Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-12-21
THROUGH FLOOD, THROUGH
FIRE.


az assure. you, my dear boy, l am
extremely sorry to appear unkind
in this matter; but, believe me, l
am acting for the best"
"But surely / may see Rosie as
usual ?' l asked.
II am afraid not" replied Mr..
Temple. at would be very injudi-
ciOus. You are both too young and
too romantic at present. Besides
YOUR means are utterly inadequate
to maintain a wife"
"May not bid Rosie goodbye,
then 2" / persisted. "One more
meeting cannot hurt either of US"
"Rusie is not at hOme," replied
her father, gently, almost sympa-
thetically, "a he shook me by the
hand. "She went to stay with
some friends yesterday. Good
night; and hope for better days"
"Good night" l replied. 81 sup
pose you don't mean to be unkind,
Mr.. Temple, but you have made me
very miserable"
"My dear young FRIEND" he re-
piled, putting his hand kindly on
my shoulder, "were you in posi-
ton to maintain wife, | would
sanction your engagement in time;
but now such n course. though pain
full for us all, is the only one Mrs.
Temple and can in justice adopt.
We shall be pleased to see you again
after our return from the continent.
Good night"
] made no reply-indeed I could
not have spoken just then. My
throat was chOked with tears, and
big drops wellPd slowly from my
ewes as | walked away across the
open space facing the house. This
was to be the termination of our
engagement, then! Rosie Temple
and | had flatterel ourselves that a
series of dances, picnics and charade
parties, with a very good knowledge
of lawn tennis and crOquet cOnsti-
tuted housekeeping. We had only
e3O0 a year between us, and dear
Rosie always spent E4O at least on
her dress annually. She had lately
been very economical i'm the matter
of gloves, and had made herself a
bonnet which was ia every sense
becoming; still, we were not much
nearer to matrimOny then; and
now
So | pursued my way across the
common, and | do not mind con
Tossing that shed tears as | walked
in that dark evening beneath the
trees aud into the gloomy and DESC
late high road, caring for nothing
and for nobody except Rosie, my
pretty, piglluRte Rose; wondering
whether she had gune-Or had she
really gone. Was it not pardon
able subterfuge on the part of Mr..
Temple to induce me to leave the
neighbOThOnd.
At that time had, unfortunately,
no occupation. | had been a clerk
i'm Il clearinghouse, but the chad
times" had necesSitated a reduction
in the "Stalf," and | was one of
those sent away at a months no
tice and a months salary. True, |
| had a small income deriVable
from legacy, bat this was scarcely
enough TO keep me in bread and
cheese and clothing.
1t will therefore be seen that Mr..
Temple was quite right. Matri-
mony was a luxury | could not af-
ford. | acknowledged it even then,
as | went home responding.
When / reached my lodgings /
found two letters awaiting me. One
was from my brother, who was
commanding 4 detachment of his
regiment i'm Ireland, the other was
from my late fathers solicitor. /
opened the "official" note first.
1t contained only a few lines, re-
questing me to call on him in Lon
don i'm IA day or two, as per APPS l
might be able to do some work for
the gOOd-natured lawyer.
The other letter was most cheer
full, and bore warm invitation to
share my brothers country quarters
fora fortnight, "Or longer if liked"
next month.
Before l went to bed / replied to
both my kind correspondents, ac-
cepting both invitations.
Next day / went to London, and
in the afternoon | called upon the
solicitor nervOusly.
His business was simple. Did l
know French? | did. Was / ac-
0uainted with bookkeeping? /
was.
."Well, then" said he, evil YOU
90 to Geneva, and transact this bus
inesS. particulars of which ! will
Give YOU tomorrow You shall be
bald as my clerk and have your ex-
penseS and something besides"
agreed" ! said gladly; - will
90. When am ! TO set Out?'
.aAs soon as you can get ready. If
Won do this well think | can help
Tou To something better.
I wrung his hand and left him,
took the first train home, packed
nm. and next morning AT eleven
O'clock was Mt the Office in London
agIin. wrote to my brother tell
inc him the facts, mastered my IN