Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-03-27
For the Chronicle.
&c
REX.
BY EVA.


BY EVA.
A long, low, wave-washed beach
| brilliant sunset, whose last re
rays lie in slender bars across th
greenish waters; a tiny boat far ou
to sea; within it two people-a ma
whose face, outlined against tn
golden sky, is perfect as a Greel
| gods; masses of fair hair against
broad, white brow; a pair of blue
flashing eyes, straight, delicate nose
and clear-cut mouth, shaded by
dropping mustache his companion
a woman whose dark beauty hold
his eager gaze. Her black dress lie
in graceful folds about her, and owe
her head is thrown scarf of Span
ish lace. A woman with a face fol
which men peril their lives, as Rex
Conwer had told me a few moments
since, for this woman is-nayself.
1 lie idly back in the boat and
watch the white sails of a ship out.
ward bound, until it fades into the
purple horizon, and then, turning
towards my companion, gaze dream
lily at a faint young moon just rising
over his shoulder. We do not speak;
we have just quarreled hotly, and
Rex Conwer is not the man to sue
for a woman's favor when he is in
the right. In my heart there lies a
great triumph, for, naughty, cold,
proud as he is, I know that he loves
me, madly, wildly, with all the
passion and pain of an intense,
strong nature of fierceness and ten
derness combined. Idelight to hurt
and sting him, to tormentand charm
in the same breath, and, knowing
my power oyer him and his passion
for music, / suddenly commence a
low Spanish love-song. Our boat is
drifting with the tide; sweet wind
blows gently into our faces; the
musical lap of the waves keep time
to my notes; there is asubtle charm
in all. Swiftly | glance at the man
before me, and find that he is watch
ing me with all his soul in his eyes.
/ break off in the midst of verse,
and say icily, Grow me home, if
you please; my head aches and I
am tired" A strange look passes
over his face, but without word
he catches up the oars, and heading
the boat shorewards, pulls with
long, steady strokes until its keel
CRATES upon the sands. Gravely he
assists me out. / gather up my
sombre draperies, and with cold
"thank you," which he returns by
a bow, pass straight to the hotel
and up to my room. L hear Oscar
Vane calling me from the piazza to
come and take a moonlight stroll,
but I heed him not. / shut and
bolt my door, and then going over
to the window, fall upon my knees
and gaze with unseeing eyes out
upon the silvery sea and long white
beach, bathed in misty moon
beams, My past life, with all its
sorrows and struggles, rises into
view, / go back to the time ten
years before, when my dear father
died and left me alone to battle
with fate and the worid-the long,
dark years of bondage, with cruel,
biting poverty, when life itself was
torture and I only desired death, as
a release from soul-torments. /
think then Of my innocent, girlish
life, so lonely and crushed by an
guish, and burning tears well up to
my eyes from my hearts depth.
Thus I follow the years up to-
night with pain unspeakable. Two
little months before had [ come to
the sea for rest and ease and
and here had / met Rex
Conwer. The evening of my ar
rival, in entering the parlors Oscar
Vane Ga former friend) had intro
duced me to his many friends and
naughty sister. Soon l have many
admirers, for my subtitle Spanish
beauty stands me in good stead, and
many men are at my feet. I favor
none, until one evening in passing
by an open window at early twi-
light, | hear my name in strange
tones, and sneeringIy. The pro-
verbal maxim of unwittingly hear
ing unpleasant things is fulfilled in
this instance, for mans voice is
saying:
"And you love Viva Duprez-
that gil? Why, my friend, she is
a heartless firt, a regular coquette.
OF her witcheries numberless fell
lows haye told me already. That /
know she must be from her heart
less treatment of you. Believe me,
Oscar, she is unworthy any mans
love, and shun her"
A burning flush rises to my face,
a great lump in my throat, and in
my heart flames a fierce hate against
this unknown man who has dared
to pass such bitter judgment upon
me. My soul is astir with emotion,
and I go slowly upstairs, wonder
ing who it can be that has so ira
duced me. Suddenly remember
with thrill that Oscar had told me
his bosom friend, Rex Conwer, was
coming to take vacation at the
seaside, and like lightning it flashed
upon me that it must be he, who
had arrived whilst / was driving
with Tom Gordon in the afternoon,
and that, being in Oscars conf
dence, he was giving an opinion as
to myself. Because no man had
touched my heart, was without
one. Oscar had raved over his per-
feet face and form, his grand intel
lect and heart, his strong, earnest
nature, until with a girls eager en-
thusiasm, 1 had made hero of him
and longed to meet him; and this
is. his opinion of meta little CO.