Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-06-19
auEn pRoPER srArroN..

gr.scef WA exceed1ng 4bessuts sLslse-
looked, in her heat, plain, dark
cashmere dress, like "A princess in
disguise.
So, at least, thought Paul Selden,
and made nQeScruple about saying
So. too His sister-in=laM,a the
haughty and Wealthy widow Of his
eitier ijFOthefs Jarnes, 3iOOlked'at 4i4nz
in amazement and contempt.
81 am surprised at you, Paul. A
perfect nobody. My compani0n--
nursery gOverness for Elsie seam
stress-Whats you viii. i lido beg
that you will not make such absurd
remarks in the girls hearing. You
will fill her head with nonsensical
ideas, and quite unfit her for her
proper station"
Paul answered her contemptuOuS
tone with an angryFsneers rSY
tPerfaps our ideas Of her 'sta-
tion diffeFyyou see. Her father, al
though poor, is a gentleman. A
clergyman upon Il small salary, but
in good repute, is the equal, at least,
of your father, who made fortune
out OF pork. But you may rest as
sured that when L make her discOn-
tented with her position here ! shall
be prepared to offer her a better
onc.nud f0ls i.1I9ft 419H Z
a"That of your wife. perhaps ?''
very eOntemptuOusly. alf u o.
i''Precisely. Before many weeks
perhaps days-are over, hope TO
offer her my handauA business OPP
P0rtunity has suddenly. presented
itself which seems likely to secure
To me prosperity. That is what
calls me away so Suddenly tonight.
If / succeed-and, indeed, whether
or mo- shall ask Edith TO become
my wife -4.ii a..i inl $50 t.sfr
"And you make quite sure Of be-
ing accepted. You are right there ;
il is what this shameless migrate has
been plotting for ever since she
came into the hOuse-tO secure a
husband superior to her in station,
and foists herself upon his family.
On. Ftrhl@not surprised! We seen
her lures and arts and wiles; the
artful, designing adventures. I've
Shnu-ptH 10 -iat.. fHfI -.-.# "a
And there she stopped suddenly,
confused if not ashamed, for the
door of the adjOining room was flung
open, and Edith Merton stood be-
fore her, trembling and passion
pale" - n
"You had forgotten that / was
within hearing, madam, sheSaid,
with Indignant seOrik A'fYou know
that you accuse me falsely / am
innocent of all effort to attraG1 your
brothers. attention, or win from him
the offer with which he intends to
honor me. To you, Mr.. Selden, my
thanks are due, and my gratitude
Z have 40 more to give you. ,4PoOT
us | am, am at least too proud to
'fOist myself upon a family where
no welcome awaits me; and so,
madam"
1t was her tnrh to stop suddenly
now, startled at the lady's absence.
No sooner had she turned to adj
dress Paul Selden than his sister-in-
law, embarrassed and angry, had
swept h6isaesslS FROM the ROOM.
Edith's pale cheeks grew crimson.
She gave one quick glance at the
door, as she also contemplated a re-
treat; but Paul caught her little
hands In both his own and detained
her.
al neither deserve nor want your
gratitude, Edith" he said earnest
~. 81 want your heart and this
fair hNnd. Oh, lone, have i , de
ccived myself When I hoped the
treasure Of your affection might be
minezthat- would. be my
wife ,"
but thew0man to whom he spoke
WasNefy pr0lltl - Mrs Seltlen'S I'M
j6stwortFs had Istung herkbitterly.
Hurt pride and wounded mOdesty
were aIl.inA rand fore one pas
sionate rholpeut, .stffed love. 4 Z. y.
at is as she said he had made
sure of being accepted ~ she
thought, bitterly, and snatched her
hands away 81 = ~ y
at IS impOssible-impossible ~
she cried. "YOur sister is right.
Seek your wife from a higher sta
ton, sFf; for me--it is impOSsiblew
But Psph Versisted. A IMAM does
not giyc' up the hope of his life and
the desire Of his heart very easily.
leave my sister out Of the ques-
ton. I.matry ,toe please4mYseifz
not her. Only let me hope that you
love me, and nothing shall ever
make me give you up. Oh, Edith,
you do,care for me! Will you let
YOUR pride, break both of our
hearts p"
An, no, she could not. Some
thing ian the well-lOved, pleading
notes struck at her very heart. She
looked into the tender, kind, re-
proachful eyes. and then all at once
She was in his arms, and wept forth
all her griefs upon his, bosom, ~
The next minute the sound Of an
approaching fOOtstep startled her.
1t was Mrs. Selden coming back.
must GO" she whispered.
"GOOd-by."
And then she had lifted her tear
wet blushing face, and received on.
il her lovers first fond kiss, heard
his quick whisper, "FOr a week on
ly, darlingo and tore herself from
his clasping arms, and fled away to
her own chamber, ... .t...
Thither came Mrs. Selden TO her,
some two hours later, when Paul
had safely departed. = E.t....
t"You anticipate what | am about
To say, no doubt" she began, cold
~. al desire that you prepare in
stantly to leave my house. Here is
the money due to you, and also an
other months wages in advance.
y cWriage will come for your
trunks in an hour, and the sooner
you leave the better" "a
al think so, too" answered
Edith, with hauteur scarcely inferi-
or to her own. al will take the
money due me, madam, and no
more, anal in an hour Twill relieve
you % MY presence" 81 Z
so itCame to pass that when Paul
Selden's' week of probation was
ended, and he came back successful
and joyous to claim his bride, he
found a bitter disappointment
awaiting him-the bonny bird had
flown.
No information concerning her
could be obtained from Mrs. Sell
den. - - F#~ 4
81 know absolutely nothing of
her movements" said she coldly,
land if / did, | should decline to
aid you in disgracing yourself and
station" 80
Whereupon bitter words and a
quarrel CnSued. the end of which
was that Paul left the house and
took up his quarters elsewhere. BY /
so doing he raised fresh barrier |