Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-09-20
THE MARKED CHEEK.
BY ROSE HURST.
as tbis Mr.. RushtOnis ?''

sis this Mr.. RushtOn's ,"
IT was Il handsome young man
who asked the question. And the
girl who had opened the door for
him, i'm that pretty country place
where the richest people were not
very fashionable, was Mr.. RushtOn's
only daughter, Fanny herself.
"What a pretty little soul!" he
thought.
Then. as she turned her head, he
wondered for moment whether
somebody had just slapped her on
her left cheek, there was such a sim
gular mark there, exactly like the
scarlet print of palm and four fin
gers.
But that mark had been there all
Fanny Rushton's life, and it was
her one grief, her perpetual torment.
She had grown morbid about 1t in
these early days of w0manhood.
But there were no cosmetics and no
arts of surgery that could remove 1t.
There the red mark must be as long
as she breathed, its hateful scarlet
attracting the first glance of every
stranger.
"Mr. RushtOn at homer" said
Luke Robbins with bow.
eyes," sid Fanny.
Then she ushered Mr.. Robbins
into the parlOr, and went away !;
and i'm few moments the mill own
er sauntered in. 1t was business
call. The business was easily COM
pleted, and then Luke Robbins rose
10 depart.
''The hotel is long way off, and
] should be pleased to have you stay
over night with u.s." said the old
gentleman. "There are one or two
spare bedrooms, and supper will be
ready in fifteen minutes. Let US
have the pleasure Of your COM
pany."
'sThanks," said Luke Robbins.
"You are very kind"
Then he thought of the pretty
face with the red mark on the
cheek. Despite this mark he want
ed TO see it again.
1t sat opposite to him at supper
time.
''The best and kindest face in the
world" he said to himself a dozen
times.
And he did his best to win a little
chat from the shy girl, who could
not forget her tOrmenting mark I'M
til they sat in the twilight on the
piazza afterwards.
Mrs. Rushton had call from
some neighbOr, and sat apart con-
versing. Mr.. RushtOn, after many
amiable attempts to rouse himself,
went soundly asleep. Through the
evening shadows LukesaW the girPs
finely-cut profile and eXquisitely
shaped head and the moon turned
all to black and white soon, and
blotted out the red mark.
As ne sat as close to her as he
dared, and her sweet voice charmed
him, and he fell in love, as men do,
for an hour. Poor little Fanny gave
away her heart that night in one
whole piece. 1t is always best to
keep a little piece, if one can but
sometimes this is impossible.
"Oh, what a beautiful night ~
said Fanny, as she stood on the
porch with her mother after the
gentlemen lad retired. "Such a
fine breeze, and such bright moon
"It's quite damp. We'd better
retire. / wonder whether your pa
breakfast. He does ask visitors sc
unexpectedly" returned Mrs. Rush
ton.
Married forty and single twenty
take different views of life some
times. Fanny went to bed to dream
of Paradise, and the next day wa;
all happy in memory of a parting
pressure of the hand, and a whis
pered hope that they might offer
meet again.
"What a pity that mark is
thought young Robbins. 'She's
darling little thing; and 1 suppos'
that Rushton is a rich man. A
Young man might do worse than t.
be his son-in-law."
Then as the train whirled hin
away, he said to himself:
"What a pity that mark is.
Nevertheless, very often after tina
he was with Fanny great deal.
Fanny's mother felt that though
this sutton was not rich, he was elig
ible, and she knew that the rec
mark was a disadvantage to he
Fanny.
HE certainly means something,
said mamma.
"And they could always live will
u.s." said papa; 1--WE need neVe
part from our only one"
Our eyes grow used to everything
after while. Luke Robbins fOrgO
that there was any mark on Fanny
face, unless something particular.
called his attention to it. He love-
her very much at times, though
there were long hours in which hi
never remembered her existence
Twice a week, at least, Luke though
enough of Fanny to lay her bOu
quet, or some music, ana TO spen'
two hours on a dusty railroad 10
the sake of seeing her. He felt he
love for him in her very finger tips
he saw it in her eyes he heard l
in her voice. He was a man VIII
is happy in being beloved. And
was not old Mr.. RushtOn's none.
that made him decide to offer him
self to her, despite the red mark
Yes, the next time he went he would
ask Fanny to have him for better o
worse. And he knew that she woul'
say-"Yes."
There are evil moments in ever.
ones life - moments that chang
ones destiny for the worst.
If only it had rained one morn
ing; if only Fanny had fallen i'll
IF only she had not undertaken tina
trip to the city just when she did
this would be different story.
She used to be shy of going int
the crowded streets alone, and, ever
with her mother, wore thick veil
and felt uncomfortable when any
one looked at her. But she careC
nothing for strangers eyes. Some
how her blemished face had founC
favor in his. Let them stare. TIT
prettiest girl living was not happy
She went smiling along. She made
her little purchases with a ligh
heart. And then she saw LUX,
Robbins-yes, really Luke himself
coming to meet her!
Looks as if some one had slapped
her in the face" said gigglins
girls voice.
And ne turned his head. He saw
her. ana went to her at once.
"Oh, I'm so glad to meet you
said Fanny. | suppose l ought L
start at once"
"And rH go with you as far a
", where YOU change carriages,
said Luke Robbins,
He saw people stare ut her as sh'
passed. Part Of the staring was a
the mark, part Of il at the pretty
face and figure. He laid il all L