Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-06-30
COUSIN SIDNEY.

my mind to go at once, or / can't
tear myself away. There are so
many attractions here for a man /
never knew there was such enjoy
ment in life until / came here. In
deed, won't know how to content
myself within the walls of the pent
up city after this. Every day / will
remember the hunting, shooting,
fishing, your excellent dinners, and
last but not least, yOur-shall / say
it ?''
''YOu know best" / answered.
I tried to speak carelessly, but
Sidney Randall's laughing blue eyes
were upon me, and l could not.
"Then will remember, last, but
not least, your sweet sci" he said,
taking my hand in his.
The blood that had turned to ice
in my veins when he told me he
was going away, flowed in great hot
waves to my face now. Was he in
earnest? His voice was sincere en-
Ough, but he was smiling down at
me, his eyes dancing prOvOkingly.
Sidney Randall was an old college
friend of my brother, who brought
him to our house to enjoy a weeks
sport.
He was a stranger to me when he
came, but his one week stretched
into six, and during that time l
learned to love him.
Fight against this love as / would,
/ could not conquer it.
/ doubt whether any girl, dOmi-
ciled under the same roof for six
weeks, could help loving him.
Tall, handsome, fair, with laugh
ing blue eyes, and always in a merry
mood.
The sort of a man that walks
straight into wOman's heart
whether she wills it or not.
He was going home now, and
taking my heart with him. If he
left an equivalent I'd have no rea-
son to complain, but whether he
cared anything for me i could not
tell. One never knew when Sidney
Randall was serious or testing.
When he took my hand in his,
and laughed down in my face as he
told me he would remember me ev-
cry day, l thought | ought to be an
CRY.
HewaS reading my very thoughts,
perhaps, and making light of them.
81 have a favor to ask" he con-
tinued, still holding my hand.
''What is it ?' | asked, and looked
up in his face again. / saw that the
smile had vanished, and for once his
eyes shOne with a steady light.
at is that you will think of me
sometimes"
My heart rose exultantly. / felt
him press my hand more closely. l
thought now that he returned my
love.
l became suddenly independent,
as all women do when they know
they have a mans heart in the hOl-
low of their hand to squeeze the life
of it at their pleasure. / answered:
perhaps l will, and perhaps 1
won't.
"FavOr number one not being
granted, l suppose l ought not to
ask favor number two"
looked at him, all smiles now.
| could afford to be, for he seemed
awfully in earnest.
"What is the other favOr?' /
asked.
"Grant number one and I'll tell
YOU"
"Wen, consider it granted" 1
said after a little hesitation.
"NOt for mere curiOsity's sake ?''
"NO," | answered, II mean it."
81 would like to come back to see
you soon again may ~
My eyes sought the ground, but L
answered:
eyes"
"Then goOd-by for the present."
ne said, taking both my hands and
pressing them; and the next mo-
ment he was gone.
Sidney Randall said he would
come back soon. OF course | could
not time his "sOOn" to the hour or
day, but after a week | looked for
his coming daily. But the second
nor third did not bring him, and
when a month passed away and he
came not, my feelings can be better
imagined than described.
Was il all a mistake on nv part
to think that Sidney Randall cared
anything for me? | could not think
that he was inSincere the day he
went away. / wandered around the
house like some restless spirit. NY
feelings were worked up to a dread
ful pitch.
Nearly two months passed away.
/ was too proud to ask my brother
any questions about Sidney Randall,
but L knew l would never know
another days peace if | did not see
him again.
1t was the hope of seeing him
again that prompted me to visit my
aunt i'm New York.
The first evening of my stay in
the city, | went with my relatives
10 the theater.
How fortunate my going there. l
was scarcely seated when in a box
opposite / noticed two gentlemen,
and one of them was Sidney Ran
dali.
For Il moment my heart stood
still, then it began beating furiOusly.
i could hardly realize that it was he.
/ leaned back in my chair and raised
my glass.
He was greatly changed since l
last saw him-much paler and thin
ner, and his eyes were no longer
dancing in merriment.
His features were in perfect repOse,
but il was he.
NV heart was filled with pity.
Surely ne must have been sick, or
had some great trouble that caused
those altered looks, and that was the
reason why he had not "come back"
soon.
What reliefthose thoughts brought
me. and turning to my aunt, said
3Do YOU know the fair gentleman
opposite !" .,.
sidney Randall. Why do you ask?
Are Are YOU acquainted with him ?"
"Yes; ne spent a few weeks at
our house" / answered carelessly,
Int he looks greatly changed since
T : saw him. / think he has grown
thin. and his expression i grave
sad" amt no,1Id
rive me some Information. Anu Anu
Che did give me some Information
Information that stunned me, llla 5
made audience and performers anu ma
pas lets and footlights dance arouiiU