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

me until my brain was in a whirl
and thought should go mad.
How ] sat itout that evening, how
j reached home, can never tell.
have a vague idea of making
my way to my room and falling
upon my bed, and knowing no more
until i awoke next morning with q
dull, heavy pain at my heart, and
remember my aunt's information.
/ knew what it was to be utterly
wretched for the first time in the
nineteen years of my life.
NV aunt told me that she did not
notice any change in Sidney Ran
dali, and man ought to look any,
thing but sad on the eve of his mar
riage.
He was to be married on the fol-
lowing Wednesday.
Sidney Randall had come down
to our place for sport, and he had it
at my expense, l thought, bitterly.
But even now 1 could not rid my
self of the vain belief that he loved
me.
/ He was about to marry an heiress
of great wealth.
Perhaps it was not love match,
and it was thoughts of me that
caused such a change in his appear
ance.
But / put this thought from me,
and / tried to scOrn myself for grieV-
ing for this man who was so unwor-
thy of my love.
Everything that / had taken out
of my trunk but yesterday was I'M
der lock and key.
/ was all ready to 90 home but to
put on my outside wrap when ser
want brought me a card. Sidney
Randall's name was upon it, and he
was waiting to see me. Down stairs
/ went. / would let Mr.. Sidney
Randall see cared nothing for him.
The moment / entered the room
he came forward to meet me with
both hands extended.
/ stood i'm establishment as my eyes
fell upon him.
Had my eyes deceived me last
night or was it the gas light? My
aunt was right; Sidney Randall was
not changed. The same smiling
face, the same dancing blue eyes.
What deceit, 1 thought, lurked be-
meath that fair face.
81 saw you coming out of the the
atre with your aunt last night, and
/ had to come down the first thing
this morning. ] would have been
down at your home more than a
month ago, but business of great
importance called me away"
'fDown at home! What for,
pray ?'' I said, Jelly, at the same
time moving away from his prOtfered
hands.
"WhyyOu told me / might come"
he said, surprise creeping into his
face.
cit is a strange freak of Mr.. Ran
dall's to wish to come to see me on
the eve of his marriage. Shall l of
fer my congratulations now, or Will
they be more acceptable at church
next Wednesday,"
Congratulations What"
He paused suddenly and burst
out laughing.
"There is some mistake here"
he said as soon as he could control
himself. cit is my cousin Sidney,
not L, that is to be married next
Wednesday,"
"YOur cousin Sidney! Were you
not sitting in one of the boxes last
night?' cried.
"Pon honor, / was not. IpaSsed
the theatre with a friend last night
as your party was coming out. 1t
was only half an hour before that
that 1 arrived in the city. But Sid
was there. COnfOund him, it was
not the first time he has been taken
for me. But, and he laughed again,
l don't see how you could have
made such a mistake, for Pm SO
much the better-lOOking of the two.
Haven't lost any of my cOnceit, you
see"
l knew he was talking lightly to
make me forget my painful position,
but l could not, | sank into chair
and covered my face with my hand.
An arm stole around my should
ers, and a voice said, gently, kindly:
"Think no more about it; it's all
a mistake"
On the following Wednesday l of
fered my congratulations to Cousin
Sidney.
said Cousin Sidney.
Well, he is my cousin now.