Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-10-11

traces of sorrow overcome, of life
battle where the victory was won
by fierce struggle; but all sadness
left the noble face at Moss Hill, as
Mr.. wainwright called his place, and
the peace frightened to happiness.
Three ye..rS after the June day
when the sisters watched for the
arrival of theirgoverneSs, the happy
trio were assembled upon the same
porch, after tea, chatting in the twi-
light. In October Ella was to lose
one of her pupils. Lily was to go
to her aunt in New York, to enter
society, and Nell would remain still
two years at Moss Hill.
''Tell US a story" Nell said, sit
ting on the porch step, and leaning
back against pillar; "a love story,
please, Miss Ella"
GA love story? Let me think.
Once upon time"
Lily laughed musically.
at ought to he a fairy story, if it
opens So she said.
"No, it is love story" said Ella,
but she did not smile. "Once upon
time there was very rich man
who owned magnificent estate
near a large city. He had married
late in life and lost his wife, whom
he idolized, soon after their mar
riage, by an accident. She was
thrown from her horse and killed
before his eyes. For years he shut
himself up in his splendid home,
seeing no one, living the life of a
hermit. But his sister died and left
him the care of a noble boy of tair-
teen, while almost al the same time
the sister of the wife he loved so
dearly, even In memory, also died,
leaving little girl of ten, utterly
friendless and p1nnileSs. The two
children went to their new home on
the same day, and as their kind
friend and relative did nothing with
half heart, he threw off in a great
measure his reserve and melancholy,
to make their home pleasant To
Them"
"What were their names?n asked
Nell.
"You may christen Them"
"Well, papa has the prettiest
name in the wOrld-Walter. Lily,
you may name the girl. L call the
boy Walter"
II will name the girl for you,"
said Lily. $50 they are Walter
and Ella"
Had the light been stronger the
girls might have noticed sudden
pallOr on the face of their goYerness,
but her voice was steady as she con-
tinued. Not one of the three had
seen a tall figure cross the lawn at
some distance from them, and enter
the house by one of the low French
windows at the back of the drawing
room. Neither did they see him
cross the room and seat himself be-
hind the lace curtains in the dark
ness, so near the group he could
have touched any of the trio by
stretching out his arm.
"Walter and Ella, then, since yOu
so name them," said Miss Whit
man, ''liYed a life of complete hap
pineSs in their luxurious home.
Their uncle loved them, they loved
each other and their sorrow was the
separation of their school life, as
they passed from home instruction
| to college and seminary.
at was after their final return
home that their uncle told them of
his fortune and home, together.
Now, my darlings, you may take
an old maids word for one fact, that
love will not come to order. Ella
asked for no greater happines than
to become Walters wife, and for a
time she believed he loved her.
But as she grew older she became
convinced that she did not hold
Walters heart as he held hers. She
was jealous of the daughter of an
old friend, who came often to visit
them. AS we are continuing our
names to those near at hand, we
will call her for you, Lily. She
was very beautiful-nOt tall as Ella
was, not quite so fond of music and
books, but fairy-like blonde, win
some and tender-the very woman
to win mans heart and hold it in
silken bonds stronger than iron.
Walter loved her."
"And Ella loved him." sighed
Lily. ooh, dear %
"What did the uncle do ?" asked
Nell.
"Before the uncle knew OF any
cross to his plans he died. But in
his will he left his property to his
nephew and his ward only upon
condition of their marriage. If
either refused the marriage, the
money went to a public charity, the
house to be sold, and the proceeds
added to the sum. But il either
died, the other inherited all. 1t
was q cruel will, for every day it
became more evident to Ella that
her heart was given 10 gHe who
found the gift heavy burden. The
soul of chivalry, Walter tried to
conceal his aversion to the woman
he must marry, unless they both
became beggars. She loved him so
well that his grief became hers, and
she tried to imagine some way to
free him. Only her death could
release HIM, so she resolved to die"
"Ohn gasped Nell.
"She wrote "A letter bidding him
farewell, and left the house. There
was small row boat in which she
often TOWed upon the river alone.
This was found, turned upside
down, and her hat floating near it,
Walter advertised for the body, for
any news of her, but none came,
and after a year the law gave him
sole control of his uncle's property.
1t ought to be his, for Ella was not
related TO the old man, although
she called him uncle and loved him
tenderly."
"Did he marry Iily?'
"Oh, yes, they We're married"
"But poor Ella, " sighed Lily.
"She did not die" said Miss
Whitman. "She shrank from the
crime of suicide. So, while they
We're hunting for her body she was
in another place, a large city, earn
ing comfortable living in con-
genial pursuit. Do not sigh for her,
Lily. She conquered her love years
ago. and her life is a tranquil, happy
and useful one"
There was some further converse
ton, and then the sisters went to
their own room, while their goVr
erness went into the drawing-rOom
to get book she had left there. As
she lit the gas, tall figure rose
from a seat near the window, and
came forward. He spoke one word
only: