any Others One was a lecturer of
the evening, Professor in distant col
lege, who sat beside the PreceptOr, with
his dark flashing eyes bent eagerly upon
the reader, and his check flushed with
deep excitement. The other was tall
and powerfully built man, in the prime
OF life, who lOunSed carcleSsly upon one
otthc benches, and listened 70 the sweet
voice with curious half smile upon his
proud lip. This man was beautiful rs
the iabled gods of old. With melauchOl
ly eyes of the deepest sea blue. golden
curls clustering around high white
forehead, golden beard and mOustache
shadiHg his eNquisigely moulded mouth
and cha, with the warm kisses Ofa trop-
Icai sun visible upon his brOnZed check,
aud ccrtdiu dash OF chivalry in his
mdahcr, frank, careless, manly air,
that marked the sailor and soldier even
more than his lieutenant's dress could do,
hc Was well calculated to win a wOmat's 5
heart, and no one, who saw the look
which the youS girl cast toward him as
she closed, could have doubted that hers
was given TO him forever.
There Was Il moments silence. Is the
last musical words tremblcd on the air,
ai,d theI, by Simultaneous impulse, the
ao.c house rose, 10 give their f;VOrite
long farewell. She hlU>hed and trembled
as their loud cheers rang through the
nal She half looked round, as il for
some support, and ii an instant the young
Professor left his chair upon the stage,
and was by her side To gather up the bo-
gUcis thaJ were at her ICeJ. Ut this the
lieutenant only smiled 10 himself, and
leaning over his SeJt, threw a small knot
oi YiOletS and moss roses upon the stage.
She looked Up eagerly, lit,cd it as if She
would press il TO her lips and heart, and
,heu, bowling, was Ied to her seat again
I by the Professor. The boqucts she had
received We're piled upon the seat before
I her, forming a fragrant wall that hid her
from all curious eyes, but the VlOlcJS rose
/ aud fell at every beat of ECr happy heart.
The last prayer had been made, and,
I with idiIerluG voice ana fearful eyes, the
/ good Preceptor bade his pupils farewell.
} The young Professor leaned against the
steps of the stage, waiting patiently for
/ the coming of Katharine Hale, who lin
! gercd strangely in her arbOr-iike seat
J The next mOmcut he caught sight of the
noble form of Lieutenant Castlcmaine APP
preaching, saw the happy eyes she rails
ell To that beautiful face, and her delight
ed "Alfrcd is that yOu:' He Bit his lip
and turned away with smOthered sigh.
4. The lovers were too busy 10 notice him Is
they passed, except with a farewell bow,
bur following them down the stairs, he
sHatched = rose that dropped from Kath-
( ariuc's hand, pressed it hurriedly and
! unseen 10 his lips, and vanished among
4 the crewd.
Il WAS late before the lieutenant and his
. young companion returned from tn wall
they had taken. KaJharine's face was
pale and sad, and her dark eyes werC
dim with repressed tears, but he was gay
and careless as ever, though the parting
hour was so near. They fingered on tn,
steps OF her clearinghouse, and gazeC
mp at the quiet moon and stars. Never