The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-09-06

that tate should part two such low
ing hearts"
1t was Douglas Bertram who
spoke. Then came Jennie's soft
response:
"Never mind; Heaven will help
us, Major Bertram."
"May it help you to be patient,
DEAR"
Lena heard no more. She hast
ened away like 2 guilty creature
back across the bridge, her breath
coming in short gasps and the fever
flush of pain on her cheeks. Amy
met her in the hall, mildly reproach-
full, you'll fall into consumption
and die, Miss Lena, and then what
will Major Bertram do? 1 would
sooner have a tame elephant to
keep in health"
Miss Hartford threw off her cloak
with careless laugh. "Don't be
cross, Amy; l was a great Ounce
for going out 1 know. III go and
dress for dinner and you can read
that book to me, dear"
She FASTENED up stairs to her
room and rang for her maid.
'I'll wear my new dress tonight,
Joyce, and do my hair in curls"
Lena looked queenly when she came
down into the drawing room. Her
dress was crimson velvet trimmed
in costly white lace, which well be-
came her raven hair and dark eyes,
with the brilliant rubies clasping
her snowy throat and arms, and
pending from her dainty little ears.
'You look like a picture, Miss
Lena" exclaimed Amy, admiringly.
Lena smiled and seated herself by
the hearth, the freight playing on
her proud queenly face and her lux
uriant toilet. She sat there silent
and thoughtful for some minutes,
then glancing up, said, "Amy, open
the piano." and as Amy obeyed her
bidding she left her chair and seat
ing herself at the piano commenced
playing a low sweet ballad, each
movement of her white hand caus-
ing the rings on her fingers to flash
brightly.
Major Bertrand cried Amy at
the sound of wheels on the drive.
Lena ceased playing but did not
speak, not even when Amy said
something about a book and left
the room.
He came in unannounced-a man
of eight and twenty, brown haired
and blue eyed, tall and handsome
a man any woman with unclaimed
heart might have loved. Lena rose
and held out her hand with a light
laugh.
81 didn't expect you tonight,
Douglas" He took it gravely, but
did not attempt to kiss her. There
was something in her bright, proud
face that repealed him. "What a
dreary day, isn't it?" she said in her
softest tones, clasping her little
hands together lest he should see
them tremble, and looking at him
her white lids dropping a little.
How beautiful she was. The sol
dier's face flushed 81 little with pride
as he looked at the queenly girl, his
promised wife.
cit is rather damp, my darling"
he returned gaily.
She played with the rings on her
fingers, loosening one, a bright
cluster of diamonds, and half draw
ing it off. "This old house is dread
fully dull, and am utterly misera-
BILE, utterly miserable"
.'Lenar' her lover cried in grave
reproach.
Her eyes flashed scornfully as
she looked up at him. "Don't you
think 1t must be dull, with only two
old women for my companions
He bent over her eagerly. at
must be dull, dear, 1 know. Don't
spend the winter here. Let it form
our honeymoon passed in sunny
Italy, my darling"
Her proud lips quivered with
pain, but she laughed carelessly.
81 shall not spend the winter here.
1 am going abroad, to Vienna per
haps. l have friends there, and
shall see a little of the world. l
don't know my own heart, Douglas"
Douglas bit his lip with annoy
ance. Il hardly understand you.
You are in strange mood tonight,
l think"
She went on recklessly twirling
that bright betrothal ring. at was
hardly fair to claim my promise so
soon, Maj. Bertram. am fettered
before 1 know anything of the
worlds real life. They may be
golden chains to you; to me they
are simply CALLING"
The insulting words stung him
to the quick. 'Fetters do you call
your words of promise? have no
wish to chain you, Lena-Mlss
Hartford, if you will" ne retorted,
holly.
She rose up playing carelessly
with her rings. "They are letters,
easily broken though, when no love
binds the links together. There;
take back your ring. She slipped
it off and held it out, laughing The
while.
He clasped her wrist and the ring
dropped between them. "What do
you mean? Are you playing with
me? 1t has gone too far for a