The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-11-26

The change IN her life had come 5
suddenly, so Unexpectedly. An unel
of her fathers, who had never Spoken
to him after his marriage with tn,
pretty French girl, had seen Renee
and, being childless, had left her all hi
wealth.
Not for love-" he said, ''she was too
ike her Frenchifed mother for that
though there was something of the
CORTLAND about her as we'll, but simply
because she was a CORTLAND, and his
nearest of kin.
But loyal Renee had never forgotten
her old friend, for when in her stately
home, Margaret Gray was with her,
and every Summer the little cottage
welcomed her fair young face again.
For weeks and months after the day
she tainted in Victor's arms, Renee had
been the shadow of her former self.
Pale and istless, it seemed as if hope
would never reassert her sway in the
tender young heart, and Victor watched
her suffering almost as much in his great
love for her
| 1t seemed at times to Renee Court
land as if her heart must break, with its
passionate pain, but hearts do not east
| " break at seventeen, and Renee con-
quered her Loved then buried it out of
sight forever, and as time passed on, if
it arose to confront her, she put it aside
with all the strength of her nature.
Then came the great change in her
life, and smiles came back to the beauti-
| full face, though sometimes the shadow
of the old pain darkened it.
And four years later she met Lester
Sinclair again, handsomer, if possible.
than ever, with a new gravity about
him that became him well.
He had laid his fair young wife to
rest in her grave, and was free again.
Renee's face grew pale when she first
heard it, paler still as he bent over her
hand, and then the past seemed to be
forgotten.
Even when he married the wealthy
heiress, Clara Duvane, Lester Sinclair
knew that the little dark-eyed girl held
more of his heart than he would willing
ly acknowledge, and now, seeing her
day after day, SO regal in her loveliness,
the old love deepened, till Renee Court
land held every hope of happiness for
him.
As time passed on, Victor Gray
noticed an added restfulness in Renee's
eyes, that the weary look around her |
mouth deepened, and could scarcely I'M
derstand it.
He enters the room now, graver, per-
haps sterner than of old, and the girl
came forward to meet him. II
''You are welcome, Victor" she said |
clasping his hand, "and Margaret will |
be so very glad"
"You do not look happy this evening,
Renee" he said, his eyes on her face.
The girl turned away with quick,
impatient gesture.
Il am not happy" she said; ''my life
has been one mistake"
(Which will be righted in time," he
answered, quietly, though his face paled
slightly,
When Victor left her she went back
to her place again.
"Will happiness pass me by forever ?"
she cried; els he blind, or is it that he
will never see?"
Only that morning Lester Sinclair had
stood before this girl whom he had
wronged in her early girlhood and plead
ed for her love as a man might plead for
life fteolf
Colby, almost haughtily, she had an
swered him
'sNo My love for you died years
ago; it could never come to life again"
Renee, Renee!" he cried in voice
of passionate pain, and the girl knew if
she wished revenge on Lester Sinclair
most truly she had it now,
'sMy love died years ago" she repeat
ed more gently, half plying his pain,
''No, Lester, it can never be,
Victor Gray merely went up to change
his business suit and speak a few words
to his sister, and in less than an hour he
joined Renee again.
As he entered the room he saw she
held portrait in her hand.
Scarcely conscious of what he was do
ing, he went forward.
''How you love that man, Renee" he
said, bitterly.
The proud dark face flushed
"What man pa she asked, coldly.
Pardon me, Renee, l was rude; /
scarcely knew what | said. You are
not angry, Renee?"
The girl was silent for a moment;
then she crossed over to him.
''If you mean Lester Sinclair" she
said, ''you are wrong, Victor. This
morning he asked me to be his wife and
/ refused him."
"You refused him Why, Renee?"
81 love him no longer" she said.
Was Victor Gray blind
Looking on the lovely, flushed face,
listening to the tremulous voice, could
he not understand?
The lovely dark eyes we're raised to
his face.
He bent his stately head.
Renee, my darling, you love me?" he
said.
The next moment he held her in his
arms and kissed the sweet, red lips.
Say you love me, Renee. | have
only said yes myself" he said
A smile lowered round her lips.
"And no one at all said that you low
ed me, Victor"
Loved you, Renee! / think must
have loved you all my lifelong before
you smiled on Lester Sinclair"
THAT is past" she said gently. "It
was only girls first wild love dream;
but to you, Victor
sYou have given what?"
MY last, my best, my purest love.
Are you content, Victor"
And as he bent and kissed her again
all shadows fed from Renee Courtfand's
face Her heart has made its choice,
and it rested in peace in the light of
Victor Gray's loyal love.
Only One Victim Wanting.
A Young woman at SMYRNA. n. Y. Il