The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-08-08

standing beside her to turn over the mu-
SIC leaves. 1t was very pleasant, he
thought, to see a girl with rings on her
white hands, and without the tell tale
roughness on the left forefnger.
1t was the old, old story. After that
evening. spent at Gloucester Lodge,
Williams visits to George street grew
rarer and rarer, and little Fanny
dropped visibly. 1t is not so very hard
Tor a woman to bear up under life's bur
dens while she has the strong prop of a
mans love to lean upon. But if the
prop breaks, it is well for her if the bur
den do not crush her altogether. Fanny,
however, was not without certain quiet
fortitude. She felt that her prop was
giving way, and nerved herself to do
without it.
Fanny" said Mrs. Kenaway, one
evening as the young dressmaker sat
sewing in her old window,seat, "you are
not looking we'll, my child | wish Viii
liam would come and take you out He
hasn't been here very often lately, has
he?"
"No, mother; not very often
Il think you are working too hard, >
continued the poor woman, signing. Il
get well very slowly, Fanny, and the
beef tea and port wine cost a great deal.
I've made up my mind, child, to write
to my brother at last"
But, mother, you'll be dreadfully
distressed if he doesn't answer. And
you have often said that he would never
forgive you for marrying poor father"
'.Ive been a widow for nearly five
years, Fanny. Surely Stephen can bury
the old grievances in my husbands
gravel
''You know best, mother. But ia
Their always spoke of him as a hard
man."
"Well, at any rate | shall make an at
tempt to soften him. Don't try to talk
me out of it. l believe it is the right
thing to do"
Fanny held her peace, but she had
little hope that her Uncle Fenwick
would reply to his sisters letter She
knew that he was rich city merchant,
several years older than her mother,
but she had never seen him, and had
founded her opinion Of his character
solely on her fathers dislike to him. The
late Mr.. Kennaway had been one of
those men who have natural turn for
borrowing money, and are generally Sc
we're on the friends who refuse to lend.
Perhaps Mrs Kennaway had taken some
pains to hide the fathers faults from the
child's eyes, for Fanny had never dis
covered them.
CHOW Fanny" said honest Mrs
Marks, bouncing into the little room,
"to-morrow's Saturday, and you are go
ing to have whole holiday. Every
things planned, so you may leave off
shaking your head
Mary Baker has promised to come
and sit with your mother My man and
| have arranged to take you right off to
Durrant Farm, where my sister lives"
Mrs. Marks and her husband were the
Kennaway's next door neighbors They
were childish couDle, and instead of
wasting their affection on dogs and par
rots, they looked out for young people
who needed love and sympathy. Fanny
had no idea they knew all about her
sorrow. She did not realize how easy it
is for shrewd eyes to read the signs of
sick heat1
Early the next morning a hired chaise
ratified out of George street, containing
Fanny and her two friends. Of course
it could not be quite a perfect holiday
without William; but the girl enjoyed
fresh air and rest, and was grateful for
kindness. 1t was a long drive, and
when they reached the farm house, Mrs.
Starks declared that Fanny had picked
up wonderfully. A day or two in the
country, she said, would put little color
into those pale cheeks, and brighten the
eyes that were dull with watching and
working. All, poor Fanny!
Durrant farm stands upon the out
skirts of Il woods, which has always been
a favorite haunt with picnic parties.
The Fates had decreed that the Derrys
should give picnic it was early in
and townsfolk wanted to
make the most of the waning summer
Miss j ulia Derry wore an entirely new
costume, bought for the occasion, and a
charming rustic hat adorned with pop
pies and wheat ears. 1t was very agree
able to be admired, even by merchants
clerk, and she lavished her sweetest
smiles on William Parr.
Arm in arm the pair strolled away
from the rest of the party. He talked |
and she laug hed and listened,
and led him on, without a thought be |
yond the hours amusement. She was
wiser in the worlds ways than foolish |
whose vanity had been tlckled |
until he really believed that he had |
made a conquest. He was bending
down to his companion, with flushed |
cheeks and sparkling eyes, when turn
in the path suddenly brought them face
to face with Mrs Marks and Fanny
Even then things might have turned
out we'll, if William had only been true
shabby every day gown, and the bonnet
that had gone completely out of fashion;
and there was the superb Julia, hanging
on PARIS arm, and quizzing his betrothed |
with naughty eyes. The worst part of
the young mans nature came uppermost
at the moment. He gave one quick |
glance at Fanny, and then swept on,
without bestowing even a bow of recog
milton on the little dressmaker.
Well" said Mrs. Marks, drawing
long breath, 81 only wonder that the
earth don't open and swallow him up !"
Fanny took her lovers desertion in
very quiet way. She knew that the end
had come, and did not try to get any
comfort out of dead hope. When the
fire has gone out, she is wise woman
who sets herself to rake away the ashes,
and clean out the CRATE, even when she
knows her hearthstone will be cold for
many year afterwards. Our little dress
maker went On sewing and smiling as
usual, saying never a word about her
trouble.
Meanwhile the household burdens were
lightened. Mr.. Fenwick wrote kind